About EduPlex Connect

EduPlex Connect was created to provide high quality interactive video conferencing for a few to hundreds of people at the same time.  Unlike limited competitors that allow a small number of tiny videos, we use large, high quality video for all participants, with full interaction capability.  Our presentation system, resource library, document sharing and package features enable powerful business meetings to be created and easily repeated for multiple audiences. 

You can review our competitor comparison chart here .

Features and Benefits

The design of EduPlex Connect was driven by our experience with online education to a wide range of students, from non-technical to nerd, as well as by bad experiences we have had with the a number of competing video conferencing systems available on the market today.  They are all based on the assumption of a free-for-all discussion, where you can see a limited number of participants on tiny videos, and everyone can talk at the same time.  Or, they use a combination of toll-based teleconferencing plus limited number of delayed videos.

Free-for-all conversations work reasonably well when people are physically in the same room, but it fails to work well for a number of reasons with internet-based video conferencing.  And, it does not create a quiet, controlled environment for a meeting, presentation or discussion.  Finally, desktop sharing audio teleconference with a few add-on videos is not really video conferencing.

EduPlex Connect is a radical new and unique approach to human interaction over the internet.  It was created to address the many problems we have expreienced when using other systems.  Here are some of the benefits of our unique solution:

1. Feature:  Large, High-Quality Video:  Because we show only the video of the person speaking, we can use a larger, higher quality video than our competitors.  This allows you to see all of the facial expressions of the speaker, without the distractions of many other tiny, blurry, low frame-rate faces at the same time.  We identify the speaker with a name banner at the bottom of the video, so you never have to wonder who you are listening to.  We also provide audio alerts that allow you to focus on the camera and not the interface when you are speaking.
   
   Benefit:  Focused conversations with the ability to connect emotionally with other attendees.
    
2. Feature:  No Background Sound Buildup from Multiple Open Mics:  Only one mic is open at a time - the mic for the person who also appears in the video, lip-sync, managed automatically!  This dramatically reduces confusion and difficulty in hearing what someone is saying, not to mention the sanity of the host/facilitator.  ABSOLUTELY NO HEADPHONES REQUIRED!
   
   Benefit:  Fewer distractions, allows you to focus on the subject at hand.  Each person gets to present their point without interruption from other attendees, giving a professional feel to the meeting.  No management overhead for the host/facilitator.
    
   
3. Feature:  No Feedback or echo:  Another benefit from a single open mic is that there is no echo or feedback problem. Your mic is never open when sound is playing from your speakers:  you are either talking or listening.  The problem with multiple open mics (besides background noise buildup) is that unless each person is wearing earphones, you often hear an echo - actually multiple echos - whenever anyone is speaking.  This is a major problem with other video conferencing systems, and very distracting.
   
   Benefit:  You have complete, professional control over the flow of the meeting.  This leads to effective meetings that stay calm and focused, without distractions.
   
   
4. Feature:  No Computer and Internet Connection Overload:  We require only ONE video stream for each participant - either outgoing when speaking, or incoming when listening.  The result is a larger, higher quality video and a faster frame rate, for more natural interactions.  Other systems that use multiple videos put a large demand on your computer and on your internet connection.  For example, if you are talking with 4 people, each has 4 video streams incoming and 1 outgoing.  Many computers are strained with doing a good job with one video stream, and the result is that you end up with tiny, blurry video images, and/or you get a few frames per second on each video.  Under this processing load, computers are prone to crash and disconnect, or lose audio and/or video streams from one or more participants.
    
   Benefit:  Meetings are much less likely to be interrupted due to computer crashes.  Video images are large, so you can see the facial expressions in real time.  This leads to better communication and fewer interruptions.
    
5. Feature:  Easy support for Many Participants:  EduPlex Connect easily supports larger groups for full, interactive video conferencing, all under the control of one or more facilitators.  While not designed to be a broadcast system, we can support hundreds of participants, all with full interactivity.  The processing load and internet bandwidth for each participant is exactly the same as for a 2-person conference!  Other systems limit you to 4 or 6 or even 8 video participants at a time, and as you add more conference attendees, the problems of overload, background noise, and echos get worse and worse.  This is a really big problem for international conferences, with even larger delays!  We eliminate these problems completely.
   
   Benefit:  Setting up a meeting is easy no matter how many attendees you anticipate.  No need to decide who gets to be seen, and no distraction trying to manage a larger meeting with fewer videos.
    
6. Feature:  No Talk-Over and Start-Stop Conversations:  Our simple conferencing approach of one person speaking at a time completely eliminates talk-over, battles for dominance and start-stop conversations.  The biggest problem facing video conference providers for internet-based video conferencing is the inherent delay.  The 1 to 2 second delay between when you speak and when the other attendees hear you is the result of the processing of the video stream at the point of origination, internet transmission delays, streaming server processing delays, and processing delays at the receiver.  This causes a problem where multiple people start talking at the same time, but don't realize it until several seconds later.  At that point, they all typically stop talking, and listen.  After the delay, they all hear no one talking, and do it all over again.  This makes conversations bog down and creates substantial frustration.  We call this "start-stop" conversations.  The other problem is multiple people trying to talk at the same time.  These problems do not exist with our new approach to video conferencing!
   
   Benefit:  Yet another source of distraction and unprofessional chaos eliminated!  Allows everyone to focus for more efficient decision-making or presentation.
    
7. Feature:  Simple One Button User Interface:  That's right!  A single, large button allows you to take the floor, release the floor, raise your hand, and lower your hand!  A text area allows you to send text comments or questions, and see comments from other participants.  You can also directly transfer the floor to another participant by clicking on their name in the attendee list.  Hosts/Facilitators have many additional features, including the ability to take back the floor, and to direct conversation flow by simply clicking on the person they want to speak next.  Our interface does not get in your way, and allows users to be comfortable within a few minutes of use.
   
   We also include a built-in introduction video you can play for your attendees to aquaint them with the system operation.  Simple, easy!
    
   Benefit:  Your participants will quickly learn how to use the system, with full participation.  The lack of complexity invites even the most computer-wary person to participate.
    
8. Feature:  Very Low Cost:  EduPlex Connections handles conferences from 2 to hundreds with the same, simple interface.  The cost per participant is lower than long-distance telephone rates.  Our system is extremely low cost, and provides exceptional professional service both nationally and internationally.  We set our prices to offer more for less against all of the competition!  Click here to view our rate plans.
    
   Benefit:  Freedom to use the system for more business and personal interactions, at a lower cost and with better function than our competitors.
   
   
9. Feature:  Security Made Easy:  If you require security, our business solutions allows encryption for the audio/video stream!  It's as simple as that!  This does put a slight additional load on your computer, but eliminates the possibility of someone snooping on your conversation!
   
   Benefit:  No worries about being overheard!  Eliminate concerns about snooping from competitors or less-than-friendly governments.
    
10. Feature:  Actually Useful Conference Recording:  Recording conferences is a common feature, but how do you record a conference that uses teleconference plus one or more videos?  The result is not what you want:  a complete video and audio record of the entire conference experience, as if you were there.  We deliver on this promise.  Conference recordings can be offered to conference invitees that missed the conference, or even as presentations.  Why repeat yourself over and over?  Do it once, and offer the recording free or at a price you set.  Download it to edit it for use on a DVD or other delivery system.  Storage is provided as part of all accounts.  Additional storage is also available in the case where you need more than is included in your account package.
    
    Benefit:  Gives you a perfect record of the meeting for use in multiple ways.
     
    
11. Feature:  Simple Access to Multiple Types of Content:  All you need to invite someone to a conference is a simple, unique code.  This plus a url is all they need to attend a conference, view a previous conference recording, download files before a conference, or take a short course before the conference.  This is a complete, integrated solution!  Save the talking for the interesting stuff:  answering questions!  Leave the content presentation to a recorded conference or short interactive course, developed on our easy to use authoring system!
    
    Benefit:  Adds depth and content to your conferences.  Allows you to focus on questions and discussion rather than "information transfer."
     
12. Feature:  Open Seating Option:  Expand the number of people in your meeting for special events beyond the limit set by your account.  You can pay for additional seats, or have the attendees pay.  For some business accounts, you have the ability to require additional registration information from attendees, all available to you in event reports after the event.
    
    Benefit:  Allows you to purchase an account that is right-sized for your typical meeting, while allowing you to expand for special occasions.    Registration information allows you to capture critical information about your attendees.
     
13. Feature:  Multi-Host Accounts:  We offer both single and multi-host accounts for business.  A multi-host account allows a company to assign as many sub-accounts out to employees as needed.  Each sub-account can set up and host meetings.  The only restriction is that the total number of seats used by all sub-accounts at once does not exceed the master account maximum.
    
    Benefit:  Allows a much more efficient use of account resourses at a much lower cost than our competitors, who charge additional subscription fees for each additional sub-account.
     
14. Feature:  Resource Library:  This unique system allows you to upload documents and presentations, and to package them for use with video conferences.  Documents in the package are available to all attendees to download during or before the conference.  Presentations in a package can be selected and presented by the host/facilitator.  For multi-host accounts, the master account holder can create groups, such as the marketing department, the executive team, and the development team, for example.  Packages can be shared with sub-accounts individually or by groups.  Sub-accounts can also create their own private resource library, and can share them with defined groups or other sub-accounts.  For multi-host accounts, you can even have multiple facilitators in the same meeting, all with the enhanced control features and ability to manage presentations and conversation flow.
    
    Benefit:  This allows packaging and reuse of resources for business meetings, customer presentations, board meetings, and discussion groups.  It dramatically increases the uesfulness of the system.
     
    
15. Feature:  Includes Your E-Commerce Solution:  You can offer conferences, downloads, and courses for free, or you can charge each attendee whatever price you choose.  Set up your own online paid conference events!  Create content, documents, and video discussions around your area of expertise!  We take a small precentage of your sales price to cover our e-commerce and other costs.  Our conferencing system is your key to turning your expertise into an income stream!
    
    Benefit:  Create an income stream from your experties.
     
16. Feature:  Support for Attendees w/o Webcams:  EduPlex Connect supports mic-only attendees as well as text-only attendees.  Mic-only means you can talk and text.  Text-only means you can make comments and ask questions, but you can't take the floor.
    
    Benefit:  Anyone can attend your conference - no extra hardware is required.
    
    
17. Polling and Voting:  If you want your attendees to vote on an issue, or take a poll, EduPlex Connect makes it easy!  We show both the number of attendees as well as how many hands are raised.  To make it even easier, we indicate by color if the measure has passed!  Plus, the facilitator can put all hands down with a single click!
    
    Benefit:  Easy voting and polling
     
18. Bandwidth Control:  The facilitator can select from three bandwidths, with varying video and audio quality, for both HiQ (High Quality) mode and standard mode, for 5 bandwidth settings in all.  This allows attendees with marginal connections to participate in the conference.  Combined with the use of microphone only mode, a conference attendee with limited internet connection speed can attend your conferences.
    
    Benefit:  Support a wider range of attendee internet connections
     
    
19. Conference Time Extension:  You set your meeting for a specific length, but just as you are getting to the end of the alloted time, a very important discussion begins.  What to do?  The facilitator has the ability to extend a conference in 15-minutes blocks, as needed!
    
    Benefit:  No longer do you have to stop a meeting because you didn't allocate enought time!
    

Can you believe it?  This is not even an exhaustive list of features!  If you are interested in experiencing an EduPlex Connect demonstration for evaluation purposes, please contact us .