H.323 Videoconferencing
Guide to Effective H.323 Videoconferencing
H.323 is a standard for communication over the Internet. It is a low-cost or no-cost method of videoconferencing. Also, connection speeds can be higher with H.323 than with ISDN, so video quality is generally better. H.323 is less prevalent than ISDN, but is becoming more widely available.
The H.323 Conference from Start to Finish:
Planning the Meeting
Hold the meeting where there is a standard telephone with speakerphone capability. This is your backup. You might not need it, but if you do, you'll be glad you have it.
Have an agenda ready ahead of time. H.323 conferences work best when participants have specific objectives to reach, such as agreeing on details of a shared document.
Appoint a chair person to run the meeting. Pauses in H.323 conferences can seem more pronounced than in face-to-face meetings. A chair person helps everyone stick with the agenda.
Appoint a scribe when sharing documents. Though simultaneous cursor control can sometimes be a useful feature, using it too often can be as confusing as having several people writing on the blackboard at the same time during a face to face meeting.
Save shared documents at each site when finished editing. Many overlook this feature of datasharing, but it can alleviate future frustration.
Setting Up
Reduce environmental noise. Fans, distracting conversations, noise from open windows, etc., can make it hard for you to hear and for others to hear you.
Adjust the lighting. The wall behind you should be darker than your face. If it's lighter, you'll be "back-lit" and your face will be in shadow.
Set the color levels in your camera settings. Sometimes the default settings can produce a washed out, flat image. You can change this by using the software that comes with your client to make adjustments to the brightness, hue, etc.
During the Conference
When using a speakerphone, sit close to it and remind other participants to do so as well. This will help everyone hear each other better.
Position the video window of the other party near your camera. This simulates eye-contact, which helps participants feel engaged with each other.
When using a handset or headset, avoid breathing to close to the microphone, brushing your face, etc. If you need to sneeze or speak to someone not in the conference, mute your microphone.
