Suitable Technologies used the trendy SXSW conference in Texas to introduce what the company refers to as remote presence. Their Beam is a moveable feast of videoconferencing.
The walking videoconferencing unit swivels around using 360 degrees and rolls at speeds up to nearly 5km (3 miles) per hour. That’s the “perfect walking speed,” says the company. At that speed their device can comfortably “walk” alongside an employee in the building.
“Video conferencing is cool, walking is cool, so together this is very cool,” says Suitable Technologies CEO Scott Hassan. At least one person agrees: former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neill (aka Shaq) picked Beam as his favorite product at SXSW (and that choice may have given the new Google Shoes unveiled there a foot ache.) Shaq has even offered to invest, says the company blog publicly.
Beam lists for $16,000, and after installation and other startup costs, the final price is actually closer to $20,000. This Beam version, launched last November, is still in rollout with less than 100 contracts currently signed. But among that 100 are Google, Microsoft, Intel and the Mars food company.
Suitable Technologies aims now for enterprise accounts, but thinks Beam could also serve hospitals, schools, and people needing special remote care in the home.
Hassan acknowledges Beam’s biggest barrier to adoption is the strength of the customer’s wireless network. It works over wifi, even at Google their wifi network needed to be adjusted before Beam could roll around the Do No Evil offices.
