Tanpola Articles Directory

The downside to videoconferencing exists. Despite its many advantages, it still depends on technology and human interaction. Therefore, errors glitches in technology, and inefficient use of this exist. Video conferencing is a pros and cons decision; once the cons are identified, you can attempt to learn how to troubleshoot these issues.

The desktop videoconferencing industry as a whole has had a few false starts. The main problems up to now have included proprietary hardware and software incompatible software packages, bandwidth constraints, and difficulty of use. Of all these challenges, insufficient bandwidth has been the most prominent. Decent video requires a lot of bandwidth, which means some form of broadband connection. Until recently, the average user did not have access to broadband.

A little understanding how the technology works is the best way to illustrate the downside of videoconferencing. The majority of videoconferences take place over an ISDN or IP-based network in a point-to-point call between two machines or a multipoint call between three or more video endpoints. ISDN calls are usually made at a data rate of 64K, 128K or 384K bit per second using the H.320 protocol. The higher bandwidth used means better call quality. ISDN uses the public switched telephone network and not the Internet. The downside of the technology is that one has to be located at least 18,000 feet from a local phone office. If the distance is further, requiring additional equipment and specialized lines drives up the cost.

IP-based conferencing uses a standard Ethernet connection and the H.323 protocol for connecting endpoints to a network. It is becoming more the standard for videoconferencing. Connection speeds can go as high as 768K bit per second. In the past, it was a dial-up world. Not many people had access to IP technology.

Now, of course, IP is relatively inexpensive and Ethernet connections can be found in most corporate settings. It still has its problems when used with videoconferencing. Network congestion is becoming a major issue. Experts advise planning your videoconferences early in the day when the Internet is least crowded. Alternatively, you can hire a gate keaper. Gatekeepers can be used to reserve and set up conference calls. These services have network backbones dedicated to video conferencing traffic, minimizing the potential disruptions and keep individual call quality high. Keep in mind that flawed connections can create jittery images, dropped calls, delay and other problems in the videoconference. This is particularly true for conferences over the public Internet.

Firewalls are crucial to any companys system. Corporate firewalls may block its traffic coming in or out of the local-area network. Before any videoconferencing can take place, a port must be found to allow the connection to take place.

Another downside of video conferencing is the cost. A connection between conference participants is only part of the equation. The videoconferencing endpoint can also have an impact on the overall call quality. Endpoints range from a pair of $50 web cams connected to PCs running Microsoft NetMeeting to $50,000 boardroom-based systems that have multiple cameras and microphones.

There is cost involved in the service as well. Service providers have network backbones dedicated to videoconferencing traffic, minimizing the potential disruptions. Using a service provider and dedicated lines can provide for a better connection and overall experience, but can be expensive if videoconferencing is only used on a limited basis.

Basically, there are two pricing models. A subscription per month usually ranges from $25 to $150 per month for up to twenty people. There are usually steep fees for setup. The other model is to charge a per minute fee per participant. Rates vary from 12 to 40 cents a minute for local calls. Long distance and international calls of course run much higher. It is decidedly cheaper than business travel, but the monthly fees can be a downside if your organization only holds two or three meetings a year.

Finally, there is the people factor to consider. People must actually attend these meetings, whether in real time or via a taped session. Also, the benefit of person-to-person interaction cannot be duplicated by even the most sophisticated and expensive video conferencing system. A firm handshake, a sincere smile, the easy conversation over a business lunch all go far in establishing trust and cementing good business relations.

For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website http://www.1videoconference.com

With the ease of making a long-distance telephone call you can be connected anywhere worldwide or to multiple locations around the globe. Videoconferencing cuts back on travel costs. The question should not be, is video conferencing for me. Rather, investigate options in choosing personal videoconferencing equipment with a budget.

So, you are ready to implement VC. Start by analyzing what kind of video conferencing you will be doing. Will it be person to person, or will there be several people involved. Your needs will dictate what equipment you will require to meet your videoconferencing outcome, and also what kind of network software you need to support your equipment. Next, you will need to set a budget. Costs can range from virtually free to an investment worth thousands of dollars. Finally, do your homework and find the products and services that will work best for you.

How you plan on using VC will influence your purchasing decisions, and can mean the difference in spending a hundred dollars or several thousand. A person-to-person conference can be done over the Internet using your desktop, a web cam and microphone using free software such as Yahoo or MSN Messenger.

All successful teleconferencing requires good equipment. After all, the video output you receive and send is the whole reason for having a videoconference. The first item on your purchasing agenda should be a good monitor. You can pick up a top-rated 15 inches LCD monitor for less than $400. On the higher end of the budget spectrum, a 21 inch LCD will set you back plenty. They discount for about $2500.

Several companies offer a decent utilitarian camera for under $150. Features to look for should include the ability to pan, tilt, and zoom often abbreviated as a PTZ camera, wide angle versus narrow angle lens, and manual focus versus auto-focus. Costs for cameras can range into the thousands. In addition to an Internet connection and camera, you will need good audio output and specialized software.

There is a wide range of microphones that can be used for videoconferencing, from a headset to room microphones. The inexpensive $2-3 tabletop computer microphones found in many stores usually produce unacceptable audio. On the other hand, expensive professional microphones with extensive frequency response wont make any difference in the audio quality. For personal videoconferencing, a headset is often the preferred choice because it can eliminate any echo or reverb effect. Plan on spending an average of $50 for a good headset. For room videoconferencing such as a seminar or an on-line class, a high quality multi-directional microphone is often used, or several smaller directional microphones are placed throughout the room. The price tag for a good omni directional system will run around $8,000.

The software plays a key role in determining the quality, reliability, and user-friendliness of the videoconference. There are simple software applications that work with a web cam and a headset, and are very fast to set up. They provide adequate quality. More important is their ease of use. Examples include NetMeeting and Web Ex. NetMeeting is free from Microsoft; Web Ex will run you twenty-five cents a minute.

You may need to investigate network software/hardware that will help ensure that bandwidth on the network will be dedicated to the videoconferences when they occur. Depending on your intranet is not enough. Purchase Quality of Service software or a hardware bridge to boost performance.

If your budget allows for it, consider using a company specializing in custom conferencing solutions. They can design a system to fit your needs, furnish your company with the perfect equipment, and install it for you. Other services include on-site training, troubleshooting, managing the system and generally optimizing your business communications environment.

Regardless of how much money you spend on equipment and services, one factor in your budgeting decision should be this: teleconferencing saves money. Used effectively, video conferencing has a direct effect on productivity. And although productivity increases are the most valuable, an additional tangible effect of using video is that you start saving money due to reduced travel. Video conferencing is money in the plus column of a budget sheet, something every company strives for.

For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website http://www.1videoconference.com

In the legal system cost is a major factor. One of the most important uses of videoconferencing is the reduction in costs for all involved. Through videoconferencing attorneys and legal aides, who are often paid by the hour, can make much better use of their time in research and interviews. With videoconferencing there is no longer a need for long distance travel.

This, of course, saves both time and money. The value of this can be seen in the case where an attorney might have to interview three different witnesses residing in three different states all on the same day. In the case where an out of town witness is need in the courtroom, the witness can be called in by videoconference when necessary, also a great savings in time and money for all those involved.

As to the validity of a videoconference in the courtroom it must be understood that videoconferencing has been widely used in federal and state courts for more than a decade. Overcrowded jails and clogged court dockets are pushing courts to explore the use of videoconferencing. This links back to the value of expediency in the legal system and the use of videoconferencing accelerates the processing of cases while it reduces time consuming and cost demanding practices such as transporting prisoners from the jail to the courthouse, sometimes more than once a day.

As noted, agencies incur heavy expenses when providing security and supervision for inmates who are being transported from jail to the courthouse and then back to jail. Such expense becomes clearer when the true factors of the expense are shown. Actual costs associated with the transportation of inmates include costs of hiring a bus driver, operating a bus, gas and long term maintenance of the vehicle itself.

Today videoconferencing is used by the legal system in a multitude of ways. Take for instance the arraignment procedure where a defendant enters a plea prior to court date. In the past a defendant had to be transported from the jail to the courthouse, which often cost the local government transportation costs as well as security fees. Now a video arraignment system can be installed in the jail and prisoners can make their first appearances before a judge without ever leaving the facility.

Video arraignment via videoconferencing remains one of the most cost effective uses of the technology. Not only are the transportation and security costs of the usual arraignment procedures dismissed by a videoconference, unnecessary paperwork is eliminated. In the usual arraignment procedure where a prisoner was transferred to court proceedings, sheriff, police and corrections personnel just to process the necessary paperwork spent hours. In addition, all this is simply from the jail perspective.

From the courthouse perspective, the common inperson arraignment often causes serious overcrowding of courthouse holding facilities for while a defendant is at the courthouse his actual incourt time may be limited yet he or she must remain available to the court and on premises until they are needed. This is no longer necessary with videoconferencing.

The value of this becomes paramount when there is an increased volume in criminal court cases. The holding capacity of many courthouse facilities is becoming increasingly insufficient to meet current demand. The result is an overcrowded, uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous situation. Plus, the fact that transporting individuals can create a delay for the entire court, including the judge, bailiff, public defender, district attorney and anyone else relative to that one particular arraignment. Meanwhile the court docket shows another arraignment waiting.

This is time lost. The use of videoconferencing increases courtroom efficiency and makes for better management of the docket and regardless of jurisdiction size or arraignment caseload, public safety agencies, departments of corrections, and courts throughout the country can benefit from videoconferencing.

For now, although every courthouse is not equipped with a videoconferencing system at this time, it is easy to see in the near future the use of videoconferencing for everything from judge meetings and bond hearings to settlement conferences and child support hearings, all of which reduces the cost to citizens and taxpayers. In the long run there will be more use of videoconferencing in the legal system providing an increased efficiency for all.

For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website http://www.1videoconference.com

There are many reasons why videoconferencing is becoming more and more popular. While it is still seen as being in its infancy, more and more businesses are catching onto its tremendous advantages. Let us take a closer look at five of the reasons why it is gaining a wider audience.

First of all broadband web access is getting more and more affordable and for the purposes of videoconferencing, while it is not an absolute essential it makes the experience more effective. Broadband connections to the Internet, which include Cable, T1s and DSL are becoming more and more desired and the cheaper they become, the more they are utilized than connections that are dial up. This encompasses not just businesses, large and small, but also homes. A recent study reported that broadband web access in the business world of the United States has reached eightyfive percent and for home use it has reached sixty percent.

Web cameras are the second reason. Web cameras are intense, powerful and range in price from very costly to dirt cheap. What high speed connections are to cyberspace, the new and improved web camera is to videoconferencing. It relies on clear video images in order for it to be a success. It is no longer simply for huge conglomerates, politicians or celebrities as it is becoming more and more cost effective for regular people to use in the comfort of their own homes. Web cameras can be purchased for as little as ten to twenty dollars and as much as hundreds. For a beginner to VC it is a good idea to start with a cheaper camera until you get the hang of it. The option to upgrade is there as time goes by. Specialized computer and electronic stores are not the only retailers that sell web camera most department stores sell them as well.

The productivity of many companies is vastly improved by way of video conferencing. Some of the advantages of its in relation to work practices go far beyond the money that is saved when travel is not required. Plenty of valuable time is saved when it is possible to remain in your own office and conduct a meeting and or presentation with colleagues in another city by way of VC. Due to the fact that you do not have to go anywhere for the online session, after the videoconference is over you can attend to other business matters immediately and return emails and or phone calls without delay.

Video conferencing is gaining popularity in the field of education, from all levels, whether they are elementary school, middle school, high school, continuing education and especially the classrooms found in the institutions of higher learning. It brings a whole new element of learning into the classroom and initial results show that students are reveling in the experience of learning course material in a new and innovative way. Students are able to gain knowledge from experts in a given field via VC and to learn about other cultures. Many videoconferences held in schools encourage the active participation of students in the learning process and there is often plenty of opportunity for questions and answers. It also allows for the chance to learn about cultural differences. The new skills acquired in the classroom can bode well with for each and every students future beyond their school days.

The fifth reason is that many companies need to economize and cut costs wherever they can and this includes business travel. Not to mention the fact that the price of oil, gasoline and airfare is rising all of the time so anything that can bring business from the other side of the country, state or world right into their own office is excellent news. This is where VC comes in. Many objectives can be met through this unique form of online communication including meetings, presentations, interviews, an opportunity to meet with established clients as well as prospective ones and so on.

There are of course other reasons that is attracting more and more attention and thus a wider audience. Email was exciting when it first came on the scene, the ability to chat online added another interesting development to online communication but video conferencing brings all of the elements of computer and electronic technology together to create an experience that is to date, the most reality anyone can experience in cyberspace. It is the closest way to be with another person without really being with them in the physical sense.

For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website http://www.1videoconference.com

Video conferencing permits a large or small number of individuals to communicate in real time, no matter where they are located.Via audio and video transmissions, the parties will be able to discuss, conference, and compare charts, graphs, and other items. This combination of visual data with voice interaction and video reality makes this as most useful tool for many business and individuals alike.Yet what exactly are the advantages of VC.

The advantages may differ slightly from business to business, here is a list of overall advantages as they may be experienced by most are below…

1. It is a lot less expansive than traveling.If you consider that the average business trip requires two way transportation to and from the location, accommodations, quite possibly car rental or other transportation at the target location, meals, entertainment of clients, and various other incidentals, it is easy to understand that a video conference that will keep the employee or executive in the office rather than traveling halfway across the county is indeed a money saving idea.

Some of the hidden costs that can be avoided as well are insurance premiums to cover the traveling employee, the cost of hiring a temporary replacement or the overtime to cover the workload of the employee, as well as the money that it costs to call together a meeting for the debriefing.As you can see, the time that is lost in travel is useable in video conferencing.

2. In addition to the foregoing, VC requires the participants to be well prepared ahead of the conference.Gone are the days when an employee is flying across country only to realize that she or he left a big presentation in the office at home.With videoconferencing, all office applications and files are immediately accessible.Additionally, to make the conference go well, all participants will want to have their presentations together and ready for sharing.

3. Of course, quite possibly the greatest advantage of VC is the easy access a business or company has to experts.Law offices in particular will appreciate the ability to solicit expert testimony from the best and brightest in their fields. Not to be forgotten, the medical profession, too, greatly benefits from videoconferencing since experts from across the country or even across the world are able to collaborate and find solutions to baffling cases.

4. One of the more peripheral advantages is the fact that employees will be able to receive direct training in research, presentation skills as well as public speaking.After all, anyone may be called on to participate in a video conference, and therefore all those involved in a certain aspect of the business need to be able to make sure they are up to date on all the information, as well as able to present it properly.

5. Compared to a mere telephone call, it is much more personal.Gone are the days when a proposal was sent via the mail and then a follow up phone call was made to see if the proposal was received and if the company was interested, requested changes, etc. Using it, the data may be sent simultaneously.This permits businesses to close deals much faster and also gives the buyer, or proposed recipient of a service, a certain person to person contact which makes it a much more pleasant experience.Additionally, it permits the seller, or service provider, to create that personal relationship with a client, which is a most valuable tool for future up-sell opportunities.

Another advantage that quite possibly is a part of all the items already mentioned is the simple possibility to communicate on all levels, including body language.During a telephone call, body language cannot be perceived, and when debriefing an employee who has just returned from a business trip or conference, you will only be able to rely on her or his take of the situation and the participants.Videoconferencing permits everyone involved to get a good read on a situation, a new client or provider, and thusly communicate on a number of levels.

As you can see, video conferencing is indeed a technology that offers many advantages to its users.With ever better technological advances and user friendly prices, this may be a business application that is here to stay and will soon rival the fax machine itself.

For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website http://www.1videoconference.com

The year was 1964 and visitors to the Worlds Fair in New York were witness to a new contraption called the Picturephone, The idea of joining voice and video, 1 frame, every 2 seconds was first demonstrated in 1956 by AT and T, the telephone company founded by Alexander Graham Bell himself. Now instead of just hearing a disembodied voice at the other end of the line, a caller could see the person as well.

The concept of videoconferencing emerged. Whole groups of people could communicate across time and space, from the boardroom to the hospital, exchanging data, ideas, and visual presentations from anywhere to anywhere at anytime.

In 1970, the commercial Picturephone service debuted in downtown Pittsburgh and AT and T executives confidently predicted that a million Picturephone sets would be in use by 1980. But with prices basing at more than 160.00 USD per month, this new form of communication was well out of reach to most citizens. Besides, the equipment was bulky and slow, the controls were difficult to use, and the picture was so small the image could barely be recognized. Work continued outside AT and T resulting in the 1982 product release of the first vC system by Compression Labs.

The system was huge and used enormous resources capable of tripping 15 amp circuit breakers. The selling price for this VC system was 250,000 USD with a connection cost of 1,000 USD per hour. It was, however, the only working VC system available until PictureTel, a Delaware corporation, headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, hit the market in 1986 with their substantially cheaper 80,000 USD system with 100 USD per hour lines.

Even in 1991, when PictureTel aligned with IBM to introduce a more costs reduced black and white video conferencing system, the price was well beyond the average user. This first PC based system held a 20,000 USD price tag with a line charge of 30.00 USD per hour but a new chapter in videoconferencing had begun.

Unfortunately, at this stage a conference room equipped with its equipment was required and not only did the participants of the video conference have to relocate to the same location, the cost of renting the videoconferencing room itself was exorbitant. The following year AT and T again introduced their new Videophone for the home market. Now it cost 1,500 USD but still the general public was, in general, excluded form the new service.

1992 saw Macintosh open with a videoconference system called CU SeeMe v0.1 for the personal computer. Although the first version did not have audio, it was the best video system developed to that point. By 1993, the MAC program had multipoint capability, and in 1994, CU SeeMe in Macintosh was a true video conferencing system with audio. As good as this system was, it was limited only to a Mac so developers worked day and night to create a CU SeeMe compatible with Windows, the most popular home based operating system.

This was accomplished with the April 1994 CU SeeME for Windows but it had no audio. Finally the CU SeeMe v0.66b1 for Windows was released in August of 1995 and now the speaker or speakers could not only see the person they were talking to, they could do this from the safety and convenience of their own office or home. The boom began and more high tech companies joined in the creation of videoconferencing software and equipment. By 1996, Microsoft NetMeeting v20.0b2 was released and videoconferencing became available to almost anyone with a home computer.

1996 also saw the emergence of VocalTec Surf and Call, the first web to phone plug in. Surf and Call allowed visitors of a website to conduct business, one on one, any place in the world as if a virtual salesclerk stood in the room with the buyer while families could log on to a family website and share more than just pictures in real time.

Finally, by 2000 Samsung released the first MPEG 4 streaming 3G video cell phone. Streaming means media that is consumed read, heard, viewed while it is being delivered, read live, and today the price of videoconferencing depends on the need. The average individual can now videoconference the whole world over for as little as 12.00 USD a month and the price of a phone while industry giants like Yahoo and MSN have made the service free.

For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website http://www.1videoconference.com

Videoconferencing is one of the most popular new technologies to come out of the last ten years. It enables businesses to function better than they have ever been able to in the past. Videoconferencing is a great way to save your firm time and travel expenses. It makes a great alternative to those face-to-face meetings that used to involve days off for employees and extensive travel expenses. There are many things to consider in the world of videoconferencing, but one of the most important facets of the best videoconferencing is bandwidth.

There are three basic ways to set up your videoconferencing system. You can use your current telephone network as the basis for your setup. You can use a private IP network as the basis for your system. You can also use the Internet as your basis. When you get ready to set up your videoconferencing system, you want a minimum bandwidth of 300K to 400K bits per second. This will include video, audio, and control signaling devices. Bandwidth, in the world of videoconferencing, is assumed to be the same on both ends of the spectrum, though it does not have to work that way.

For example, one side may be able to encode data at 100K bits per second but decode 300K bits per second. Before you decide what bandwidth you will need to set up the best videoconferencing system for you, you have to make an estimate of the number of sessions your firm might need that will be simultaneous in nature. You will also need to figure out if the network you are dealing with has end-to-end bandwidth. For example, a T-1 connection would work fine if you needed two 512K bits per second conferences in one simultaneous session or three 384K bits per second conferences.

A T-1 connection can offer you 1.5 bits per second in each direction, which should work for smaller office environments. In addition to making sure that you have enough bandwidth, though, you have to make sure that you have 10/100 switched Ethernet connections wherever your local area network will be experiencing videoconferences on a regular basis.

Depending on the needs within your office, a higher bandwidth is obviously a better choice for applications where you will make extensive use of your videoconferencing system. Poor bandwidth can really slow down your system, making it hard to communicate with the clients. There are a couple of ways to handle bandwidth problems in your firm.

The first way to do it is to use something that holds more bandwidth than the standard telephone line that many firms choose to use. You can do this through Ethernet or through Integrated Services Digital Networks or ISDN. You may already be familiar with Ethernet, as in many offices; it is used to tie computers together. ISDN is a phone cable that is digital. This would, of course, replace the older analog phone line that may be causing some of the bottleneck in your videoconferencing system. Both of these solutions have very different performance abilities.

One of the biggest differences with these larger bandwidth solutions is how each communications channel is switched. An Ethernet line is packet switched. An ISDN is circuit switched. With an ISDN connection, it lasts only as long as the user wants it to, much like a standard phone line might. Once someone has terminated the connection, it is broken. While the connection is active, though, the bandwidth is solely dedicated to it. Ethernet lines work through packet switching, which basically means that every single user in the network shares the bandwidth.

If lots of users are making use of the bandwidth, your videoconferencing system will be much slower. If only a few users are on, your videoconferencing system is much quicker. If you are thinking in terms of more bandwidth for your business, ISDN might sound like the way to go, but you can only get about 1 new frame of video every four seconds, so that can be a bit of a problem for some businesses. On a perfect day, Ethernet can offer you 3 frames per second, but if your Ethernet connection is clogged, it could easily be as slow as ISDN.

There are lots of solutions to bandwidth issues. Talking with your technology services is probably a good place to start.

For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website http://www.1videoconference.com