In the past decade, technology innovation has changed the business environment to become something entirely unlike what it ever was before. The ever advancing improvement in communication technology is one of the areas that have pushed the business world to the position it holds currently. Email has made the long waits between business partners nearly obsolete. Paper letters took weeks and even months to reach their destination in the past and now emails are sent and received in an instant. More recent developments include web conferencing and video conferencing. What is it? Video conferencing is the use of communication technology to hold meetings between different parties in different locations with the ability to see each other. The use of cameras and microphones embedded in systems at the locations record and transmit video and audio at one location and broadcasts it in real-time at the other location, where the same is occurring. This allows both parties to have the feeling of being within the same vicinity of the other parties taking part in the video conference. As the name implies, there can be multiple parties involved at a myriad of different locations. As long as each location has a system with capabilities to record the group there and a connection to the network in which the broadcast is being made, that party can be seen and heard by the other groups in the conference. Likewise, that group can also hear and see the other groups participating. Video Conferencing in the World In today’s business world, video conferencing takes place every day. It has allowed representatives from different countries to meet and discuss matters without leaving their own offices. But now with the advancement of the internet and the reduced cost of high-speed internet (broadband), regular people can now also use video conferencing. Programs like Skype, Oovoo, and MSN Messenger allow everyday internet users to video conference friends and relatives in other places The programs use voice over IP systems to allow call over the internet instead regular lines for free. Video conferencing software is often integrated with a instant messaging system to allow for talking and sending messages and files. Video Conferencing at San Jose State The use of video conferencing has recently been utilized in school across the world to bring a new perspective into the classroom. Classes can now connect and converse with students and professors across the world in other countries. San Jose For more information on Video Conferencing visit: |