What is Video Conferencing? Allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously. People in different geographic locations can have a meeting, can see and hear one another using computers & Communications.

Types. Point to Point VConferencing:- –A live video and audio communication link between any two locations. –Each participant has a Computer with Speakers & Monitor, Video Camera, Microphone & High speed Network Connection. While they talk to each other, their voices are delivered over the speaker & their images appear on other computer.

Type. Multipoint VConferencing:- –Allows 3 or more participants in different locations. –To handle this situation, the H.323 standard intro- duces the concept of a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU). The MCU can be thought of as a "video bridge". The MCU connects to the Internet and registers with the gatekeeper.

Gatekeeper:- »When users want to join a particular videoconferencing session, they dial the service number/password combination. The gatekeeper checks to see if that service has been registered by a MCU. The gatekeeper completes the call by connecting the client to the specified videoconference on the MCU.

Equipment Each communication party must have –a computer with suitable operating system loaded and network capable, –a few cameras –microphones (at least 1 or more, depending on the way you use), –and a video conferencing software –Since the equipment above can be very cheap in price, the cost of the whole system is quite reasonable.

At one site you have a video camera which generates a video signal The video is made up of a large number of individual picture frames a frame is one of the many still images which compose the complete moving picture. How Does it Work.

How Does it Work. Picture, sound and extra data must be compressed to minimize network costs and maximize the reception quality. This compression is typically done by the video Codec (Coder/Decoder). From one site's Codec, the video may be passed along a wide range of communication networks. At the end of the link the video is decompressed to generate the image and audio that was originally captured by the video camera.

Main Advantages. A - Can communicate to anywhere in the world. No need for excessive travel expense/costs. B - low cost than flying abroad. C - very interactive in comparison to /chat. More personal. D - You can see who you are talking to. Easy to build a relationship. F - can see the other party, more personal than fax - telephone, .

Main Disadvantages. A - “Personal feel” is lost. B - Hard on a group basis due to one-way audio system. C - Not always clear to understand. D - Picture soften unclear (fuzzy). Communication sometimes failed. E - timelag - connection/link problems - sound - volume and cut-off