Communicating via Video

Conferencing and E-groups

▸ Video Conferencing
It is also called teleconferencing or web conferencing, is an online meeting
wherein two or more people can communicate with each other using computer
networks in real time.
It is an evolved and more personalized chat because people do not just talk and
hear each other., but they also see facial expressions, gestures, and body movements
using a web camera or webcam.
Examples of video conferencing applications are Skype,Google Hangouts, Fuze
and Facetime.
You will also neeed the following equipment computer or laptop with web
camera, headset or headphones with microphone, speakers, and/or smartphone or
tablet.

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▸ Video Conferencing
Video conferencing is widely used in homes, schools, business among others. At
home, it helps families stay connected. In school, students share documents and
discuss lessons. In business, workers collaborate during meetings. Product
demonstration, for instnce, may be done more effectively through video
conferencing rather than voice calls to explain product features to client or
customers.

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▸ Some of the benefits of video conferencing are the following:
• It reduces travel time and expenses since it allows people to communicate to one
another without leaving their workplace.
• It connects people from different industries to easily collaborate and share ideas
with each other.
• It enables presentations or demonstrations to a large audience.

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▸ E-group
It is also known as online or web community, is a feature of social networking
sites where people can create chat systems, discussion boards, and forums to
communicate and collaborate with one another. It is a convenient way to share
messages, photos, and ideas, and be connected with others having the same
interests.

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 Advantages
• Better sharing of ideas. Members can share
their ideas and contribute about the pros and
cons of the task or project to be
accomplished.
• Efficient. Work is done faster and produces
better results.
• Cost-saving. The group accomplishes and
meets team goals faster.
• Improved workforce. Members are
encouraged to share ideas and promote
limitless discussions.
• Better relationships. Since e-group members
share similar interests, they support and
motivate each other to promote a better
community.
Disadvantages
• Information overload. Long message threads
may make the sequence of conversations
hard to be understood. These may be
overlooked or ignored too.
• Time intervals. Conversations sometimes get
delayed because members may not log on at
the same time. Messages may take longer to
be received and worse, no reply is received at
all.
• Uncooperative members. Some members
may not cooperate as they prefer to work
alone.
• Directionless. E-group discussions without
mediators may result in a directionless
conversations.