ONLINE ASSIGNMENT

TOPIC: VIDEO CONFERENCING

INDEX

INDEX

Introduction

Videoconferencing (or video conference) means to conduct conference between two or more participants at different sites by computer to transmit audio and video. For example, a point-to-point (two-person) video conferencing system works much like a video telephone. Each participant has a video camera, microphone, and speakers mounted on his or her computer. As the two participants speak

SL NO CONTENT PAGE NO

1 Introduction 3

2Typical features of video conferencing

4-6

3 Advantages of video conferencing

6-7

4Conclusion 8

5References 9

to one another, their voices are carried over the network and delivered to the other's speakers, and whatever images appear in front of the video camera appear  on the other’s computer.

Telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to communicate by simultaneous two-way video and audio transmissions. Videoconferencing uses audio and video telecommunications to bring people at different sites together. This can be as simple as a conversation between people in private offices or involve several sites in large rooms at multiple locations.

Typical Features of Audio/Video Conferencing Systems

The feature that all of the audio and video products and packages share is the technology of communications through voice audio at a minimum and through smooth full-motion color video at the ideal. The Internet has already been shown to allow simultaneous text communications through 'chat-rooms and bulletin boards'. The following are features offered by many conferencing packages that apply Internet telephony technology.

Full Duplex  voice communication operation with automatic voice detection - allows two or more people to talk simultaneously over the Internet, just like over a regular phone, reminiscent of a 'party line' conversation.

Text Chat tools let speakers type in their contributions even while they or someone else is speaking. Chat text transmission ensures delivery of

the speaker's exact words and gives all participants a written record of the proceedings.

Streaming Video exchange allows real-time viewing of conversation partners. The quality of the moving images depends upon the speed of the connection, but since video conferencing generally entails seated people viewing other people who are also seated in front of their computer monitors, the amount of action is minimal. The movie, therefore, appears smooth and natural. Facial expressions and gestures can be transmitted in sync with the audio. Most importantly, video communication allows the participants to see when their partners are busy typing, or looking away from the monitor, etc., which saves the constant questioning: "are you still there?"

Whiteboard Sharing allows users to collaborate on a single worksheet with text tools, drawing tools and other graphic media.

File Transfer through an Internet telephony system means that the sender can immediately verify receipt of the transferred files and objects. Participants can send each other graphics, sound files, executable files, code, etc., while still in voice/video contact.

Application sharing means that users can share software programs even when only one of the participants actually has that application installed on their computer. This feature enables participants to surf the Internet in tandem when one user acts as the leader.

Using the Internet for any and all functions of a normal telephone includes real-time synchronous audio, answering machine, speed dial, caller ID, call forwarding, automatic dialing, voice mail, etc., and it combines those capabilities with video, graphic, text and other data

transfer protocols. Few of the existing conferencing packages strive to achieve all of those results, but between them, the complete technology is already in use and functioning well

Advantages of video conferencing

1. Significant Travel Savings

The constant climb of air travel prices barely seems like news anymore, and smart organizations are finding alternatives.  Not only is video conferencing a direct replacement for many in-person business trips, but because there is virtually no cost to add additional key employees to a virtual meeting, you can easily bring the right team together.

2. Improved Communication

Video conferencing restores many visual cues necessary in long distance communication. Social psychologist Ray Birdwhistell demonstrated years ago that non-verbal communication constitutes about two-thirds of the communication between people.

For example, eye contact enables us to ‘get’ a message from a speaker that voice communication alone may not successfully convey,

3. Increased Productivity

Everyone has experienced the classic never ending “conference call from hell,” . Important meetings are shorter and more effective.  Video conferencing users report saving a minimum of two hours a week with the technology. The interactivity of group collaboration and document sharing greatly increases productivity.

4. Conferencing Quality

All of the pros and cons of video conferencing hinge on quality. Early versions of video conferencing quality had uneven clarity of the audio and video broadcast. Today, these problem still remain for low-end and consumer systems.  .

Conclusion

Today the technologies are developing a faster rate than the older times the advanced technology facilitates a well developed educational and commercial sector. Until we have worked with a new technology, we

can't fully understand its strengths or its weaknesses. Two-way interactive video conferencing is not the method of teaching Instead of wanting to push others toward interactive videoconferencing as a mode of distance education,. In a recent study of the value of combining video (in the form of tapes or satellite broadcast) to supplement asynchronous interaction

References

Webopedia en.wikipedia

technorhetoric.net/ webgerman.com

Corrected by Anupama M R

Asst. Prof. in Social Science