The old saying “You had to be there” is becoming increasingly obsolete in this Internet world, at least as far as corporate meetings are concerned.

Clients of Matrix Video Communications are discovering that videoconferencing has become so sophisticated that meetings involving corporate employees in two or more cities no longer require travel.

In fact, “being there” by videoconferencing is barely different from, well, being there.

“Using the technology we supply, you can have a pretty realistic meeting without travelling,” says Matrix president Glenn Burgess.

The Matrix Video Communications team – including, from left, Marielle Franco, Glenn Burgess and Shelly Burgess – have the latest products to help your business.

Videoconferencing equipment is just part of what Matrix does, but it’s causing some excitement in the business world these days because of recent advances in the technology. No longer a costly purveyor of jerky video images on a tiny screen, videoconferencing has rapidly grown up.

“It’s now a self- contained, small unit that sits on top of a table or, in our case at Matrix, a TV in our board room.

“It consists of a camera and an encoder unit, which is kind of the magic box that takes that analogue image into digital and allows it to go over the Internet, over our network, and be received at the other end, decoded and displayed on a television or a projector.”

Wireless remotes at each meeting site allow meeting participants to pan a room, zoom in or out or lock onto a speaker when desired.

Burgess’s company uses the system regularly for teleconference meetings via the Internet between its Calgary and Edmonton offices.

“There have been many times where, rather than drive or fly up just for the day for a half-hour or 45-minute meeting, we’ve done it by videoconferencing.

“It’s effective. It’s so much better than a telephone.”

The link is simply through an Internet service provider, which in Matrix’s case costs $79 a month.

“Now, we’ve added videoconferencing to it,” Burgess says. “So, for no additional cost, from a network infrastructure standpoint, we can video conference between the two offices without long-distance charges. If we picked up the phone and talked for an hour, you’re going to pay some money for that.”

The effect is impressive to anyone who hasn’t seen videoconferencing in action for a while.

“You’re looking at a life-size figure of the person you’re communicating with, and after you get used to it, you think you’re in the same room with that individual.”

Videoconferencing’s surging popularity can be attributable to its increasing simplicity, and that also applies to another system, called a “media site live” product.

Unlike the two-way video teleconference, this alternative is one-way. It can broadcast a presentation or speech to hundreds or thousands of employees at widely scattered company offices that have a screen and sound system wired to the Internet.

“It’s easy to use, not expensive and a great way to get that message out,” Burgess says.

“It can be archived, so employees can watch it live or watch it on the night shift. It’s pretty exciting technology, and it’s all connected with communications.”

Burgess, his wife Shelly and two business partners founded the company 10 years ago when the Burgesses moved to Calgary from Vancouver. They saw the business potential of this hot local economy, and knew the communications side of it was going to be a growth industry.

Over the years, an important part of Matrix’s work has been – and continues to be – supplying broadcast and professional video equipment to TV and radio broadcasters, independent production companies, educational institutions and corporations with in-house production departments.

Matrix has expertise in every aspect of video and communications technology. Experienced staff can provide clients with information and advice on all products ranging from presentation and display equipment to audio/video and digital production software.

“The first three people we hired 10 years ago are still here,” Burgess says. “Our people have many years of experience. Things change, but at the same time they really just evolve. Once you’ve built up some experience, it keeps coming and training is ongoing.”

Matrix Video Communications has also built up an impressive array of equipment. Its rental inventory alone is worth $1 million and is routinely used by broadcasters for national sports events, commercials and other forms of production.

Customers across the Prairie provinces tap into Maxim’s supply of projectors and plasma screens, Digital Betacam, DVCAM and MiniDV cameras. Matrix also offers a wide variety of lighting equipment, tripods, power supplies, microphones and accessories – as well as virtually any type of blank media a client might need.

“Matrix can also provide you with consultation and training to help you ensure that you get the most value from the products and manufacturers we proudly represent,” Burgess says.

For more information, call 403.640.4490 in Calgary or go to www.matrixvideocom.com.