The creation of video-conferencing has led to a world of communication innovations. According to the Miriam-Webster online dictionary, a videoconference refers to a the connectivity and interactivity through telecommunication technologies, allowing people in two or more locations to virtually communicate by means of two-way audio and video transmissions synchronously.
History (Nefsis, 2008)
All new technological innovations must prove it's usefulness, cost-effectiveness and solve a problem that warrants its existence. Video conferencing presents us with a concrete history lesson in a technology that has had numerous successes and failures along the way to becoming an everyday real-time communication tool used throughout most big-businesses, the government, the military and schools around the world. The earliest known teleconferencing can be dated back to Pre-World War 2 Germany after the invention of the television to link together two or more Post Offices in Berlin and other cities. [3] Current day video conferencing came about in the 1990's as latency speeds and technology caught up with theory. Skype, Cisco and other companies highly popularized video conferencing in the 2000's as technology grew a larger part of individual's daily routine.
The Four Main Categories of Video Conferencing: (Winfeld, 17)
General Business Communications- Video conferencing allows the capability to host meetings, do broadcasts, hold training sessions and perform customer service and support tasks.
Collaboration Technology- This allows for different companies to communicate with one another in a very effective matter despite the size of the organization. This is done in a more cost effective manner.
Project Management Focus- Video conferencing allows for the individuals to communicate about aspects of their current project. This includes the ability to let people see how one task leads to another, and who is doing what, on a project large or small. It also allows for progress to be shown and for evaluation so that improvements and adjustments can be made.
Training Tools: Training programs that require a lot of directions can be easily transmitted to many individuals at once thus cutting the costs and time used to train a future employee. Unlike an instructional video, video conferencing allows for feedback and communication between the trainer and trainee.
Types of Available Video Conferencing Technologies: (Communication News, 7)
Desktop Video Conferencing- A desktop computer that is equipped with the necessary technical required specs and peripherals. This includes:
Built in camera
Microphone
Speakers
CRT or LCD monitor
Internet Connection- (faster connections allow for a quicker data retrieval and smoother playback) Teleconferencing bridge- An internal enterprise solution that allows company company employees to come together to communicate and collaborate, keeping all conversations within the organization. Audio may be output to a recording device to save conference proceedings.
Ready Access Video- a combination of videoconferencing and Web conferencing into a single screen experience. This allows users to display presentations at the same time. It is also on demand video bridging so that meeting participants can log into the meeting at any point and leave.
Hosted Web Conference Service- This is similar to Ready Access Video conferencing but also allows for individuals without a web cam to participate or view. Individuals with a telephone connection can partake in the meeting.
Benefits and Weaknesses
Benefits: (Winfeld, 16)
Savings in both hard costs and soft costs, as Web conferencing is a cheaper way of accomplishing certain tasks;
Saving individual and organizational time, contributing directly to productivity;
Simplified access to others inside and outside of the organization with almost no advance notice;
More-effective teamwork among people working on the same project but from different locations;
Lower training costs and better access to training by more personnel; and
Keeping staff in their primary office location where they are typically more productive
Problems: (Van Meggelen, 2005) & (Percy, 2010)
Lack of eye contact/excessive eye contact can feel unnatural.
Lack of anonymity and the "out of sight,out of mind" mentality makes video conferencing much more formal than it may have to be.
Poor signal latency can cause frequent and abrupt stoppages that cause frustration and negative efficiency.
Anxiety can cause unease and can cause problems for under experienced users. [4]
Applications of Video Conferencing
The Case of 21 LifeCare Hospitals(Coen, 35)
With an organization that cared for more than 12,000 patients a year suffering from complex problems, LifeCare decided that it would apply video conferencing so that the company could run more efficiently. They hoped for the best treatment achievable. In 2002, LifeCare’s CIO Zeke Zoccoli looked for a better network to run his organization on. He chose to collaborate with MASERGY to provide his network solution. MASERGY was a company that had already implemented video conferencing into their network creation services. The collaboration has allows for LifeCare to have a more robust communicatiomn system between doctor’s and nurses, as well as allows them to train future employee more efficiently.For an example, woundcare training sessions that normally took 45 days, now took only 2. The medical personnel attended the training without leaving the hospital and then immediately returned to work. This service helps ensure the hospital's transdisciplinary team is always trained on the latest procedures, and able to tap talent and expertise across all hospital locations. Other areas that video conferencing helped improve include: • streamlining hospital operational and patient-care activities; • simplifying hospital reimbursement; • authenticating physician credentials; • modernizing patient records; and • verifying medical coding.
Scotland’s Child Care (Dougherty, 6)
Between 2003 and 2006, Scotland looked to use technological advancements to deliver physical and social care in remote or rural areas, which would otherwise be unsustainable because of high costs or low population density. The Scottish Pediatric Telemedicine Service looked to upgrade their systems to include video conferencing. This would enable service such as an emergency department channel that could be reached by those who were in need, but far away. This would avoid the need to travel to the specialist centre, which may take several hours, careers would not have to arrange childcare for siblings at short notice and employment implications for parents could be minimized. Video conferencing could also allow the clinical staff on the transport team, and in the critical care centers, the opportunity to view the patient and advise the local team. It also helped improve the lives of the patients parents. A breakdown in communications and a lack of out-of-hours support are often cited as leading reasons for parental stress and anxiety. With video conferencing, the parent could now have access to their children whenever they pleased. The National Delivery Plan has already been funding video conferencing systems to support a range of services in each of the specialist childrens hospitals for a few years. The extension of equipment to childrens inpatient units should be complete by the end of 2010.
Music Education for Children (Riley, 365)
In 2001, the University of Oulu hoped to find a method for teaching music to children that resided in remote village locations. To accomplish this, the University used video conferencing technology. The goal was to develop learning and teaching networks that could increase educational equality and utilize the decreasing resources of the schools. They hoped to replicate the benefits of face to face classrooms. Music theory, music history, and lessons on how to play instruments were taught. The University concluded that they were successful in establishing this new system and that the expereiences with it were very positive. Students struggling with learning an instrument were able to get help on their improper finger placement but utilizing the zoom feature on their fingers. This allowed the teacher a means of feedback that could correct the mistakes. The music classes were mainly provided to children in remote villages in Mexico.
Video Conferencing Etiquette
Preparation (Brandt, 64)
From Home to Office Meetings:
When purchasing, be sure to get adequate, up to date equipment as well as a secure and fast internet connection. You don’t want to be the only person with bad image quality and poor connection. This can be very distracting for the other participants.
Have everything you need on hand. This includes pen, paper, documents, and even drink if necessary. You don’t want to have to make your colleagues wait on you while you leave to get a drink.
Make sure you are wearing proper attire. Even though you are having the meeting from home, you should still upkeep your normal business presentation.
Make sure there are no possible distractions for the meeting. This includes notifying other people in the house of your meeting, and turning off any tvs or alarm s.
On your desktop, have your needed documents organzized and ready to share. Colleauges shouldn’;t have to wait while you struggle to locate a file. This kind of delay could have an impact on the flow and efficiency of the meeting.
From Office to Office Meetings: (Shay, 1)
Know the number of people and locations participating in the meeting
If there are more than 2 locations participating, a videoconferencing MCU will need to be scheduled to call each location 15-30 min prior the scheduled start time of the meeting.
Create an agenda and pass it out to all participants before the meeting.
Clothing: As opposed to a face-to-face meeting or phone conversation, the type of clothing worn in a videoconference should be taken into account. Stripes or patterned shirts are not recommended during a videoconference and may not be displayed well on the remote site(s). Plain colored shirts and pants/skirts are optimal.
It is recommended that you do a test call before the meeting to ensure that lighting, chair placement and microphone placement are all optimal.
If you will be using peripheral equipment such as document cameras, data sharing devices, etc., these should be tested prior to the call, preferable during the test call mentioned above.
If more than 2 sites are participating, etiquette dictates that all sites that are not talking mute their microphone so as to minimize the noise disruption.
Proper Etiquette and Rules: (Post, 1)
Begin and end the meeting on time. Aim for the meeting to last as long as it was intended to.
Introduce all participants to one another.
Speak clearly and loudly.
Make eye contact with the camera so that you can maintain good eye contact with the participants.
Use names to direct questions to specific people in the meeting.
Consider using name plates.
Don’t interrupt or speak over other participants.
Keep focus on the meeting. Do not allow distractions to steal your attention.
Do not sit too close or too far from the camera. Use your preview screen so that you are aware of how your image is being projected to the other participants.
Avoid excessive background noise.
Don’t leave the chat unless absolutely necessary and notify the participants of your departure.
Don’t attempt to do side work during the meeting. This can be very distracting and very disrespectful to the other participants since they can see your eyes wander.
The Future of Video Conferencing (Business Communication Review, 6)
The market for conferencing infrastructure hardware and software will grow as enterprises converge voice, video, and data on their IP networks. This enables the possibility that video conferencing may soon dominate the way communication is done within an organization. The growth is predicted to be driven by the increased entry of big companies into the market such as:
Microsoft
Oracle
Cisco
Apple
The amount of sales within this market has already rose by $200 million between 2003 and 2006. (2003, $475 million/ 2006, $657 million)
Senior Systems Programmer, Bob Brumm of Tampa Electric discusses the business benefits and value of video conferencing as a long time user of video. Video was taken at the TANDBERG booth at InfoComm 2009 on June 18, 2009.
**global1049** | May 24, 2007 | 3 likes, 1 dislikes Video conferencing - CBS Evening News With Katie Couric (Recorded May 24, 2007, WCBS)
**Cisco**| September 24, 2010 |21 likes, 2 dislikes
See how technology brings people together, across borders, connecting people like never before. Watch our newest Together We Are The Human Network television advertisement, "Join Us," set to John Lennon's "Imagine" lyrics.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. --African Proverb
References
Associated Press. (September 1, 1934). "German Postoffice To Use Television-Telephone For Its Communication System", The Evening Independent, St. Petersburg, Fl.
Coen, Rena. "Conferencing Alternatives:Hospital Enhances services." Communication News 41.2 FEB 2004. 35-36.
Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 04 Dec 2010.
"Conferencing Products." Communication News 44.4 APR 2007. n. pag. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 02 Dec 2010.
Doherty, Laura. "Video Conferencing Used to Provide Care and Support." Paediatric Nursing 22.5 JUN 2010. 6-7. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Dec 2010.
Video Conferencing
Darek Augustynowicz, Steven De Feo, Elleanna Dwyer, Gabriel Torrens
What is Video Conferencing?
Table of Contents
History (Nefsis, 2008)
All new technological innovations must prove it's usefulness, cost-effectiveness and solve a problem that warrants its existence. Video conferencing presents us with a concrete history lesson in a technology that has had numerous successes and failures along the way to becoming an everyday real-time communication tool used throughout most big-businesses, the government, the military and schools around the world. The earliest known teleconferencing can be dated back to Pre-World War 2 Germany after the invention of the television to link together two or more Post Offices in Berlin and other cities. [3] Current day video conferencing came about in the 1990's as latency speeds and technology caught up with theory. Skype, Cisco and other companies highly popularized video conferencing in the 2000's as technology grew a larger part of individual's daily routine.The Four Main Categories of Video Conferencing: (Winfeld, 17)
General Business Communications- Video conferencing allows the capability to host meetings, do broadcasts, hold training sessions and perform customer service and support tasks.
Collaboration Technology- This allows for different companies to communicate with one another in a very effective matter despite the size of the organization. This is done in a more cost effective manner.
Project Management Focus- Video conferencing allows for the individuals to communicate about aspects of their current project. This includes the ability to let people see how one task leads to another, and who is doing what, on a project large or small. It also allows for progress to be shown and for evaluation so that improvements and adjustments can be made.
Training Tools: Training programs that require a lot of directions can be easily transmitted to many individuals at once thus cutting the costs and time used to train a future employee. Unlike an instructional video, video conferencing allows for feedback and communication between the trainer and trainee.
Types of Available Video Conferencing Technologies: (Communication News, 7)
Desktop Video Conferencing- A desktop computer that is equipped with the necessary technical required specs and peripherals. This includes:
Internet Connection- (faster connections allow for a quicker data retrieval and smoother playback)
Teleconferencing bridge- An internal enterprise solution that allows company company employees to come together to communicate and collaborate, keeping all conversations within the organization. Audio may be output to a recording device to save conference proceedings.
Ready Access Video- a combination of videoconferencing and Web conferencing into a single screen experience. This allows users to display presentations at the same time. It is also on demand video bridging so that meeting participants can log into the meeting at any point and leave.
Hosted Web Conference Service- This is similar to Ready Access Video conferencing but also allows for individuals without a web cam to participate or view. Individuals with a telephone connection can partake in the meeting.
Benefits and Weaknesses
Benefits: (Winfeld, 16)
Problems: (Van Meggelen, 2005) & (Percy, 2010)
Applications of Video Conferencing
The Case of 21 LifeCare Hospitals(Coen, 35)
With an organization that cared for more than 12,000 patients a year suffering from complex problems, LifeCare decided that it would apply video conferencing so that the company could run more efficiently. They hoped for the best treatment achievable. In 2002, LifeCare’s CIO Zeke Zoccoli looked for a better network to run his organization on. He chose to collaborate with MASERGY to provide his network solution. MASERGY was a company that had already implemented video conferencing into their network creation services. The collaboration has allows for LifeCare to have a more robust communicatiomn system between doctor’s and nurses, as well as allows them to train future employee more efficiently.For an example, woundcare training sessions that normally took 45 days, now took only 2. The medical personnel attended the training without leaving the hospital and then immediately returned to work. This service helps ensure the hospital's transdisciplinary team is always trained on the latest procedures, and able to tap talent and expertise across all hospital locations. Other areas that video conferencing helped improve include:
• streamlining hospital operational and patient-care activities;
• simplifying hospital reimbursement;
• authenticating physician credentials;
• modernizing patient records; and
• verifying medical coding.
Scotland’s Child Care (Dougherty, 6)
Between 2003 and 2006, Scotland looked to use technological advancements to deliver physical and social care in remote or rural areas, which would otherwise be unsustainable because of high costs or low population density. The Scottish Pediatric Telemedicine Service looked to upgrade their systems to include video conferencing. This would enable service such as an emergency department channel that could be reached by those who were in need, but far away. This would avoid the need to travel to the specialist centre, which may take several hours, careers would not have to arrange childcare for siblings at short notice and employment implications for parents could be minimized. Video conferencing could also allow the clinical staff on the transport team, and in the critical care centers, the opportunity to view the patient and advise the local team. It also helped improve the lives of the patients parents. A breakdown in communications and a lack of out-of-hours support are often cited as leading reasons for parental stress and anxiety. With video conferencing, the parent could now have access to their children whenever they pleased. The National Delivery Plan has already been funding video conferencing systems to support a range of services in each of the specialist childrens hospitals for a few years. The extension of equipment to childrens inpatient units should be complete by the end of 2010.
Music Education for Children (Riley, 365)
In 2001, the University of Oulu hoped to find a method for teaching music to children that resided in remote village locations. To accomplish this, the University used video conferencing technology. The goal was to develop learning and teaching networks that could increase educational equality and utilize the decreasing resources of the schools. They hoped to replicate the benefits of face to face classrooms. Music theory, music history, and lessons on how to play instruments were taught. The University concluded that they were successful in establishing this new system and that the expereiences with it were very positive. Students struggling with learning an instrument were able to get help on their improper finger placement but utilizing the zoom feature on their fingers. This allowed the teacher a means of feedback that could correct the mistakes. The music classes were mainly provided to children in remote villages in Mexico.
Video Conferencing Etiquette
Preparation (Brandt, 64)
From Home to Office Meetings:
From Office to Office Meetings: (Shay, 1)
Proper Etiquette and Rules: (Post, 1)
The Future of Video Conferencing (Business Communication Review, 6)
The market for conferencing infrastructure hardware and software will grow as enterprises converge voice, video, and data on their IP networks. This enables the possibility that video conferencing may soon dominate the way communication is done within an organization. The growth is predicted to be driven by the increased entry of big companies into the market such as:
- Microsoft
- Oracle
- Cisco
- Apple
The amount of sales within this market has already rose by $200 million between 2003 and 2006. (2003, $475 million/ 2006, $657 million)Videos
**TANDBERGAmerica** | June 19, 2009 | 0 likes, 0 dislikes
Senior Systems Programmer, Bob Brumm of Tampa Electric discusses the business benefits and value of video conferencing as a long time user of video. Video was taken at the TANDBERG booth at InfoComm 2009 on June 18, 2009.
**global1049** | May 24, 2007 | 3 likes, 1 dislikes
Video conferencing - CBS Evening News With Katie Couric (Recorded May 24, 2007, WCBS)
**Cisco** | September 24, 2010 | 21 likes, 2 dislikes
See how technology brings people together, across borders, connecting people like never before. Watch our newest Together We Are The Human Network television advertisement, "Join Us," set to John Lennon's "Imagine" lyrics.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. --African Proverb
References
Associated Press. (September 1, 1934). "German Postoffice To Use Television-Telephone For Its Communication System", The Evening Independent, St. Petersburg, Fl.
Coen, Rena. "Conferencing Alternatives:Hospital Enhances services." Communication News 41.2 FEB 2004. 35-36.
Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 04 Dec 2010.
"Conferencing Products." Communication News 44.4 APR 2007. n. pag. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 02 Dec 2010.
Doherty, Laura. "Video Conferencing Used to Provide Care and Support." Paediatric Nursing 22.5 JUN 2010. 6-7. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Dec 2010.
Meggelen, J. V. (2005, April 19). The problem with video conferencing. Retrieved from http://www.oreillynet.com/etel/blog/2005/04/the_problem_with_video_confere.html
(n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://www.tnspl.in/solutions/Vcon/images/tns-right-top-img.jpgConference Picture.
Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved from:http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/videoconferencing
Percy, A. (2010). Understanding latency in ip telephony. Retrieved from http://www.telephonyworld.com/training/brooktrout/iptel_latency_wp.html
Post, Emily. "Video Conference Etiquette Tips." Emily Post Etipedia (2009): n. pag. Web. 11 Dec 2010.
"Rich Media- Conferencing To Go." Business Communications Review 34.6 JUN 2004. 6.Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 02 Dec 2010.
Riley, Patricia. "Video-Conferenced Music Teaching."Music Education Research 11.3 SEP 2009. 365-375.Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 Dec 2010.
Shay, Laura. "Video Conferencing Tips." Emblaze Vision (2003): n. pag. Web. 11 Dec 2010. <http://www.vcon.com/support/support_notes/All_notes/03102901.shtml>.
Video Conferencing History. (n.d.). Easy Video Conferencing for Desktop or Conference Room. Retrieved from:http://www.nefsis.com/Best-Video-Conferencing-Software/video-conferencing-history.html
Winfield, Liz. "Web Conferencing Made Simple."Communication News 41.6 03 JUN 2004. 14-16.Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 03 Dec 2010.
Wolfe, M. (2007). “Broadband videoconferencing as knowledge management tool,” Journal of Knowledge Management 11, no. 2