Often the right peripheral device can make the difference between a successful VTC system and one that gathers dust. If people can t use the room to meet in a way that is comfortable and familiar, using the skills they have developed over the years, they will look elsewhere for help. Whether users want to project overhead transparencies, run a PowerPoint presentation, draw on the walls, or just stand up in front of the room to deliver their pitch they will be more comfortable and productive if you integrate the appropriate tools into your system. There are dozens of specialized peripheral enhancements for VTC systems, ranging from simple graphics/copy-stand cameras to touch-sensitive whiteboards equipped for collaborative computing. Here is a look at two of the most useful:

Copy-Stand Cameras

Probably the most common VTC accessory, copy-stand cameras allow users to capture, transmit, and share images of printed documents or 3-D objects ( see Figure 4-13). They are often used to incorporate printouts of spreadsheets, graphs, and photographs into the meeting process. For general use, the small footprint Elmo DT-100AF (under $1,200) is a good choice. For users requiring high-resolution and flexibility, the powerful Canon DZ-3600U (priced around $5,000) will capture the image of an entire page of 8-point type and feed it into your system via a universal serial bus (USB) or S-Video connection. Sony, Epson, JVC, Panasonic, VideoLabs, and Samsung, also make good-quality copystand cameras and visual presenters.

Figure 4-13: Copy-stand cameras enable VTC users to...