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Streaming
Video
Conferencing
Near Real-time Communications
Streaming
video conferencing uses the power of the Internet to conduct virtual
conferences between two people or groups of people.
All that is needed
is a computer, Internet, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software
for sound, and conferencing software.
The advantage of conferencing via streaming video is
that participants have access to the conference in
real-time as the meeting is presented on their computer screens without
the need to download the program first.
This was the traditional method
of holding online conferences until the technology evolved to allow
streaming the conference in real-time.
There is no
need to wait until enough of the streaming video is recorded in the
computer’s buffer to begin participating in the streaming video
conference.
Older
technologies required downloading first and this usually resulted in
jumpy and jerky conferences.
Also there were delays in communication
due to waiting for the buffer to catch up with the download.
Now
there is virtually no waiting for participants in the conference to
communicate with each. The buffering action of the computer
used during streaming video conferencing results in
no delays as the buffer stores video and audio information until
needed, even if the data transfer is too fast.
Unfortunately there is
no remedy if the data transfer is too slow. Jumpy and jerky video
conferencing will occur. This is usually not a problem, since web
conference hosting companies will ensure that there is enough bandwidth
to support the demands of the conference.
Streaming
video conferencing is typically two-way communication between groups.
This means that they have the ability to see each other, share files,
and talk to each other.
Participants in the video conference only need
to log into the designated URL for the meeting and participate.
Purposes
of streaming video conferences include:
- Product launches – informing employees of new
products
- Software demonstrations – training for
employees or clients
- Focus groups – for employees or others brought
in to provide reaction
to a new product
- Brainstorming
sessions - employees
- Employee orientation
– when scattered in several locations
- New product training – for employees or the
sales department
- Training sessions – for employees or clients
- Distance learning – for clients and employees
- Sales presentations – to clients
- Annual shareholder meetings
Typical streaming video
conferences involve the following delivery
methods for the conference:
- Slide presentations – typically power point
- Live video – webcams or digital video camera
- VoIP – real time audio using either speakers of
head phones
- Web tours – providing the necessary information
to participants to
visit designated websites that are part of the presentation
- Recording – archiving the meeting for future
use of historical purposes
- White Board – allows annotation by presenter or
participants to share
information and can be easily saved for post meeting actions
- Text Chat – involves participants to
communicate through their computer
keyboards
- Polls – allows
presenter to pose questions to participants and they respond with
selection of the alternatives presented
- Surveys – allows presenter to conduct a survey
during or at the end of
a presentation for various purposes
- Screen sharing – presenters can view each
participants computer screens
during sessions that require specific actions and result in a specific
indication on the computer screen
- Application sharing – allows presenter to view
participant actions when
manipulating new software during training sessions
- Desk top sharing – allows presenter and
participants to view each
others computer screen
For
additional video
teleconference issues, such as the streaming
video conferencing section here, please check
out the
related sections;
webinars, web
conferencing, web
meeting and
teleconferencing.
If
you are looking for a little more
hands-on
type information, take a peek at the online video sharing,
video
streaming
information, media
streaming, video
webcasting and how
to stream video.
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