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February 02 Column: Video Teleconferencing

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Video Teleconferencing
328 words
By Jana Barberio

Even before September 11th, I kept asking my travel weary husband when his client would save money on plane tickets and set up a video-teleconference.

Video teleconferencing, also called VTC or videoconferencing, allows two or more people at different sites to see and hear each other, and even simultaneously share work together.

For some, videoconferencing is an alternative to corporate frequent flyers and cutting client costs.  But it also saves time and offers practical solutions to universities, hospitals, libraries, prisons, and even computer users like you and me.

Videoconferencing can be used for:

· Distance education, literacy training, Internet classes
· Interviewing CEOs or prospective employees
· Counseling people in inaccessible situations and locations (i.e. natural disaster)
· Eliminating transport risks for prisoners or keeping crime victims separate from defendants
· Health and medical care that doesn’t require on-site aid or consultation
· Undisturbed wildlife observation
· Nuclear facilities
· Communication in space
· Staff meetings, training, development, and branch/agency communication
· Community outreach

Anyone who uses the Internet has potential for videoconferencing.  A young company in McLean, Virginia called VideoNext, uses the Internet to deliver the video.  VideoNext wants to make videoconferencing simple and affordable for customers who aren’t from the wealthy corporations who are using VTC technology.

For more information check out these resources:

http://www.pla.org/technotes/videoconferencing.html
Public Library Association covers the history and the various applications of this very useful technology.

http://www.vide.gatech.edu/cookbook2.0/
Obtain the comprehensive Video Conferencing Cookbook at this site.  The book contains everything you need to know about video conferencing including standards, basic tools, how to determine needs and special applications, room diagrams, practical advice, a glossary, bibliography, and web links

http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/vidconf/
Videoconferencing for learning; contains examples for schools and libraries

http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/CIS/Communications/Video/vtcinfo.html
What is Video-Conferencing?

McCarthy, Ellen. “VideoNext Says Times Favor Teleconferences.”
Washington Post 1 October 2001, sec E: 5.

http://www.videonext.com/
For more information about products and cost call McLean Headquarters:
(703) 848-9770 or (877) 843-3677 toll free
 

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Jana Barberio is a freelance writer and a former paralegal. She and her husband, John, co-founded the Holly Computer User Group in Holly, Michigan and the Twin Beach Computer User Group in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland.

 She can be reached by email at jana@barberio.com

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