Corporate & Securities Law

The Legal Videoconference of the Future?

By John Wallbillich

YouTube has put up one of their first videos in 1080p, High Definition. Appropriately enough, it’s the Muppets performing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” (rendered safe for the kiddies when Animal mumbles through the start of the second stanza. Mama!).

To watch in in full HD glory, do three things:

(1) click on the white arrow in the center;
(2) then click on HD icon that appears on the control bar at the lower right, and
(3) try the full-screen option by clicking on the next icon to it’s right.

Depending upon your bandwidth and processor speed, prepare to see how a lot of things are going to change. (If you’re on a slow pipe, with an old desktop, you may have to toggle back to regular definition, which isn’t nearly as good on full screen).

And if you watched the entire video, Kermit even gets off a nice jab at the end on the value of some videoconferences. Here’s the direct link at YouTube.

When you see it in full-screen, you see how much better it is than some of the grainy computer video links you’ve seen in the past. This sort of thing is what will drive the need to upgrade computers, and open up more bandwidth. This is also why Cisco is trying to purchase Tandberg and Logitech is buying LifeSize. (Cisco wins in almost any case as more bandwith equals more demand for its routers and other high-tech plumbing for the cyber-pipes).

Some years down the road, lawyers will see this as part of their practice and connecting with clients. The only challenge? You and moi may have to put on makeup before the next virtual meeting with the global team.

(Via Gizmodo and Jordan Furlong on Twitter)

Full post as published by The Wired GC on November 25, 2009 (boomark / email).