Video conferencing refers to an online mode of communication that involves transmission of both audio and video signals between two or more physical locations. It makes use of the World Wide Web through computer networks as the platform for the communication or even telephone. We have” point to point” video conferencing that involves communication between two people, and “multipoint “video conferencing that allows communication among three or more people.
A simple video conference setup consists of a camera and a microphone. Video from the camera and audio from the microphone are synchronized and converted into a digital signal and then transmitted to a receiving end via a coding and decoding system, “codec” while at the other end the same also applies to ensure communication is achieved.
Often, I use this segment of the computer industry to communicate with my friends who are working and studying in countries abroad. I have downloaded various applications that enables me to communicate and at times I go to the cyber café when am not around home. Normally I have to take a comfortable sit in front of my laptop or a desktop when am in a cyber café, then face the webcam while logged on to the particular software available e.g. Skype and upon prior signaling my pals I talk via the microphone available. For a good quality of video conferencing, a good network connection and proper bandwidth are of essence.
Online video conferencing websites include web Ex, Tinychat, GoToMeeting, Dimdim, Adobe ConnectNow, Google wave, Skype, Microsoft office live meeting among others. Web Ex is great but it needs more cameras, Adobe connectNow is great for demonstrations, GoToMeeting is reliable and simple though no video and poor recording, the rest I haven’t tried them but my favorite is Skype since it has good features such as clear vision and good sound quality.
