Why Hardware Trumps Software for Visual Communications

By Tsahi Levent-Levi

Categories: Clients

July 2nd, 2009

I’ve already coined the term “unattended software spoils faster than yogurt in the desert sun.” It deals with my preference of hardware over software.

I guess that having this come from a software guy is a bit weird, but it is still true. In regards to the visual communications industry, it applies even more. We’ve just released our BEEHD product, which allows others to build and manufacture hardware based videophones. We’ve also just announced our partnership with Samsung, together creating a new LCD display that has built-in HD video calling capabilities. Both are hardware based solutions.

What make these solutions superior over software solutions are its peripherals, or more specifically, the fact that you don’t really need them.

Let’s take the Samsung VC240 as an example. It’s an LCD monitor. And that’s it. So:

• No need to connect it to a PC – you can, but it’s not necessary
• No need to buy and install a high quality HD camera – it’s already there, placed in the correct spot
• No need to invest in speakers or a microphone – they’re built into the screen, though, you can connect a headset for privacy

This also removes the need to install drivers, updating them, and making sure all the wires on your desk are de-tangled, yada yada yada.

Just look at what James MacLennan goes through for his first video conference. It’s mostly about peripherals:

I got quick feedback that my original camera position was disconcerting for the others. [...]

Microphone configuration is also very important; some folks are using headsets, while I use the microphone incorporated in the video camera. [...]

We are using inexpensive web cams, not highfalutin’ conference calling hardware. [...]

While James is happy with the results, he had a lot of work to do with the technology in order to be able to use it. That work was mainly peripherals configuration and software-tending.

Software is different than hardware – you need to install it, maintain in, and make sure it doesn’t clash with other applications on the same peripherals. And you need to do it periodically. With hardware it’s a simple matter of connecting the device to the network (and configuring it… once!).

It’s no wonder that Skype is targeting consumer electronics – it can easily increase their network size and usage. They know that hardware beats software, especially if you want to cater to larger audiences.