Citrix Unveils GoToMeeting with HDFaces

Citrix Systems is releasing a new form of videoconferencing called HDFaces. It is a high-definition video conferencing technology for their other products GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar, and GoToTraining. This new technology allows people using it to see up to six streams in a session. Another feature of this new technology allows the participants to share their desktops on the screen for a more natural meeting experience. Citrix Online’s chief technology officer Bernd Christiansen says “When customers say they want video capabilities combined with web conferencing, they don’t mean tiny choppy images.” However, those are the only types of products that are being offered today.

I think that Citrix Systems new HDFaces technology will be very successful and useful for a lot of companies. Company employees can not always be present for meetings so having the option of video conferencing alone is beneficial. However, most of the videoconferencing products out today are not very high quality. HDFaces presents a lot of improvements and positives for companies. The video conferencing will be in high definition and according to Christiansen it will allow members of the meeting to see, “details in others’ facial expressions just like in a face-to-face meeting.” Companies want the experience of everyone being present at a meeting and this video will allow it. Another improvement over other videoconferencing is that HDFaces allows the users to share what is on their desktop. This will make presentations a lot easier to get across to employees that are actually present in the meetings. Although some other competitors can allow a sharing of desktop screens. Citrix will allow both video and desktop to be shown on the same screen. HDFaces by Citrix can be very successful for companies by making employees seem like they are actually at the meeting. However, with all the positives there are a couple of negatives from HDFaces and videoconferencing in general.

HDFaces Citrix Multistream first off only allows six streams of video in a session. This may be more then most, but it limits the number of members that can use the videoconferencing at one time. However, videoconferencing general presents some problems. As this technology improves more and more companies will not have people actually present at meetings. This will take away from the interaction of people higher up in these companies and their employees. Another part of this is that if a meeting needs to be called right away, it is not as simple to get in contact with traveling employees. Another negative involved with videoconferencing could also be a failure with the video streams. If a meeting is planned the video could fail and many people involved in the meeting will not be present.

Videoconferencing presents a number of positives and a few negatives. Although I think HDFaces will be successful and can benefit a lot of businesses, companies can not become to reliable on this type of technology. Meetings are meant to have people present and have human interaction. Videoconferencing can take away from this.

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