The Convenience of Video Conferencing
Many businessmen, educators, professional speakers, as well as IT and medical professionals have realized the convenience of using video conferencing software.
Video conferencing software has also benefited countless individuals who use readily available free technology to stay in touch with family and friends overseas.
Gone are the days when military and top echelon business personnel were the only ones who regularly benefited from video conferencing!
Since the convenience of using video conferencing software is now available to the general public because of the inexpensive cost of the technology that enables it, a growing number of business executives today interact with colleagues the world over through online meetings.
Educators and their students, on the other hand, are able to manage their time better and benefit from better quality education because of video conferencing. Distance learning programs are now, more than ever, possible because of video conferencing software as well.
News of the convenience of using video conferencing software has, indeed, spread far and wide! Even medical professionals can now give their patients quick attention through video conferencing.
Today’s medical specialist is able to treat distant patients in real time, without having to deal with the delays and expense of travel.
Doctors and nurses can now consult with patients and colleagues in real time. They can even send and receive a patient’s medical records, including ECG readings, x-rays, etc.
How the Convenience of Using Video Conferencing Software Was Discovered
The convenience of using video conferencing software was discovered via the medium’s predecessor, the closed circuit TV (CCTV). But CCTV, mostly because televisions were connected by cable, was expensive to use. It was also terribly impractical to carry out over long distances.
When digital telephony saw light of day in the ’80s, it ushered in a more practical means of transmitting audio and video over long distances. But since the technology was still new, it was still expensive—and was still out of the reach of the mainstream market.
However, with the ’90s, technology pushed the mainstream market closer to realizing the convenience of using video conferencing software.
The phenomenon of the Internet made video conferencing more widely available because the technology was now affordable to a rapidly growing segment of consumers.
How You Can Benefit from the Convenience of Using Video Conferencing Software
All you need to take advantage of video conferencing are:
* a webcam (to pick up video);
* a monitor or TV screen (to display video);
* a microphone (to pick up audio);
* speakers (to play audio); and
* an Internet or LAN (Local Area Network) connection (to transmit data: audio, video, files, graphics).
Once you set up the basics, you can stay in touch with friends and family, wherever they may be, through the convenience of using video conferencing software—and you don’t even need to purchase it! You can download free software off the Internet.
MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, and Googletalk all offer video conferencing capabilities free of charge. Free software offers relatively low quality audio and video compared to proprietary or licensed software. But it’s sufficient if you want to get the convenience of using video conferencing software to stay in touch with your loved ones without having to pay for long distance or international call charges.
So there is no reason why everyone should not take advantage of video conferencing software. It’s free and it’s easy to use. What more can anyone ask for?
