One company solution to H1N1 containment

November 4, 1:22 PMSF Web 2.0 ExaminerMarianne Pfeifer

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“The wide-spread outbreak of the H1N1 virus poses a real risk to continuing operations for many corporations, government agencies and academic institutions — it’s not just a warning this time,” said Dave Rolston, CEO of Forterra Systems. “The solution we’re offering is a tool that allows your employees to work remotely, stay connected and remain productive. It does not require new equipment or infrastructure. You can start easily and grow, as needed. If you don’t have an effective plan for continuity of operations with the current pandemic you need one — and it should include this solution.”

Photo Credit: Fonterra, Inc.

Forterra Systems, a market leader in private virtual worlds for business, government and educational institutions, today announced the availability of RemoteOperations™ for organizations that need to continue normal operations in the event they are directly affected by the H1N1 flu outbreak. The solution, based on 3D Internet technology, allows users to work from remote locations and be as productive as they would be in live settings without the risk of spreading or being exposed to the potentially fatal virus. Using existing computer and networking technologies found in most businesses, academic or government organizations, the solution allows users to use a PC to log into a secure virtual environment where they are represented as a fully-animated avatar (3D character controlled by a user). Through this avatar-based computer interface, users are able to perform a broad range of communication and collaboration tasks in an immersive, three-dimensional environment that maintains the sense of actually being together. They can share and present a variety of media and documents to other participants with just a few clicks of a mouse. The avatars breathe, move naturally, and perform a broad range of hand and body gestures — just as people do in the real world — which creates a more natural and compelling environment for the participants. The results of all interactions are visible and audible to all participants logged into the environment. 

Photo credit: Fonterra Inc.

Avatars can easily be customized to look exactly like the real users instantly creating recognition and trusted bonds between users in the virtual setting. Users are able to talk to each other naturally through the use of integrated VOIP technology using a headset. A telephony feature is available so that remote users without PCs or Internet access can call into the virtual environment and communicate with in-world users. A session record-and-replay capability is available that collects all actions and communications performed by the users and allows full playback of meetings for review, analysis, debrief and compliance – and to support those who might not have been available at the time the meeting took place. Best of all, the solution can be expanded to support communication and collaboration between a practically unlimited number of users and physical locations — all each user needs is a computer and Internet connection. Available as a custom installation within an organization’s existing IT infrastructure, as an external hosted offering or even via Software-as-a-Service, RemoteOperations can be rapidly deployed on a small scale as a risk reduction pilot, or across a large-scale organization that is already facing serious losses in productivity due to the inability of employees to come to their offices. The hosted and Software-as-a-Services versions are designed to minimize impact on existing IT organizations. Custom installations can be configured to operate strictly within an enterprise’s existing VPN infrastructure to maximize security, or to enable contractors, customers and business partners to interact with employees over the open Internet.

Photo Credit: Fonterra, Inc.

All of Forterra’s solutions can start small and scale to cover the full enterprise, as required. “Immersive technology has great applicability in continuity of operations,” noted Erica Driver, Principal of ThinkBalm, an analyst firm focused on work-related use of the Immersive Internet. “The socialization and community building capabilities this technology provides enable remote workers to stay connected and productive with their onsite colleagues. This use case is a natural extension of the training and collaboration use cases already being pursued by leading organizations.