Video Content Improves Learning Results

I had the opportunity recently to speak with two different customers, both from completely different markets, about their desire to use ProtoSphere to deliver learning content to their employees in the form of video. As chance would have it, an article in this month's Elearning! Magazine covers that very topic.

The article quotes a recent study done by the Aberdeen Group showing that companies who use video as a tool in delivering training content are doing a much better job at reaching their organizational goals and keeping learners engaged. According to the study, 59% of organizations surveyed are currently using video content as part of their learning strategies. This; can take the form of internal videos, external, highly produced videos, or even video conferencing.

In speaking to our customers about this, ProtoSphere's support for video playback is an important feature for them, especially when used in the context of a learning engagement. They want their learners to be able to attend a virtual learning event facilitated by an instructor, have them go off and watch a video or two (maybe even have them watch it together), and then come back to the classroom for followup discussions - all within the same platform.

Sixty two percent of our own customers surveyed place a high value on this ability. Truth be told, it's one of the reasons we've worked so closely with Polycom recently to pull live video conferencing into ProtoSphere and have that available as another option. Stored video, live streaming video, video conferences, even videos from YouTube, are all capable of being broadcast within our persistent 3D work spaces.

The full article on the benefits of using video content for learning is available on Elearning!'s website.

Philly Phorum 2013

I’m looking forward to being a panelist again at this year’s Phorum conference on March 21 at World Café Live in Philadelphia. We’re hoping to sell out the venue like we did last year, so make sure to reserve your ticket today!

The Phorum is a great opportunity to see some of the nation's top enterprise technology thought leaders discuss disruptive trends and technologies impacting the way businesses operate and compete in the marketplace. Keynote speakers include top level executives from Salesforce.com, the CIA, SAP, and Forrester.

Yours truly along with Bob Maul, CEO of Artisan Mobile at last year's Phorum.

This year's conference will focus on harnessing new technologies in the areas of big data, mobility, and social computing. You can view the full agenda here.

The event will be held on March 21, 2013 at the World Cafe Live on Walnut Street.

Registration is still open.

Hope to see you there!

Lync Conference 2013: That's a Wrap!

As the Lync Conference wraps up this week, I wanted to take a moment and thank the Microsoft Lync team for having us at the show. One thing is very evident - The Lync partner ecosystem is very much alive and bursting with unique and creative solutions. It is amazing to me seeing all the innovation brewing around the Lync platform that Microsoft has created for smaller software companies like ProtonMedia.

We posted this video up on our website earlier in the week, but I wanted to call it out here as well. This is a case study video that Microsoft filmed about us and ProtoSphere, and shows what we're doing with one of our longest running customers, Merck and Co., Inc.

I'm very proud of all the work that has gone into this newest version of ProtoSphere and I'm looking forward to what the future has in store for our Microsoft partnership.

ProtonMedia Announces Release 2.2 of ProtoSphere 3D Virtual Collaboration Cloud

I'm excited to be writing to you today from sunny San Diego! We're here this week for the Microsoft Lync 2013 Conference where we'll be demonstrating the most recent version of ProtoSphere. If you're at the show, stop by our booth and say hello.  You can also see us at one of the breakout sessions tomorrow where I'll be presenting alongside a few other Microsoft partners. Details below:

Date: Wednesday, February 20
Time: 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Room: Stuart Room
Session Type: Breakout
Session Code: APPS203
Level: 200

We announced the news of the availability of ProtoSphere version 2.2 in a press release today, so I will turn your eyes to that for more details on what we have in store.

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February 19, 2013

LANSDALE, PA

ProtonMedia, the leader in 3D virtual collaboration, announces the availability of Release 2.2, of its award-winning ProtoSphere virtual collaboration cloud.  This latest release adds fine-grained moderator controls and enhanced usage metrics reporting for corporate learning applications.  And for enhanced collaboration uses cases like project management, ProtoSphere 2.2 adds a broadcast-style town hall presentation mode supporting up to 250 users plus the ability to view and remotely control presentation content while performing other activities during a session. These enhancements further the immersive experience of 3D virtual meeting places resulting in an elevated level of productivity for users.

ProtonMedia will be demonstrating ProtoSphere Release 2.2 at the Microsoft Lync Conference 2013, February 19-21 in San Diego, CA.  ProtonMedia’s continued collaboration with Microsoft’s business productivity technologies provides a unified environment of communications and collaboration tools presented to users in a seamless, rich 3D environment for a more engaging environment that expedites and improves learning.

“Enterprises of all sizes can benefit from Microsoft’s productivity software, both on-premise and in the cloud,” said Aamer Kaleem, CTO of Microsoft's Enterprise Lync Voice business. “ProtonMedia’s offering provides its customers with the ability to accelerate their adoption of new technologies across the enterprise and helps increase employee productivity, efficiency, and organizational flexibility.”

“Release 2.2 builds on the immersive, more engaging user experience which results from combining ProtoSphere with Microsoft unified communications. Continuing this vision, we are working to bring Lync 2013 and mobile device support to ProtoSphere in a future release,” said Ron Burns, ProtonMedia CEO.

To request a free trial of ProtoSphere 2.2, visit ProtonMedia’s website at: http://www.protonmedia.com/free-trial/

Heading to Microsoft Lync Conference 2013

Next week we will be in San Diego from February 19-21 for Microsoft's first conference dedicated to Lync.

If you will be attending, stop by # K11 for a preview of ProtoSphere 2.2 which furthers the immersive experience of our 3D virtual environment and Microsoft unified communications. You may even get a sneak peek at what we're doing with ProtoSphere on the iPad.

And, don't miss our CEO Ron Burns' presentation of ProtoSphere with Lync during the Apps Track breakout session #4, "Show & Tell: Communication and Beyond" in the Stuart Room on Wednesday from 2:45pm to 4pm.

More to come from the show!