Broad Band Wide Area Networks: Video Teleconferencing

Video Conferencing has been in use for over 30 years now, but with limited success. Video Conferencing has evolved from specially equipped conference rooms to small desktop units, mainly, videophones. Perhaps the most notable attraction to video conferencing, is the money companies can save in travel expenses. No longer do people have to sit physically face to face in order to engage in a meeting. In order to have a true, real time meeting, teleconferencing must be used via broadband communications.

The latest compression technology allows users to substantially decrease the size of video files, which in turn, decreases the required bandwidth or frame rate. In fact, broadband links are not required, if you reduce the frame rate enough. However, the video quality improves with a higher transmission bandwidth.

Current Applications of Video Conferencing

Today, video conferencing is used in a wide variety of professions. Some of the tasks which video conferencing is helping to make easier are:

  • Intra-Departmental Meetings
  • Interviewing Prospective Employees
  • Centralized Corporate-Level Training
  • Sales and Marketing Meeting (National and International)
  • Product Development Meetings Between Contrators
  • Distance Learning
  • Depositions
  • Telemedicine

    • Video Conferencing Etiquette

    When conducting a video conferencing session, here are some good suggestions to help make the experience more successful:

  • Transferring video through a network is not instantaneous. Give the person on the other end time to respond.
  • Keep the other end informed. Tell them if you are about to send something that would tie up the line.
  • Speak naturally and imagine the participants are actually sitting across from you.
  • Pause occasionally so others may make comments.
  • Be aware of what camera you are using.
  • You are not making direct eye contact. This is awkward at first, but you get used to it.
  • Pastel colors are preferred over white, which may glare.
  • Avoid wearing the color red because it tends to "bleed".

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