VCI has purchased a top of the line Codian Bridge.

Codian MCU 4200 Series

Multimedia Conferencing Unit

The High Performance Voice and Video Conferencing Bridge

The Codian MCU 4200 series is the most powerful conferencing bridge available, delivering the highest quality voice and video with an easy-to-use, versatile interface. Codian’s hardware MCU provides a rich multimedia experience with exceptional audio and visual clarity that makes it easy to communicate, collaborate and share data.  With Codian’s Universal Port™ technology, each model maintains its capacity in every configuration – the MCU 4220 delivers 40 video and an additional 40 voice ports every time. Regardless of the size of your enterprise, Codian’s solution scales to meet your needs for corporate collaboration, distance learning, virtual trading rooms, telecommuting and more.

With Codian’s infrastructure solutions you can conduct business better, every day.

The  system.

• Will allow up to twenty sites in the same conference.
• Each participant can control their own screen.
• Information and documents can be shared.
• Up to 100 people can listen and watch the proceedings.

What is needed to participate?

• A good camera that is compatible with current systems.  (The Polycom Viva Video II is good.  They cost new about $600.00.  A Polycom View Station will allow a group of people to participate per location.
• A DSL line with 256 or better speed capacity.
• The system operates over the Internet. No telephone charges.

The economic potential:   

•  Organizations with bridging capacity charge from $90. to $125. per hour per line. 
• Ten sites in a business conference would cost $900. per hour.  
•  A four hour business meeting would cost approximately $3,600. 

A comparison: (A example only) 

• Ten people flying to Chicago from other US cities and return might spend $5,000. for airfare.
• Ten hotel rooms at $150. per night would be $1,500. 
• Food could add $1000. 
• How much is two days of stress worth? $500. per day for two days could add $10,000.  
• Hard cost: $17,500 versus $3600. 
• What could you do with an extra $13,900? Or, what could you accomplish during the time saved?

How much is the follow up potential worth?

• Each of the ten people who attended the Chicago meeting had one or more good ideas. 
• Most would have resolved to take action steps when they got home.
• Two days later if no action has been taken the idea is cold or forgotten.
• With video conferencing even after a four hour meeting the participant can take that first step.  And, if that step is know to other follow up is likely.
• A completed action step adds energy to the creative process.

Action steps for friends of VCI and Process Learning Centers (PLC)

Get the word out that we have the advanced bridging system available. 

• Contact technology resources we have worked with for the past two years.  ( Brady and Shannon)
• Contact individuals who have worked with PLC during the past twenty years.  (Burl)
• Develop a plan for video conferencing in Rwanda.  (Robin, John, Francis, Felix and Burl)
• Make contact with Rwanda projects in the US.  (Felix , Diane and Burl)
• Contact interested faith organizations.  (Diane)
• Develop plan for education involvement. (Mary Lyn, Tom and Burl)
• Coordinate activities.  (Shannon)
• Revise web pages.  (Steve and Burl)