Video Conferencing

There are many conferencing and virtual meeting tools, but most can be placed in one of two distinct categories:

1. Conference room video conferencing, where two or more groups exchange information using one or two-way visual (image) and two-way audio (voice) transmission. Typically, wired conference rooms are voice activated. The person speaking dominates the audio lines. Students can see the instructor, and the instructor can often view the class groupings, sometimes with the capacity to focus in on the person speaking.
   
   
2. Computer conferencing, where exchange information using one-way visual (image) and two-way (voice) transmission is employed. If all computers are equipped with cameras, peer to peer exchange - such as instructor to student and student to student - allows both image and voice exchange.

"Streaming media technology will increasingly be used internally at companies and in business-to-business ventures, and that will drive up corporate spending on the technology, according to Jupiter, in New York. Last year, companies spent US$140 million on streaming technology, Jupiter found. The market analysis company expects that to grow to US$2.8 billion for streaming media and related services in 2005." (Jeff May. "Jupiter Projects Streaming Media Boom."
InfoWorld.Web page. www.infoworld.com. 12 April 2001.)

This training delivery vehicle offers a live, immediate and synchronous experience, presenting a good discussion format in real time, with equipment that is relatively easy to operate.