What is Video Conference?
The major difference between telepresence and video conferencing is the cost of the equipment, the number of users involved in the meeting and the quality of the sound and video. Telepresence usually allows for a group of individuals to be involved in a meeting where only one person is involved on each end of the conference.
Professional video conferencing equipment has a general cost that is in the $30,000 range when set up in a professional setting. Dedicated equipment is used for this purpose and such is the case on the other end as well. Quality of the video conference is often dependent on the type of connection between each location. Those using a T1 data line will often see better results than those that depend on DSL or cable broadband.
Besides the audio and visual transmission of meeting activities, videoconferencing can be used to share documents, computer-displayed information and whiteboards. Both parties can share this information back and forth using specially developed software. The whiteboards can be used to develop new ideas on a subject or product and each participant of the video conference can annotate on the other person’s markings.
The first uses of video conferencing go back to the days of the space program and when television networks would use satellites to transmit video and sound between locations. While effective, the price of such transmissions was costly even in those days. AT&T developed products back in the 70’s that used slow-scan video and regular telephone lines in an attempt to offer video conferencing between locations. While some found it acceptable, the Picturephone was not as popular as the company expected.
Consumer-based video conference equipment didn’t obtain any major success until broadband internet access became available in the United States and in areas around the world. The general public could use programs such as NetMeeting, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and SightSpeed to keep in touch with friends and family. The most successful program however, is Skype. With millions of users worldwide, it is found on many computer systems. Television shows such as Oprah Winfrey often invites guests that are made available through Skype.
There are several things to consider when you are in the process of purchasing a professional VTC (video teleconference) system. One of the most important concerns should be the AEC (acoustic echo cancellation) features of the unit. If not considered, the remote party could hear their own voice returning back to them during the conversation. Strong reverberation could also occur and there could also be what is known as howling that is created by feedback.