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Table of Contents » What is Web Conferencing?
What is Web Conferencing?
Key Characteristics of Web Conferencing Systems
David R. Woolley of Think of it (http://www.thinkofit.com), one of the major authorities in the field of online communication, defines Real-Time Web Conferencing as follows:
"Software & services that enable real-time (synchronous) e-conferencing:
Text chat, audio, video, document sharing, whiteboards, presentations, etc."
(http://www.thinkofit.com/Webconf/realtime.htm)
In my personal view a Web conferencing system can be defined such when:
- It provides a facility for three or more people to virtually meet and to take on some collaboration, exchange, learning or communication-related activity.
- It is real-time.
- It provides for an immediate way of exchanging via text chat.
- It allows the host/presenter to select and invite attendees to participate
- It provides facilities to the host to restrict access, protect privacy and secure data communications taking place during the online event.
What do Web Conferencing Systems allow you to do?
There are unlimited applications for Web conferencing and live presentation systems, though the most popular, effective and in-demand appear to be the following ones:
a) Training - Run live presentations online utilizing your PowerPoint slides. Show software applications, documents, assign exercises, run polls and tests.
b) Marketing - Demonstrate software tools and Web sites live on the Internet.
c) Promotion - Conduct live conferences and presentations with audio and video.
d) Technical support - Remote control of software and applications. Remote setup and configuration. Troubleshooting at a distance.
e) Collaboration - Share and visualize documents online and meet to discuss and evaluate work executed.
f) Communication - Bypass traditional phone lines and discuss with multiple friends and family across great distances effectively and at very low cost.
The real number of applications does indeed extend far more than the limited set of sample applications listed above. I have personally seen these tools being used for creating online virtual lounges with music and visuals, for telling nighttime stories to distant children and for running games and contests.
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