Video meetings

We have started using Microsoft Livemeeting on a free trail. So far the meetings are going well. The B/C's are setting up the meetings and the Captains are attending from/at the stations. This has improved communication. I am getting good reports from the crews. Everyone seems to like the communication. There are a few dislikes. In Livemeeting it is only possible to see two video images at a time. The videos you see are yours and who ever talked last.

In talking to MS we can fix this with an Office Communications Server (OCS). We have put together a package with E-Sponder to seriously upgrade our video teleconferencing abilities and drastically improve our ability to coordinate emergency response coordination. We are going for a American FireAct Grant (AFG) for roughly 500K. We are going to market this as a best practices model for the fire service and do a proof of concept. Meaning we are going to do a pilot project and then once it is solid and functional offer this up to the Metro region as a model of what can be done. I think this is a huge step. I am very excited by its possibilities.

Just a note I attended a SCFD morning shift meeting from the lobby of my hotel while at FDIC. It works from anywhere. All you need is a laptop, internet connection and a web cam. This going to be a good thing for us all once we get it up and functional. More to follow - Robb