Best Practices - Media Pointe TAC-CR User Manual

Introduction to Video Conferencing

Best Practices

A successful video conference provides a
face-to-face meeting, even if the participants
are miles or continents apart. Keep in mind that
it still is a meeting — normal etiquette and dress
code apply even here.
In the Meeting Room
Make sure the microphone is placed at the
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front of the table to ensure that all speech is
detected. The best position is at least 2 m (6.5')
in front of the device, on a flat surface with at
least 0.3 m (1') of table in front.
Directive microphones should point away
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from thed evice.
Make sure that no obstacles block the view
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to the microphone at all times.
Microphones should always be placed
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away from noise sources like computer and
projector fans placed on the table. The noise
D15345.19 Cisco Webex Devices with Touch 10 User Guide JUNE 2020
All contents © 2020 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved
from such sources is often perceived as
surprisingly loud by the remote participants.
If you use a document or whiteboard camera
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try to arrange the participants so that the
camera is close to the leader of the meeting,
or alternatively, close to a designated
controller.
When a whiteboard is used, the meeting
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is perceived as better to the remote
participants if the whiteboard is visible
through the main camera, as well as
through a dedicated whiteboard camera.
Broadcasting companies normally do this to
let viewers see that the presenter actually is
in the same room.
Remember to arrange all the peripherals
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so that one participant can reach each of
them to point, change the display, record
or perform other functions during the
conference.
To help ensure the most natural meeting
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environment, position the camera on the top
center of the receiving monitor, if possible.
The camera should point directly at the
meeting participants to guarantee eye contact
with those at the far end. Check this out by
means of the Selfview feature of your video
device. The Selfview shows what the remote
party can see from your device (the outgoing
video).
If you are going to share content you will
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normally make use of duo video. That implies
the use of two video streams, one showing
the presentation and the other showing
the presenter—or the group of presenters.
Smaller devices may force you to choose
between watching the presentation or the
presenter.
Other Tips
Use Camera Presets
Cisco Webex devices let you create
predefined zoom and camera
pointing directions (pan and tilt).
Use these to zoom into the person
speaking, if appropriate. Do not
forget to zoom out again afterwards.
For devices with camera tracking
this will not be needed.
Loudspeaker Volume
The audio system uses the
loudspeakers built into the monitor
or the Cisco Digital Natural Audio
Module.
For some devices you can set the
default volume level by adjusting
the volume on the monitor with the
monitor remote.
Brightness Control
To adjust brightness, colors or
other settings of the monitor, use
the monitor's own remote control.
Adjust the monitor to suit the
conditions of the conference room.
The monitors supplied by Cisco
have on-screen menus that are very
easy to use. For more information
on configuring the monitor as such,
see the corresponding user guides
and administration manuals.
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