Thanks to the advance of technology, face to face meeting is not the only way of meeting. There is a technology known as a video conference that enables us to meeting with other people remotely using video-enabled devices. Want to know more about this technology? Just read on.
Table of Contents
What Is It?
It is a technology that enables users who are in different locations to hold face to face meetings through the internet. Video conferencing can be used for many purposes, be it personal, educational, organizational, and business.
How Does It Work?
Video conferencing is live and video-based. Meaning, it enables participants to meet each other face to face long-distance. As the meeting is done using the internet, the locations of the participants do not matter. Video conferencing can be done as long as the participants have video-enabled devices and an internet connection.
Video conferencing can be done in various ways. The most common way to do it is by using a software-based platform. This platform is the one that transmits the communication in the meeting (which is done using devices like desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and even smartphones) over Internet protocols.
Features
- Remote communication via the internet.
- Audio and video meetings.
- Allows for remote training and working.
- Screen sharing.
- Multiple webcam capabilities.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Efficient.
- Saves time and resources.
- Improves communication.
- Improves productivity.
- Connects teams.
Disadvantages
- It doesn’t have the personal touch that face-to-face communication has.
- Technical problems.
- A high initial cost.
Security Aspect
Security is very important to video conferencing. After all, sensitive information and data are being transferred across networks where it is susceptible to hackers. If a hacker hacks a network, the video conferencing stream essentially becomes their private surveillance camera.
Fortunately, there are many ways video conferencing can be made secure. For example, protecting the conference using a password, blocking users (welcome or not) from taking control of the screen, and turn on automatic updates so you get the latest security updates for the video conferencing tool, among others.
Software for Video Conference
1. Zoom
This platform boasts many options, high-definition video and voice, whiteboarding, chat and messaging, meeting record option, and an unlimited number of meetings per month, among others.
2. Microsoft Teams
This video conference platform is made by Microsoft. It is designed for seamless collaboration and efficiency. It offers various video conferencing features with the addition of integration with Office applications.
3. Skype Business
This platform is packaged with Microsoft Office 365. It offers features like instant messaging, screen sharing, unlimited meetings, and video conferencing with up to 250 participants.
4. ezTalks
A very user-friendly video conferencing platform. It has many features. For example, private and group chat, instant or scheduled meetings, unlimited number of meetings, high-definition video and audio, interactive whiteboards, screen sharing, and join by telephone call-in.
5. GoToMeeting
Used to be the number one go-to video conferencing tools, GoToMeeting still has a lot to offer. It is user-friendly, enables high-definition video, unlimited meetings, messaging, and screen sharing, among others.
Closing
Now you know more about the video conference. As you can see, this technology has many advantages and is especially useful at a time like this, where social distancing is necessary. If you are interested in using this technology, consider checking out the video conferencing software that we listed above.