| Video Conferencing is defined as an interactive | | | | the following hardware; video camera or webcam, |
| means of communications between two or more | | | | microphone, computer or TV, a set of speakers |
| locations. The interactivity is accomplished by | | | | and an Internet connection. Broadband Internet |
| various means but the most common include a | | | | connection would be best for transmitting the |
| live video and audio feed in both directions. Other | | | | large volume of information that is created and |
| options include the use of computers for | | | | will deliver the best results from an audio and |
| displaying slide presentations and interactive | | | | video quality standpoint. |
| whiteboards that allow others to see what you | | | | The final thing that you will need to participate in a |
| are writing on it. | | | | videoconference is a video conference system. |
| Videoconferencing has been around since 1968 in | | | | There are two types of video conferencing |
| various forms. Many of us received our first | | | | systems out there. The first would be a |
| exposure to video conferencing by watching the | | | | dedicated system and the second is a desktop |
| NASA space missions. We saw mission control | | | | system. Within the dedicated system you will find |
| and the astronauts communicating with each | | | | three groups - large, small and individual. The large |
| other in real time. We also gained exposure to | | | | group would be an auditorium full of people and |
| video conferencing by watching the evening news | | | | would be part of a convention or stockholders |
| when they would have several people on live | | | | meeting. The small group would be a classroom or |
| video feeds talking to each other. | | | | boardroom type of a setting and the individual |
| The most common way today that we gain | | | | group, which would be one on one types of video |
| exposure to video conferencing is through the use | | | | conferences. |
| of instant messenger programs. Instant | | | | Each of these different sized groups have their |
| Messenger programs from Yahoo, AOL and MSN | | | | own special needs, which can be the level of |
| have had video conferencing capability for many | | | | expertise that is needed to set them up to the |
| years now. This same concept has made it into | | | | complexity of the equipment that is needed. With |
| the business community to help facilitate | | | | the larger groups, you will need very expensive |
| communications while reducing costs. | | | | equipment and a high level of training to set one |
| The core technology that has made it possible to | | | | up. The classroom or boardroom type of setting |
| have video conferencing is the audio and video | | | | will still need some higher end equipment and |
| compression programs available. This is | | | | training but can be handled by most network |
| accomplished by the information being | | | | administrators. |
| compressed into small packages so they can be | | | | The individual level requires the least experience |
| transmitted over the Internet or dedicated lines. | | | | to set up and use. Most computers today come |
| Video and audio compression software has been | | | | with the equipment you need already installed on |
| improved greatly over the last forty years, | | | | them. The equipment is basic and you can |
| meaning that the packets are even smaller and | | | | upgrade it by buying higher end speakers or video |
| able to be transmitted faster using less bandwidth. | | | | equipment or even a higher quality microphone. |
| This improvement in the quality of the | | | | The software is available for download as part of |
| compression software also means an increase in | | | | any modern instant messenger package. There is |
| the quality of the sounds we hear and the images | | | | higher end software packages that can be |
| we see. | | | | purchased at your local computer store and they |
| Video conferencing used to mean grainy images | | | | generally work with specific video conferencing |
| and sound quality that resembled a tin can and | | | | services. |
| string. Today, thanks to the improved quality of | | | | There are several video conferencing software |
| the software we have, clean, clear and crisp | | | | and services available such as iVISIT, Breeze and |
| video images and high quality sound. Another | | | | WebEx. They all offer services and higher quality |
| benefit of the improvement in the software has | | | | that you will get from an instant messenger |
| been a reduction in the delay that we experience. | | | | program and there is a price that comes with it. |
| This reduction in delay has made it possible to | | | | You will need to do some shopping here to see |
| have real time videoconferences. | | | | who is going to have the best package to meet |
| To be a part of a videoconference you will need | | | | your individual needs. |