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How to Crash CES With A VGo Telepresence Robot
January 19, 2012 | David S. Maldow, Esq.

VGo vice president Ned Semonite provided me with a link to download the soft client, as well as a copy of VGo's driving tips. It only took a minute or so to install the client and log in, at which point I immediately found myself at CES. I did a quick 360 degree spin to orient myself, see the booths and people in my area, and then I started driving around. I was hoping to find the exit and head towards the blackjack tables, but before I could get into too much trouble Ned introduced himself and escorted me around the floor. Check out this short video clip showing my perspective of CES from the VGo robot as well as a quick interview with Ned and Jeff Germansky from Verizon. This video may be the first public demonstration of a 4G enabled VGo from the robot's point of view.
Please note, I first noticed the "Maximum Video Bitrate" option in the VGo menu settings (see below) after completing the demonstration drive. I believe it was set on 384 kbps by default. This may have compromised the video quality in the clip above. A higher video bitrate generally means a higher quality video image, VGo may want to consider making the higher bandwidth option the default choice. I would expect that many users will not dig into the settings menus, but have the extra bandwidth available and would appreciate higher quality video. Although, to be fair, the video quality I saw met my expectations for this application.



Why use VGo rather than a standard videoconference solution? VGo users say that attending a meeting via traditional videoconferencing is great, but the mobility offered by VGo adds another element. Work doesn't just happen during meetings. For example, many times the most interesting conversations are out in the hall during a break. If you are on a VGo, you can join this side conversation, but if you are on a monitor on a wall, you will miss out. I could have visited CES on a videoconferencing system installed in an exhibitor's booth. That would have allowed me to have a nice experience with people in front of the fixed camera at that booth, whereas VGo let me truly walk the floor at CES. Just please don't tell the guys running CES that I never paid for a ticket.
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