Poly

Polycom whiteboard software makes sharing content via video as easy as picking up a pen

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Oct 27, 2011 : Polycom, Inc., the global leader in standards-based unified communications (UC), today unveiled an innovative whiteboard solution, the Polycom® UC Board™, which improves communication and collaboration in video conferences by allowing meeting participants to leverage their existing video display screens and mobile devices as interactive whiteboards for video collaboration.

 

Whiteboards are an important communication tool, but when traditional whiteboards are used in a video conference, it's a common problem that remote participants have trouble seeing the whiteboard content, which undermines teamwork and participation. The first integrated video collaboration whiteboard technology of its kind, the Polycom UC Board is a simple, elegant and cost-effective solution combining a plug-and-play receiver and stylus for ease-of-use, and a compact design for portability. The solution transforms LCD monitors and display surfaces into a video whiteboard space so every participant can stay fully engaged. The Polycom UC Board software natively integrates with the latest Polycom® RealPresence™ Room HDX® solutions to share content naturally, efficiently, and easily. Users participating in a video meeting can also share content such as a presentation, and use the Polycom UC Board to write, annotate or highlight key points, right on top of the presentation for everyone to see in real-time.

 

"The Polycom UC Board is the first integrated video collaboration solution to make sharing whiteboard content as easy as picking up a pen," said Sudhakar Ramakrishna, executive vice president and general manager of UC solutions and chief development officer, Polycom. "That's great news for organizations of all kinds looking to bring remote employees and customers in a sales presentation, brainstorm, planning meeting, or training class with clear access to all the visual content being presented and discussed."

 

"The Polycom UC Board makes real time content annotation quick and easy. The user interface is so intuitive that you can just hand the stylus to a first time user and let them take over," said Christianne Orto, associate dean and director, Recording and Distance Learning, Manhattan School of Music. "Instructors can annotate scores and presentations as naturally and easily as with a traditional whiteboard, and their students see the results immediately. It instantaneously breaks down a significant barrier to remote instruction."

 

The Polycom UC Board solution can improve communication and collaboration for a wide range of users across various professions and industries. Examples include:

Organizations can also record and stream whiteboard content using Polycom® RealPresence™ Platform solutions for applications such as training and education.

 

The Compact Design of Polycom UC Board is Quick to Deploy and Easy to Use

As part of the solution, Polycom is leveraging eBeam® technology from Luidia®, Inc, the global provider of interactive solutions. eBeam turns many common flat surfaces into collaborative workspaces where the capture, saving, and sharing of digital content is made easy. Today, hundreds of thousands of eBeam systems are in use across multiple industries worldwide.

 

The Polycom UC Board solution is available today at US$1,999.