Video Conferencing

Video Conferencing, also refered to as videoteleconference, is a form of communication using video and telephone. It is a set of interactive telecommunication technologies which work together to enable two or more people located in different places to communicate via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously. Video conferencing is a kind of groupware which allows for visual collaboration. The difference between video conferencing and a videophone is that it is meant to allow for a conference to take place within a group of people rather than simply between individuals.

The technology for video conferencing existed back when TV was invented since the video conferencing systems at the time were made up of two closed-circuit television systems connected by a simple cable. At the time, different TV channels would use video conferencing when reporting from distant locations, in the news, for example.

During the 1980s, digital telephony became more accessible since costs decreased and a minimum bit rate became available for compressed video and audio transmission (video conferencing). Video conferencing bacame even more popular throughout the 90's when more standards based technology became readily available and replaced the expensive propriety equipment and software of earlier years. The general public was suddently able to access video conferencing technology for reasonable costs. It was then when IP (Internet Protocol) was created and video conferencing became even more accessible and possilbe through efficial video compression technologies. This allowed people to use video conferencing in their own PC's at home. It was then that CU-SeeMe was developed (1992) and was followed by NetMeeting, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Skype and others.

The following components are required for video teleconferencing:
- video input: video camera or webcam
- video output: comuter monitor, television, or projector
- Audio input: microphone
- Audio output: Loudspeakers or telephone device
- Data transfer: Analog or digital telephone network, Lan, or internet