The Microsoft Office RoundTable is a table-top device that provides synchronized voice and video conferencing. What’s cool is that from a video perspective, it produces “a 360-degree, panoramic video of side-by-side images of everyone who taking part in the conference.” The system can then identify and spotlight the individual who is speaking so that one receives prominence in the conference while delivering one’s comments.
RoundTable works in conjunction with Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Live Meeting, so conference participants can integrate virtual presentations, share whiteboards and transfer files in one homogeneous environment. The system also logs conferences so that users can go back and review what transpired.
The RoundTable system is currently in testing across Microsoft campuses and will soon move into beta testing in the Microsoft Technology Adoption Program. The system is expected to be available at some point in mid-2007 for less than $3,000.