I too became a big fan of telepresence after my first experience. So much so, that we went out and brokered a deal to bring the top telepresence business event (TelepresenceWorld) into our show, the NAB Show. Our goal is to expedite innovation and growth in the tele-collaboration space to which you refer. We see huge potential around the numerous applications that can be layered over telepresence systems to create an efficient work space. Our show’s focus is on digital media and entertainment, and telepresence will certainly offer content professionals the ability to create and record some incredible media for mutlipoint or mass distribution. Imagine the best in the business being able to come together via telepresence to create great art. Yeah, I am excited about this. Thanks for sharing your experience.

I am the CEO of a start-up here in Nor California, that is going to place “Telepresence” in a public setting, to rent by the hour. Your comments about the technology are right on as it is indeed transformative. However, as with your expericence, the ability to use collaborative tools at the same time is lacking. We recently came upon an article about the architectual firm, “HOK” that is using in conjuction with a Cisco Telepresence product, a product by Polyvision (a Steelcase owned co.) that is a Virtual Flipchart System, that allows for screen sharing, coping, email, remote collaboration and a bunch of other unique tools. We plan on adding this tool to all of our collaborative rooms, as an essential tool for meetings.

Thanks for this post. I think you have framed the main conversation that we will be having this Thursday at our first meeting to explore the creation of a ChangeCamp in the east end of Toronto.

Michael

What’s the risk? That I’m going to open a store just like yours? If that’s all it takes to be better than you then you got bigger problems my friend.

I was pondering the balance of price versus experience. In the Swipe example, I’m glad that the bookstore is there. I’m glad it’s downtown in a prime location. I go there to peruse and relax. I do buy stuff from there but if it’s really easy for me to check on the price of a product at their competitor, I might be more hesitant to make that purchase. The aggregate effect of similar behaviour is that people want the store to be there but aren’t willing to support it when it comes time to whipping out their wallet.

The question becomes how much more, if anything, are customers willing to pay for the retail experience and knowledgeable, passionate staff.

What changes will retail have to make in the immediate future to justify higher prices for the product?

And here’s a link to a NY Times article that is apropos to this conversation: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/business/03unboxed.html?ref=technology

Retailers have always been super conscious of the competitive nature of the business and not allowing photographs to be taken in the store goes back eons. This is such antiquated thinking. Many consumers do their research on line for price and peer recommendations before they even walk into a store. We know what products cost and who has the best price and service before our feet are on the street.

The ability to use SnapTell or to Tweet the cover out for more info is becoming more and more commonplace.

Retailers, like many other businesses, have to learn to let go of many of their old habits. What’s the axiom? The strong survive. This marks a turning point in history and the evolution of retail.

Those who can embrace, adapt to and incorporate this new thinking into their establishments and practices will surely survive. Those who don’t? Well, there’s a story about a dodo bird there somewhere I’m sure