Video Conferencing

An Alternative To Face-to-face Meetings

Presented by:
 Video Conferencing

 Introduction
 What is Video Conferencing?
 How is Video Conferencing Used?
 Where is the Technology Going?
 Summary
 What Have We Learned?
Videoconferencing – What Is It?

“Video conferencing in its most basic form is

the transmission of image (video) and speech
(audio) back and forth between two or more
physically separate locations.”

Video Conferencing Cookbook.

http://www.vide.gatech.edu/cookbook2.0/
 Brief History
 First Public Introduction at 1964 New York World’s Fair --
AT&T’s VideoPhone -- “Gee Wiz” Factor – Very Costly
®

 Very Little Development Outside the Laboratory for 25

Years -- No Practical Application Foreseen in the Market
 Widespread Development Ramped-up During Late ‘80s --
Especially within Military Market -- Big Ticket Item
 Drive to Establish International Interoperability and
Standards Forced Market / Vendor Expansion in Late ‘80s
 Television Studio Production Values Pushed Transmission
Clarity and Usability Features
Types of Technologies -- How Does it Work?

 Analog TV Broadcast Teleconferencing Network Feeds and Radio

Frequency Transmission
 Compressed Digital Teleconferencing Digitized (Coded / Decoded)
Circuit-Switched Transmission via Public Switched or Private
Telecommunications Networks
 Broadband Satellite Teleconferencing Wideband Transmission via
Transponder Space
 Internet-based Teleconferencing ‘IP’ Packet-Switched Routing via
Switched Networks
 ITU's Video Conferencing
(Umbrella “H.320”) Standards:

 H.320 -- Enables Desktop Audio and Video Components

to be Shared in Multiple Locations Over ISDN Circuits
 H.323 -- Allows for Video Conference Transmissions
Over LANs (i.e., Ethernet)
 H.324 -- Provides Ability to Video Conference Over
Analog Phone Lines, via 28.8 kbps Modems
 T.120 -- Provides Desktop Video Conference
Collaboration and Document Sharing, via File Transfer
Protocol (FTP)
How is Video Conferencing Being Used?

◦ Traditional Face-to-Face Meetings

 Point-to-Point
 Multipoint (Bridging)
◦ Workgroup Collaboration
◦ Distance Learning
◦ Video-on-Demand
◦ Telemedicine
◦ Telediagnosis
◦ Teleconsulting
◦ Teletherapy
Point-to-point Conferences
 Point-to-point – A videoconference that
connects two locations.
 Each site sees and hears the other sites at all

times
Multipoint Conferences
 Point-to-multipoint – A videoconference that
connects to more than two sites through the
use of a multi-point control unit, or MCU.
 Participants at all sites can hear one another
at all times and see the site that is currently
speaking.
◦ Voice activated switching
 Multi-point conferencing can be effective
although the scheduling, technical, and
logistical dimensions of MCU conferences can
be imposing.
Various Uses:
 Presentations
 Virtual meetings
 Videoconference-based learning
 JIT (just in time) events
 Recruitment/search committees
 General meetings
Additional Uses:
 Project coordination
 Informal work sessions
 Alumni relations
 Question and answer sessions
 Applications

Typical Executive Conference Typical Workgroup Conference

Typical Desktop Conference
Roll-about Telemedicine Unit Roll-about Conferencing Unit
Where is Video Conferencing Technology
Going?
◦ Evolving Applications
◦ Maturing of Standards and Quality Fosters Usability
◦ Corporate / Public Acceptance
◦ Increased Usability Promotes Greater Use
◦ Impact on Local Area / Wide Area Networks
◦ Increased Use Forces Continuing Network Deployment and
Development
◦ Growth Forecasts
◦ Increased Network Capabilities Encourage Future Enhancements,
Features and Functions, which Contribute to Continuing Acceptance
and Demand
Benefits of Videoconferencing
 Can improve work quality
 Increase productivity
 Reduce costs
 Improves communication
 Groups can meet more frequently
 Critical meetings can be convened in less

time
 More faculty and staff can be involved
Benefits of Videoconference-based
Learning
 Closely resembles traditional classroom-
based education; permits learners to be
active participants in the process
 Faculty and staff needs can be met more
quickly through just-in-time training
 More faculty and staff can be trained faster
without increasing training resources
 Guest lecturers can be easily integrated into
the course
 Benefits of Videoconference-based
Learning
 Enables any site to be the provider of the
learning activities.
 Videoconferencing is cost-effective, when you

consider the traveling costs for traditional

training.
 Videoconference-based learning exploits the

already acquired videoconferencing

technologies and network infrastructure.
 H.323 standards provide for learners in any

H.323 compliant site to be active participants.

Limitations of Videoconferencing
 The initial cost of the equipment and leasing
the lines to transmit conferences may be
prohibitive.
 Unless a strong effort is made by the

instructor, students not located with the

instructor may remain uninvolved in the
course.
 If visuals, like handwritten or copied

materials, are not properly prepared, students

may have a difficult time reading them.
Limitations of Videoconferencing
 If the “pipe” that carries the transmission
among sites is not large enough, the
students may observe “ghost images” when
rapid movement occurs in “real time”
 If the system is not properly configured,

class members may observe an audio “echo”

effect. The result is audio interference that
detracts from the learning environment.
Limitations of Videoconferencing
 The absence of QOS (Quality of Service)
provides virtually no guarantee of a
satisfying and successful experience
 Though the technology is improving, a

successful videoconference is dependent

upon the connections and technologies at
all of the participating sites, AND the
network infrastructure
 Security issues
THANK YOU !