A Free-Reprint Article Written by: Nermine Shaker

Article Title:
Video Conferencing -- Will It Work for My Company?

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Article Description:
One of the wonders of modern technology is the ability to
use audio and video services to facilitate discussions
between people in different locations. This ability, known
as video conferencing, can be a major convenience in a world
where communication across the globe is necessary.


Additional Article Information:
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843 Words; formatted to 65 Characters per Line
Distribution Date and Time: 2009-10-16 09:00:00

Written By: Nermine Shaker
Copyright: 2009
Contact Email: mailto:nermine.shaker@...



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Video Conferencing -- Will It Work for My Company?
Copyright (c) 2009 Nermine Shaker
The Sygnal Group
http://www.SygnalGroup.com



One of the wonders of modern technology is the ability to use
audio and video services to facilitate discussions between people
in different locations. This ability, known as video
conferencing, can be a major convenience in a world where
communication across the globe is necessary.

It can be vital when individuals need a face-to-face
conversation, when visual cues not present in telephone
communication may be of importance, or if a physical meeting is
difficult or impossible due to travel considerations or time
constraints. It is not ideal in every situation, so it is
important to consider its downsides in addition to its benefits.

A Little History

Video conferencing has been possible since television was
invented. Simple systems have been around since the 1930's, such
as the German Reich Postzentralamt network in Berlin. NASA
developed a much more complex mechanism during the first space
flights, but it was too expensive and could not be used for
business meetings.

The use of telephony, which would have been ideally suited for
such meetings, was difficult to implement since the picture
quality was low and it was difficult to compress the size of
video for transmission. Finally, in the 1980's, digital
technology made it possible to use telephony for
videoconferencing. This was done over the Internet in the
1990's, and services such as NetMeeting and Skype allowed people
to communicate remotely.

The Basics

Systems for videoconferencing consist of input and output devices
for both audio and video as well as a channel for data transfer
(usually the Internet). Cameras, computer monitors, microphones,
and speakers are often sufficient to conduct a successful
videoconference. A company that conducts only occasional
videoconferences may be outfitted with a desktop system, which
consists mainly of several add-ons to its existing computer
systems.

The business that has more frequent videoconferences, however,
may want to consider a dedicated system used solely for these
meetings, which is more advanced than a desktop system. This is
more costly though, and the equipment may be more complex.

Saving Money is Good

Video conferencing has numerous attractions. It is more cost
effective today than it has previously been, with high-speed
Internet and hardware prices falling. Often times it is a much
more budget-friendly option than traveling to conduct meetings.
Many different software options are available, so a company can
pick and choose what it needs.

Video conferencing makes it possible for employees in different
offices to have quick meetings or ones without much advance
notice; this is especially attractive to companies with multiple
locations. Often, individuals do not even have to leave their
desks to attend the meetings. The technology has also made it
possible for many to telecommute and work from home.

Online networks have even begun to use videoconferencing,
allowing businesses to more quickly and easily form relationships
with others. Banking industries, for example, have taken
advantage of this. Companies can even conduct interviews with
potential employees, allowing for many of the pros of an
in-person interview while maintaining the flexibility of a phone
interview.

Do I Hear the Other Shoe Dropping?

There are several shortcomings that need to be considered,
however. As hinted at previously, videoconferencing systems can
be quite complex, so expertise may be needed to set them up.
These systems may also be quite expensive, so it is necessary to
consider how useful they will be to the company before spending a
large sum of money on them. Also, a successful videoconference
requires not just one, but both locations to have access to
high-speed Internet.

But perhaps the largest issues that many have with video
conferencing are matters of personal comfort: eye contact and
self-consciousness. In terms of the former, while eye contact is
absent from normal telephone communication, many find that it is
uncomfortable in a video conference which can give the appearance
that the participant is avoiding eye contact since his or her
focus is often on the screen, not the camera. To compensate for
this, some systems have cameras located in the center of the
screen.

As for the latter issue, many people, used to typical telephone
communication, are not yet accustomed to having their appearance
captured and sent remotely. This, however, is likely to become
less of an issue as video conferencing is more widely used.

Video conferencing is an application of various technologies that
can be of great use to many businesses. Not only can meetings be
conducted more easily, but also other events, such as networking
and interviewing, can be made much easier. Video conferencing is
not without its drawbacks, but as people become more accustomed
to this method of communication, and as technology advances
further and becomes less expensive, many of these issues will
diminish or completely disappear. For now, it may still be a cost
effective and flexible way for people to meet and discuss
important issues for the company.

If you're thinking of using videoconferencing in your business,
you may want to talk to a telecom management professional. They
can help you find what is best for your business and assist in
its implementation.






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Nermine Shaker is a Partner at THE SYGNAL GROUP, a telecom
consulting firm that offers telecom expense management,
telecom auditing and VoIP management to businesses of
all sizes. Find out how to lower your telecom expenses
at http://www.SygnalGroup.com/ or visit our blog at
http://www.TelecomExpertise.com/


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