Video conferencing allows people at different locations to communicate simultaneously through two-way video and audio. It has several typical features including full duplex voice communication, text chat, streaming video exchange, whiteboard sharing, file transfer, and application sharing. The main advantages of video conferencing are significant travel savings, improved communication through visual cues, increased productivity through shorter more effective meetings and collaborative tools, and conferencing quality is improving with advances in technology. While not a replacement for all teaching, video conferencing can supplement asynchronous distance education when used appropriately.

1. ONLINE ASSIGNMENT
TOPIC: VIDEO
CONFERENCING

2. INDEX
INDEX
SL NO CONTENT PAGE NO
1 Introduction 3
2
Typical features of video
conferencing
4-6
3 Advantages of video
conferencing
6-7
4
Conclusion 8
5
References 9

3. Introduction
Videoconferencing (or video conference) means to conduct
conference between two or more participants at different sites by
computer to transmit audio and video. For example, a point-to-
point (two-person) video conferencing system works much like a video
telephone. Each participant has a video camera, microphone, and
speakers mounted on his or her computer. As the two participants speak
to one another, their voices are carried over the network and delivered to
the other's speakers, and whatever images appear in front of the video
camera appear on the other’s computer.
Telecommunication technologies which allow two or more
locations to communicate by simultaneous two-way video and audio
transmissions. Videoconferencing uses audio and video
telecommunications to bring people at different sites together. This can
be as simple as a conversation between people in private offices or
involve several sites in large rooms at multiple locations.
Typical Features of Audio/Video Conferencing Systems
The feature that all of the audio and video products and packages share
is the technology of communications through voice audio at a minimum
and through smooth full-motion color video at the ideal. The Internet has
already been shown to allow simultaneous text communications through

4. 'chat-rooms and bulletin boards'. The following are features offered by
many conferencing packages that apply Internet telephony technology.
Full Duplex voice communication operation with automatic voice
detection - allows two or more people to talk simultaneously over the
Internet, just like over a regular phone, reminiscent of a 'party line'
conversation.
Text Chat tools let speakers type in their contributions even while they
or someone else is speaking. Chat text transmission ensures delivery of
the speaker's exact words and gives all participants a written record of
the proceedings.
Streaming Video exchange allows real-time viewing of conversation
partners. The quality of the moving images depends upon the speed of
the connection, but since video conferencing generally entails seated
people viewing other people who are also seated in front of their
computer monitors, the amount of action is minimal. The movie,
therefore, appears smooth and natural. Facial expressions and gestures
can be transmitted in sync with the audio. Most importantly, video
communication allows the participants to see when their partners are
busy typing, or looking away from the monitor, etc., which saves the
constant questioning: "are you still there?"
Whiteboard Sharing allows users to collaborate on a single worksheet
with text tools, drawing tools and other graphic media.
File Transfer through an Internet telephony system means that the
sender can immediately verify receipt of the transferred files and objects.

5. Participants can send each other graphics, sound files, executable files,
code, etc., while still in voice/video contact.
Application sharing means that users can share software programs even
when only one of the participants actually has that application installed
on their computer. This feature enables participants to surf the Internet
in tandem when one user acts as the leader.
Using the Internet for any and all functions of a normal telephone
includes real-time synchronous audio, answering machine, speed dial,
caller ID, call forwarding, automatic dialing, voice mail, etc., and it
combines those capabilities with video, graphic, text and other data
transfer protocols. Few of the existing conferencing packages strive to
achieve all of those results, but between them, the complete technology
is already in use and functioning well
Advantages of video conferencing
1. Significant Travel Savings
The constant climb of air travel prices barely seems like news anymore,
and smart organizations are finding alternatives. Not only is video
conferencing a direct replacement for many in-person business trips, but
because there is virtually no cost to add additional key employees to a
virtual meeting, you can easily bring the right team together.
2. Improved Communication

6. Video conferencing restores many visual cues necessary in
long distance communication. Social psychologist Ray Birdwhistell
demonstrated years ago that non-verbal communication constitutes about
two-thirds of the communication between people.
For example, eye contact enables us to ‘get’ a message from
a speaker that voice communication alone may not successfully convey,
3. Increased Productivity
Everyone has experienced the classic never ending “conference call
from hell,” . Important meetings are shorter and more effective. Video
conferencing users report saving a minimum of two hours a week with
the technology. The interactivity of group collaboration and document
sharing greatly increases productivity.
4. Conferencing Quality
All of the pros and cons of video conferencing hinge on quality. Early
versions of video conferencing quality had uneven clarity of the audio
and video broadcast. Today, these problem still remain for low-end and
consumer systems. .

7. Conclusion
Today the technologies are developing a faster rate than the older times
the advanced technology facilitates a well developed educational and
commercial sector. Until we have worked with a new technology, we
can't fully understand its strengths or its weaknesses. Two-way
interactive video conferencing is not the method of teaching Instead of
wanting to push others toward interactive videoconferencing as a mode
of distance education,. In a recent study of the value of combining video
(in the form of tapes or satellite broadcast) to supplement asynchronous
interaction

8. References
 Webopedia
 en.wikipedia
 technorhetoric.net/
 webgerman.com
Corrected by Anupama M R
Asst. Prof. in Social Science