These devices often have electronics and optics superior to low cost stand-alone cameras. When a codec senses motion, the algorithms become even more computationally demanding. This tends to slow down the compression engine. So, video quality can be improved by minimizing motion content. For example, a camera that refocuses automatically or changes its brightness setting automatically sends data to the codec that is interpreted as motion because there is a large change in data content from frame to frame.
Eye contact is an important part of the videoconferencing experience.
Hence it is important to position the camera you are looking into as close as possible to the image on the screen of the person with whom you are conferencing. This is one area where group systems have an advantage over desktop systems. With a desktop PC-based system, where you are typically 18 inches from the monitor, you can typically look at the other person or look into the camera, but not both at the same time. When you are talking, try to concentrate on looking into the camera, not at the other person s image. This takes some practice.