Make it more personable: IRS explores rich media communications
What are the chances that tax payers will be interacting with IRS using the latest video technology?
I was flying back home a couple of weeks ago and one of my fellow passengers was reading a newspaper. Something caught my attention. . . Internal Revenue Services (IRS) running trials of using video conferencing for virtual tax audits. No one likes tax audits but if it does happen to you, it would be less intimidating to deal with a real live person whom you can see and talk to and address your audit questions. I did a bit of research on the IRS technology trial after returning home.
HP recognizes that you are moving toward video ubiquity and the explosion of tablets and smartphones. Innovations like HD profile technology and IRF are enabling this transition. I believe the key to the successful transformation is how simple the rich media communication solution is to use. Be it an IRS audit or two doctors collaborating on patient care, the solution has to be easy for IT to deploy and support over the existing infrastructure. I cannot imagine anyone doing a rip and replace of their infrastructure to enable video. It is financially impractical – this is where the standards based and open solutions like HP FlexNetwork make it easy to integrate and interoperate with existing IT investment.
Where Rich Media Communications Solutions from HP and Polycom fit in
The HP and Polycom® Rich Media Communications (RMC) solution that combines HP Networking products based on HP FlexNetwork architecture with Polycom RealPresence Platform which provides a comprehensive software infrastructure for universal video collaboration. The solution is integrated with Microsoft® Lync which makes it easy to access and use as part of users’ day-to-day work function. Consider the tax auditor being able to click on instant messenger and be able to help the citizen – be it answering tax questions or helping with interpretation of tax rules. The article quoted multiple benefits from speedy processing to cost savings for the agency and ultimately the taxpayers.
I am sure the practical implementation of video as a mainstream vehicle for interacting with the IRS is a little ways away. It is very progressive of the IRS to embrace technology in serving the general public and shun the stoic image the agency has built over the years.
Are there other interesting use cases of video that you have come across? Post your comments please.
>>Read other blogs on this topic:
2 new solutions to help you simplify unified communications deployments
3 steps to help users adopt video collaboration faster in your business
>>Download this HP Polycom solution configuration guide for video.
>> Learn more about HP rich media communications solutions.
>> Learn more about HP Networking products and solutions.
Follow HP Networking on Twitter and Google+ | Join HPN LinkedIn Community | Like us HPN Facebook
