Define Teleconferencing
Teleconferencing is a meeting between two or more parties in remote locations made possible by the use of audio/visual equipment. It can be a highly involved process between several groups of people in a business setting or at home with basic equipment and your pajamas on.
-
Definition
-
PCMag.com defines a teleconference as "an interactive communications session between two or more users who are geographically separated."
Function
-
A teleconference is typically used in business settings to quickly connect several different people from several different locations, according to Teleconferencing-Technology.com. The advantages of this are the saved cost on travel and the ability to include several people in a decision-making process that otherwise wouldn't be available.
-
Benefits
-
The benefits of teleconferencing, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, are a wider pool of ideas and opinions along with more realistic discussions. Because teleconferencing happens through live audio, the USDOT states further that discussions tend to be more personal and lively, and that people with limited mobility, such as the disabled or elderly, can more easily participate in meetings.
Visuals
-
Visual equipment can also be a part of teleconferencing. The use of Web cameras allows you to hear and see the people you're speaking with, which further simulates an actual, in-person meeting. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, this visual aspect of teleconferencing can aid in specific situations, such as training employees to perform tasks, something that proves much more challenging when using only audio teleconferencing.
Real-World Examples
-
Because teleconferencing can happen between a few or a few hundred, many businesses and organizations use this method of communication. According to AllConferenceServices.com, the CEO of a company can schedule a teleconferencing call with her district managers to make sure they all receive the correct information about an upcoming event at once.
-
References
- Photo Credit phone image by Vasiliy Koval from Fotolia.com