Customer Reviews

Videoconferencing: The Whole Picture

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Written by an acknowledged expert in the area of video-conferencing and IP networking, Wilcox's "Videoconferencing - the whole picture" serves an excellent jumping-off point for further investigation into understanding crucial network infrastructure issues surrounding multimedia-over-IP. The concise content expresses this complex subject so well that it makes the material lively for readers.

This book addresses today's hot networking trends, describes high-demand multimedia applications and provides in-depth explanation of the latest developments. It is a truly wonderful book that will teach you how various technologies actually work, how they compare with each other, what the regulatory framework is and what it could become. It is a one-stop book. Demand for multimedia-over-IP could not be more intense, with an exponentially growing number of Internet dreaming of interactive movies, music, and more. As broadband access becomes ever more available, "Videoconferencing - the whole picture" serves as a wonderful book that will teach you how various leading (and lagging) networking technologies work, how they compare with each other, and what the regulatory framework is and could become. It is a one-stop book, as you don't have to go through a book on each of these technologies.

The approach taken in the book is to emphasize core concepts and underlying principles to illustrate detailed textual descriptions. In addition, many carefully prepared illustrations are used throughout the book to enhance the textual explanations. By distilling complex technologies down to the basic issues needed for intuitive understanding, both serious and novice readers are able to gain valuable insights into the exciting world of multimedia communications.

However, the purpose of the book goes beyond making the reader merely conversant in these issues. In fact, it serves to stimulate reflection and further research, to encourage readers to more fully explore the topics covered. Most of the references have been chosen because they are either informative or particularly well written, and useful Internet resources and references have been included as well. Hence, the book can serve as an ideal course reader for video conferencing and multimedia over IP networks.

The chapters of this book are organized as follows. Chapters 1 & 2 provide a detailed introduction to videoconferencing history, terms and applications. Chapter 3 describes numerous (interesting) case studies while in Chapter 4, the author offers a primer on presenting the business case for (or against) videoconferencing. Chapters 5 & 6 area an excellent discussion of the history and technologies that prepared the way for current videoconferencing standards. Chapters 7, 8, and 9 provide a comprehensive view of multimedia standards including Videoconferencing, audio conferencing over IP. Chapters 10 and 11 are a comprehensive review of circuit-switched and packet switched networks, their histories and their future. Chapter 12 describes group videoconferencing issues, while chapter 13 details implementation issues for group applications. Chapters 14 and 15 are dedicated to personal videoconferencing, and provide an excellent resource for that endeavor. Chapter 16 addresses information security issues, and belie the fact that the author is a seasoned data security professional (hence the CISSP after his name). Chapter 17 is a fun chapter discussing a wide swath of technologies that will doubtless receive center-stage attention in future editions of this book. The remaining appendices (there are more than 200 pages of reference material) are an excellent (and valuable) compilation of information including the names and contactact information for numerous standards bodies, detailed MPEG standards, project planning and installation checklists, and numerous product suppliers as well as an excellent glossary of terms.

James R. Wilcox, CISSP, has put forth a tremendous effort in his 3rd edition of 'Videoconferencing the whole picture'. Mr. Wilcox clearly demonstrates this effort in the thoroughness at which he describes the technology that will forever change the way we function at work and home. Any reader interested in videoconferencing or interactive media will be delighted to see that this book includes the past, present and future of these profound technologies. Included are detailed discussions of terms and concepts to bring a full understanding to the enthralled reader. For any professional in the industry this book can be used to provide the background and overall nuances as well as a wonderful reference guide when out in the field.

Jim Wilcox is a recognized leader in the videoconferencing technology knowledge space, and he doesn't disappoint with this latest edition of his seminal work.

Having referenced several other popular titles in the course of my work in the videoconferencing and collaborative computing space, I've come to realize that Wilcox's treatise is the only volume that stands up to the test of providing the reader with outstanding background and historical information through the detailed analysis of the complexities of the technology proper.

All too often, technical books of this nature focus exclusively on the technology without commenting on why and how the technology evolved. Wilcox excels in his ability to convey such information in a way that enhances the technical content of the book, versus simply regurgitating technical specifications and facts. This is specifically why this reference shines above similar efforts. Additionally, the book is quite approachable for newcomers to the field in that it presents very useful and pragmatic application overviews which better balance the theory with the practical.

Now required reading for my engineering team, I highly recommend this book to anyone, beginner or expert, requiring a detailed rundown on this exciting and rapidly emerging technology space. It is an outstanding reference and a "must have" for any complete networking and computing technology library.

The product purchased arrived quickly and in excellent conditin. I have no complaints and would use this seller again.

That why almost 50% of the book are appendices. You will get the very general big picture, but no more deep knowledge.

Have you been thinking of what is the "next big thing"? Wishing for something to take us out of the techno slump we are in? Well, this is a book for you. He's given us details of the industry that would help a business write a plan, evaluate different models of vc, and see around the corner of what is "on the horizon" in vc. It's simply the most you can get in a single volume. Hey, it has humor in it too, like the part about the nascent higher level mpeg technology-- This technology challenges us to imagine a time when, out of the massive quantity of digital content, we'll be able to locate the exact location and spot where... (well I won't spoil it for you) READ THE BOOK ... IT's GREAT!