Table 2.

Attribute Comparison

ATTRIBUTES	TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS	CLOUD SYSTEMS
Video quality	Built-in video resolution	Potential windowing/resolution issues
Audio quality	Built-in audio quality control	Potential echo/feedback and loudness issues
Multipoint scalability	Difficult, may need special devices	Built-in multipoint capability, theoretically unlimited
OS/hardware	Built-in OS and PTZ camera control	Need to appraise computer capabilities compatibility, work around limited camera control
Interoperability	High, follows H.323 standard	Low, not standardized
Content sharing	Built-in but limited	Built-in with multiple sharing features
Security/network management	Network management/coordination required	Little network management needed, none for some systems
Interface	Difficult, assumes trained users	Easy, intuitive graphical interfaces intended for anyone
Archiving and Webcasting	Limited	Built-in/easy for some systems
Cost	Expensive, especially for end-point appliances	Expensive for servers, cheaper for clients

OS, operating system; PTZ, pan, tilt, and zoom.