Communication Methods : Video Conferencing

Video conferencing uses the telephone network to transmit video images from one location to another. These video images can be transmitted and received by computers with cameras attached or by specialised video conferencing hardware.

Video images can not be sent down a single telephone line. Usually many lines are required at the same time to send a high quality video picture, so using video conferencing is expensive.

Video conferences can take place between just two people. Frequently however many people, all at different locations, take part in a video conference at the same time. Large companies often use video conferencing systems. It can be much cheaper to hold a video conference than to bring a lot of people together to hold a normal conference. This is especially likely to be true if the people involved in the conference work a long way away from each other.

Video conferencing can be achieved much more cheaply by using web cameras on the Internet, but the picture quality will not be as good. An even cheaper solution to hold a meeting between people at different locations is to use teleconferencing. In a teleconference only sound is transmitted. A teleconference is effectively a telephone call but with many people taking part in it instead of just two.

Advantages	Video conferences can bring a large number of people together to hold a conference without them having to travel. This can save money. Live video pictures can be sent during a video conference.
Disadvantages	The quality of transmitted video images is not usually very good. It is much more expensive to hold a video conference than to talk on the telephone. You need specialised equipment to hold a video conference.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004