How Video Conferencing Works
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Basics
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Audiovisual (AV) equipment used for live video conferencing continues to be one of the fastest growing areas of development. Video conferencing is being used more and more in every industry. The practice saves money and time on travel, and provides access to meetings and conferences that may have been prohibitive for some employees. Presentation equipment used for live feeds has come to be expected in the boardroom. AV technology is used for remote meetings and presentations. Speakers, board meetings, stockholder presentations and training sessions are just some areas that benefit from using video conferencing.
Technology
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Video conferencing involves two or more parties in different locations communicating through live audio and video feeds. AV hardware and software are required to run a videoconference. Each location must have a video camera or webcam to input the feed. Digital projectors often are incorporated to show presentations at multiple locations simultaneously. Each user must have some kind of a monitor or television set to receive the AV feeds. Microphones are used to transmit the audio files. A single microphone can be passed around between participants, or individuals can be miked. Speakers or headphones are required to receive the audio feed. Most video conferencing feeds are run through Internet or satellite connections. Compression software is vital, as the data streamed from audio and visual live feeds takes up a lot of space. Software to cancel out acoustic echoing is also vital if live communication is to take place. Delays are wiped out so that parties can talk in real time.
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Equipment
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While many new notebooks and PCs come equipped with AV hardware and software programs to allow live chats, larger, more sophisticated equipment is required for most business applications. Purchasing all the equipment can be costly. Used audio visual equipment is available that can help save money from companies such as IVCI or the Video Conference Store. These companies offer consulting and training services, in addition to new and used video conferencing equipment. Renting audiovisual equipment is another avenue of getting projection equipment in place for important meetings. Many companies use video conferencing temporarily for important meetings, but not enough to invest in top-quality equipment. Companies such as VuPorts and Hire Intelligence can bring in and set up the equipment for a day or a month. They are typically available to train someone to use the equipment, or provide a host for the conference.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Peter Björknäs
