9. - Video Conferencing in the Digital Age

   
        

            What is a video conference? A video conference is a live conference between two or more people from different places who communicate through computer networks to transmit audio or video data. Just like everything in the digital age, video conferencing has its own advantages and disadvantages.


            One advantage of video conferencing is that you don’t have to spend time and money on travelling to meetings. It gives us the chance to communicate with people from different countries without them travelling. Another advantage of video conferencing is you actually get to see the person unlike when you do a typical conference call on the phone. You get to see the person’s reaction and body language. Lastly, it increases productivity. The participants of a video conference can all view a document on their screen at the same time. This helps the participants to brainstorm their ideas easily.


            In contrast, here are some of the disadvantages of video conferencing. High quality video conferencing facilities can be expensive. When you are in a business conference, you need suitable hardware and software. You need a very reliable and fast data link. Even if you have a fast internet connection, their still might be a time delay in between responses. When the computer breaks down, the person cannot take part of the conference. And although there is a camera, it might be difficult to completely see the person you are talking to.


Can the technology replace all or most face-to-face meetings?
Hence, I can now say that there is no substitute to face-to-face meetings. Yes, video conferencing has its advantages but it is not always reliable. If you want to communicate in the best manner then I recommend a face-to-face meeting. Physical interaction is still needed to get your message across clearly.




What are the costs of common video conferencing systems and the recurring costs their use incurs?

            Basic video conferencing software can be purchased for free; however, as I mentioned earlier, high quality video conferencing software can be very expensive. In addition, the user must pay for a high speed and reliable data connection / internet. The cost of a video conference is still less than the cost of travel fare, hotel reservations, and food.

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