Cisco Webex Cinematic Meetings
Get to distance zero with AI-powered video devices.
By Radoslav Tsochev, Systems Architect, Cisco Systems
The Evolution of Meetings
'Video-enabled' requires more than a camera and monitor.
Description of a modern, well-lit conference room with a long table, chairs, a large display screen on the wall, and a video conferencing bar above it.
Expectations Have Changed
As the world went remote, we got used to seeing everyone calling into a meeting with equal representation on the screen.
Description of meeting layouts: Pre-pandemic (a few people in a room, one person on a screen), Remote (a grid of many participants on screens, representing a fully remote meeting), Hybrid (a mix of in-room participants and remote participants shown on screens).
User Experience Challenges
Companies are still grappling with user experience. Fatigue is real. We need to enable hybrid collaboration in more spaces while reducing the cognitive load on remote participants.
- 88% of workers are frustrated with in-office experiences.
- 90% of conference rooms are not video-enabled.
- 98% expect that future meetings will involve remote participants.
- 95% of workers experience video meeting fatigue.
Sources are cited in the original document.
Cisco's Device Portfolio for Video-Enablement
Cisco offers a portfolio of devices designed to video-enable any space and bridge distance.
For Home Office/Huddle Spaces:
- Desk Series
For Meeting Spaces:
- Room Bars and Room Kits
- Board Pro
- Room Kit EQX
Also featuring the Webex AI Assistant.
Creating Inclusive Meeting Experiences
Features include:
- ? Supporting multiple, well-placed cameras if needed.
- ↔️ Following the action around the room.
- ? Automatically framing participants.
- ? Seamlessly switching between scenes.
- ? Adapting to modern office workspaces.
These solutions are cost-effective, and simple to deploy, manage, and use.
Cinematic Meetings Directed by RoomOS
Definition of cinematic: "relating to, suggestive of, or suitable for motion pictures or the filming of motion pictures cinematic principles and techniques cinematic special effects."
Delivering "The best view in any meeting, at any time."
Unparalleled AI-Powered Cinematic Meetings
Powered by Cisco and NVIDIA.
RoomOS:
- Optimized AI software for image processing, speech recognition, face detection.
- Purpose-built Cisco devices designed for collaboration use cases with intelligent cameras, mics, and codecs.
NVIDIA:
- Most powerful AI/ML engines – up to 20x faster – to power next generation intelligent workflows.
This combination enables "AI at the edge" and "Cloud scale AI" for "People Focus" and "Multistream experiences" within Webex.
SPEAKER Features
See the active speaker face on.
Support for extended reach speaker mode to support larger rooms up to 15 meters.
DEVICES REQUIRED:
- Speaker – up to 6 meters: All Room and Board devices, except the Cisco Room Kit Mini.
- Extended reach speaker mode – up to 15 meters: Cisco Room Kit Pro or a Cisco Room Kit EQ, Cisco Quad camera, Cisco PTZ 4K camera, Cisco Table Microphone Pro.
Supported platforms: [Teams], [Zoom], [Webex].
Tune into the conversation.
Description of four people sitting at a table, engaged in conversation.
- Capture contributions from everywhere in the room.
- Tune into active speaker's non-verbal cues.
- Become fully immersed in what is being said.
- Seamless switching between speakers.
PRESENTER AND AUDIENCE Features
Follow the presenter around on stage.
Description of a presentation space with a stage, a presenter, a screen showing a presentation, and an audience in tiered seating.
DEVICES REQUIRED:
- Cisco Room Kit Pro or a Cisco Room Kit EQ.
- Cisco PTZ 4K camera.
- 2-3 third-party displays.
- Cisco microphones can be added.
Supported platforms: [Teams], [Zoom], [Webex].
For inclusive hybrid presentations
Description of a split view showing a presenter on a stage on the left, and a grid of remote participants on the right.
- Allow the presenter to move freely around the stage while being seen by everyone.
- Seamlessly switch between the presenter and the audience, to gauge facial expressions and reactions.
- NEW Hybrid Presenter mode: Have an in-person and remote speaker present together.
CROSSVIEW Features
Turn every hybrid meeting into an experience.
Description of a large, U-shaped conference room with multiple displays showing participants.
DEVICES REQUIRED:
- Cisco Room Kit EQ/EQX.
- 1x Cisco Quad camera.
- 2x Cisco PTZ 4K camera.
- Cisco Table Microphone Pro.
Supported platforms: [Teams], [Zoom], [Webex].
Experience the ultimate in-room context.
Description of four close-up portraits of individuals, suggesting individual focus.
- Experience the most natural and effective conversation, all directed by RoomOS.
- A true cinematic experience: intelligent, automatic switching between cameras.
- Flexible and easy to set up over IP.
- Simple to manage in Control Hub.
CAMPFIRE SET-UP
A new blueprint for your hybrid boardroom.
Description of a circular boardroom with a central table and multiple displays, showing a large group of people.
This is a custom, partner-led configuration that is tailored to each specific customer's need. Please contact your partner for more information.
Supported platforms: [Teams], [Zoom], [Webex].
Meet eye-to-eye.
Description of a grid of participants, similar to a video call layout, but presented as an in-room experience.
Enable cinematic experiences in boardrooms for round-table discussion. Remote participants will see and hear in-room participants with razor-sharp clarity and feel part of the discussion.
Supported platforms: [Teams], [Zoom], [Webex].
FRAMES
Level the playing field.
Description of "Before" and "After" views illustrating individual framing.
- Individually frame in-room participants.
- Remove unnecessary space and put everyone at eye-level.
- Allows remote participants to see everyone face-on, for inclusive hybrid meetings.
Supported platforms: [Zoom], [Webex].
AI Virtual Zoom Enhancement
Extended reach without compromising quality.
Description of a large room and a person with a "Virtual lens enabled" overlay.
The new AI virtual lens uses intelligent image processing to enable longer reach in longer rooms at high quality.
Availability: Manual preview in Q2 2024 on the Board Pro G2 and Room Bar Pro. Full AI directed functionality on RoomOS in the second half of 2024.
MEETING ZONE
Turn any space into a collaboration zone.
Description of a defined meeting area within a larger space, with cameras and sensors.
- Prevent the cameras from picking up and framing people outside of a set meeting zone.
- Turn any open space into a collaboration zone, or avoid detecting people behind glass walls.
- Distraction-free meetings in any space.
Supported platforms: [Teams], [Zoom], [Webex].
Better Together
Webex Meetings on Cisco Devices.
People Focus Layout Option
Description of "Before" and "After" views showing the People Focus layout.
Create the best view for every participant in a Webex Meeting by doing smart cropping to remove excess floor and ceiling space, making sure that no one is missing out, and no one is left behind.
Available in Webex Meetings*.
Supported platforms: [Webex].
Achieve Equity in Hybrid Meetings
Description of a screen showing Frames and People Focus in action.
Create equity in hybrid meetings with Frames and People Focus.
Get a First Class Seat in the Hybrid Meeting
Description of a split view showing room overview and active speakers.
Ensure even better in-room representation for remote meeting participants by sending both an overview of the room and the active speaker. Experience cinematic meetings with multistream for Webex on Cisco devices.
Available in Webex Meetings*.
Coming soon: CY24.
Camera Controls:
- Group: The camera will adjust to show everyone.
- Frames: The camera will zoom and show people individually or in smaller groups.
- Speaker: The camera will follow the person speaking.
- Speaker & Group: The camera will show the view of the room and the most active person in the room at the same time.
- Manual: Manually adjust and save the camera views you need.
Supported platforms: [Webex].
