As technology grows, newer and newer appliances are available. It seems there's no stopping! The latest communications innovation is the Computer Telephony Integration (CTI). It could be divided into Video Conferencing (VC) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).What is VC?Teleconferencing in which video images are transmitted among the various geographically separated participants in a meeting.
Originally done using analog video and satellite links, today video conferencing uses compressed digital images transmitted over wide area networks or the Internet. (Miscrosoft Press, 2002)Simply, it is a communication occurring between two or more remote locations that includes video and audio contact over the Internet or a private network.What is VoIP?Voice over IP - that is, voice delivered using the Internet Protocol is a term used in IP telephony for a set of facilities for managing the delivery of voice information using the Internet Protocol (IP). In general, this means sending voice information in digital form in discrete packets rather than in the traditional circuit-committed protocols of the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
(BIS Limited)Impacts of Video ConferencingSocial:VC changes the ways of human communication. In the past, written letters and telephone calls are the main communication channels. However, nowadays, human can enjoy sitting in front of the webcam and communicate with others by VC. This face-to-face convenient communication can stronger the relationship of family and friends and also encourage business relationship. In US, a survey finding 66% respondents noted VC has increased the frequency of meetings with remote groups.
(Harris Interactive Survey).VC is widely used in Education especially in e-learning/distance learning. Hong Kong students can collaborate with UK students or students from all over the world easily. It increases the need for courses on using the basic VC hardware and software and on presentation skills. To encourage the use of video conferencing on Europe's education, and training communities, the EU-funded SAVIE project (Support Action to Facilitate the Use of VC in Education), offers oriented orientation and training sessions for beginners and advanced VC users.
Economic:VC has a dramatic effect on the way people do business and the increase of productivities. It can share any type of information such as pictures, graphs, slides and software, etc. Decisions are made faster; bringing products or services to market quicker; and enabling firms to stay ahead of their competitors.People do not need to travel long distant for business by using VC. It helps to save travel time.
According to the survey of Harris Interactive Inc, 83% of the survey respondents identified time saved by eliminating the commute to off-site meetings. The hiring cycles for key employees is shortened. It also reduces travel cost. The Survey indicated that 79% of respondents agreed web conferencing saves money related to travel expense. However, the postal service and letter/documents delivery service are affected due to the need of written letter/paper document is lower.
Who's benefit? VC is useful for both SMEs ; MNCs.To small business, VC is useful for small, collaborative meetings with people who are far away since it saves the expense or travel. Besides, it's useful for marketing or sales calls, especially when selling very expensive products or services, which often requires many meetings to close the sale. With a web conference salesman can hold one-on-one meetings with different decision makers at their convenience, demonstrate the product or service and answer specific questions, all without needing to travel each time another decision maker comes onto the scene.
To MNCs, the staffs may be too busy that can't afford the time for meetings on remote places. VC can show its convenient ; easy access function since video allows the office to communicate back and forth and display projects and such over the internet. Some businesses also use web conferencing for much larger meetings. Some web conferencing companies in the US, and surely soon to follow in the UK can handle up to 2,500 people at once.Political:Throughout history, tours of duty in wartime have served to separate families. Through separated from their families by overseas duty, soldiers no longer need be estranged from their families thanks to video conferencing, which today delivers such a lifelike experience it is almost like being there.
It enables military personnel to remotely attend and participate in family milestones events such as graduations and communions, see newborn babies and even remote wedding. Hence, homesick of the soldiers may be reduced and their spirit may be increased. The US Secretary of Army authorized a public charity, the Freedom Calls foundation to provide free communication services to the troops in Iraq ; Afghanistan and their families.VC is become a useful tool for especially government to hold regional, national and international conferences especially in military, law, and medical sectors. During the SARS period, under the concern with health safety, doctors, experts and government officers from different countries used VC for discussion, data research and experience share instead of traveling to other countries for meeting countries.However, the standard and quality of VC depends on telecommunication connectivity and bandwidth, country infrastructure ; resources.
Therefore, it's the government's responsibility to discussion for the policy measures to improve the situation and to help the development of telecommunication facilities on less-developed countries.Future InnovationThe higher the bandwidth, the better quality the signal can be transmitted. The network capacity for data transmission and internet access has been built and improved for the several past years. There are now plenty of support for CTI on IP networks such as the added of QoS (Quality of Service provisions to LAN and WAN and the support of existing wiring with high data rates by advance technology. Eventually, a network, with the solution on security and internal IP numbering plan, designed for both current ; future business technologies will most successfully support SMEs' need to maintain their competitive and increase.
It is predicted that the number of video conferencing will be gaining in popularity.
