Video conferencing using video and audio broadcast allows people scattered around the world to meet as if they were in the same room. Computers and cameras allow all participants to see what is happening even if they are not in the main meeting room. Camera equipment is expensive, so it is usually leased from a location such as a hotel which had a video conference room available.
Recently, video conferencing has taken on a new form. Gaining in popularity is desktop video conferencing which involves the use of a computer. While allowing video and data, this form also allows the sharing of applications. Users at each end of a connected computer system can edit the same document. Desktop video conferencing has some limitations to be considered. Primarily, broadcasting images is a problem. Average frames per second sent across a computer system is around 15 frames. This is only half the broadcasting ability of a 30 frames per second which can be found on TV. This limitation is seen on a computer as a stuttering effect on the screen. Images tend to jump from location to another. Image quality dependents on the video compression used to transmit the images. Most manufacturers have focused on improving the sound quality since people are more concerned with that than video quality though.
To learn more about video conferencing, a Video Conferencing FAQ is a good place to start. The use of video conferencing in education and another excellent source of general video conference information can be located at Heriot Wat University. Defininitions for common video conference termilogy can be found in this glossary. A listing of links for companies and software involved with video conferencing among other things can be found at Video Conferencing. Software is available on the internet for anyone with access and the proper video hardware to have video conferencing for free from Cornell University click on the image below.