Video Conferencing: An Indispensable Way To Work
01 June, 2020: By Swati Singh
Video conferencing is a technology wherein users can hold real time face to face audio visual meeting from different locations. This technology was first introduced in early 1970s when AT&T launched the first video conferencing service "Picturephone Mod II" for homes and offices.
Picturephone Mod II being too expensive, bulky and difficult to use was discontinued in the year 1973. Eventually, Compression Labs launched CLI T1 as the first commercial group video conferencing system. With technological advancement, vedio conferencing gradually developed and in the year 1991, IBM introduced an innovative PC-based system for video conferencing called PictureTel or PicTel.
Video conferencing became popular with introduction of "Skype" which was mostly used by news media organisations. Initially "Skype" introduced 25 person video call with free internet access. However, this technology was not used in every day communications. Thereafter, Lifesize made world's very first HD video conferencing calling system. With growing digitalisation, screen and file sharing facilities has also been added to the features of this technology. Video conferencing is now cloud based which has made it much cheaper and convenient. Now users can easily start or join an audio visual meeting anytime from anywhere on any type of devices like laptop or smartphones.
Recently, this technology has become a practical importance due to pandemic disease coronavirus which has affected almost every country around the world. The disease being extremely communicable has forced people to remain in lockdown and we see a significant rise in use of this technology by various type of users. The schools as well as colleges are using this technology for live online classes and assignments for the students. The business and professional users being both government and private based are connecting through this technology by way of live webinars, online meetings/ workshops/ events, online court hearings for special matters, holding of Board Meetings as well as Annual General Meetings which has been allowed through video conferencing.
No doubt this technology has turned out to be a boon in the lockdown period where there is an utmost need to protect and keep the economy alive. In the years to come, we will definately see a shift in the way of people's work/ lifestyle and this technology will no longer be an alternative but shall become a part of our lives in the era of digitalisation and artificial intelligence.
Picturephone Mod II being too expensive, bulky and difficult to use was discontinued in the year 1973. Eventually, Compression Labs launched CLI T1 as the first commercial group video conferencing system. With technological advancement, vedio conferencing gradually developed and in the year 1991, IBM introduced an innovative PC-based system for video conferencing called PictureTel or PicTel.
Video conferencing became popular with introduction of "Skype" which was mostly used by news media organisations. Initially "Skype" introduced 25 person video call with free internet access. However, this technology was not used in every day communications. Thereafter, Lifesize made world's very first HD video conferencing calling system. With growing digitalisation, screen and file sharing facilities has also been added to the features of this technology. Video conferencing is now cloud based which has made it much cheaper and convenient. Now users can easily start or join an audio visual meeting anytime from anywhere on any type of devices like laptop or smartphones.
Recently, this technology has become a practical importance due to pandemic disease coronavirus which has affected almost every country around the world. The disease being extremely communicable has forced people to remain in lockdown and we see a significant rise in use of this technology by various type of users. The schools as well as colleges are using this technology for live online classes and assignments for the students. The business and professional users being both government and private based are connecting through this technology by way of live webinars, online meetings/ workshops/ events, online court hearings for special matters, holding of Board Meetings as well as Annual General Meetings which has been allowed through video conferencing.
No doubt this technology has turned out to be a boon in the lockdown period where there is an utmost need to protect and keep the economy alive. In the years to come, we will definately see a shift in the way of people's work/ lifestyle and this technology will no longer be an alternative but shall become a part of our lives in the era of digitalisation and artificial intelligence.