1. What is the innovation?
iSee Video Conferencing solves the challenge of connecting large groups of people via video without crippling internet bandwidth consumption. iSee VC is the breakthrough platform for distance education in virtual classrooms, webinars, workshops, conferences, pitch sessions and team collaboration.
iSee VC uses much less bandwidth than traditional video conferencing and lets you bring together large numbers of people on low-end broadband or cellular data connections. iSee VC’s ‘videoportation’ technology replaces clunky video calls and expensive travel and physical infrastructure. All you need is a computer with regular Internet access, a webcam, speakers and a microphone.
2. What benefits does the innovation bring?
iSee VC users gather in customisable, virtual 3D spaces, with high video and audio quality, using 70-80% less bandwidth than competitors require, even with hundreds of simultaneous participants.
In iSee VC, you can smile, nod, shrug, greet a friend with a wave, or otherwise react naturally in real time, because your avatar is your live webcam video stream. Cross the virtual space quickly to make a connection, rendezvous in a virtual coffee shop, or join a discussion group around a virtual table.
iSee VC has spatial audio that scales to large numbers of participants. Enjoy a clear and intimate conversation with those you choose, while the sound of more distant users fades into the background, just as in real life.
Unlimited interactive display boards let you share, present and collaborate with files and desktop shares. Direct your audience’s attention with a laser pointer and add power to your pitch or presentation with iSee VC’s ever-expanding virtual toolbox.
To set up an iSee VC gathering, you simply email a guest access login to participants. Participants can record their experiences directly to their own hard drive, or you can live stream and record the proceedings for those unable to attend directly.
3. What commercial success and/or benefit to society has it achieved?
The natural interactions made possible by iSee VC promote teamwork and peer-to-peer sharing, deepen engagement in work and learning, and strengthen networks. By enabling social connection, iSee VC boosts morale in dispersed teams and reduces student attrition from distance education.
iSee is currently running long-term pilots with TAFE Digital, the Queensland Department of Education, the University of Southern Queensland, the University of Newcastle, Aurora College and the North-East Public School of Distance Education.
‘It’s wonderful to see students responding and engaging with each other when they use iSee,’ says Graeme Booker, CEO of iSee VC. ‘They work together to explore and experiment with the virtual environments. We feel we have a duty to push on and ensure that other students have the opportunity to learn in this way.’
4. What lessons learnt can you share?
- Attracting sufficient customers to fund iSee operations and development of new features for customers.
- Recruiting appropriately skilled staff within our funding constraints
- The time taken between interest in iSee to trial and then conversion to paying customer.
5. How many new jobs has this innovation created?
Early stages but around 5
Connect with iSee
Video
Watch how Zarah collaborates with her school peers with the iSee technology (especially around the 2:30 mark)!