Next Generation Video Conference Systems
Holding meetings online is about to become commonplace. Now, anyone with a broadband Internet connection and a browser can log onto the Internet and take part in or host a web conference, a web and video conference or a webinar. Previously it was necessary to download and install complicated Internet meeting software and buy expensive equipment in order to enjoy the convenience of Internet meetings and webinars.
Videoconferencing uses telecommunications of audio and video to bring people at different sites together for a meeting. This can be as simple as a conversation between two people in private offices (point-to-point) or involve several sites (multi-point) with more than one person in large rooms at different sites. Besides the audio and visual transmission of meeting activities, videoconferencing can be used to share documents, computer-displayed information, and whiteboards.
Access to a video conference facility aids the communication of almost any business. Before the prevalence of broadband internet, a room could be rented from a video conference facility for an hourly rate, or, if a company had more demanding video conferencing needs, they could have the necessary equipment installed to create their own video conference room.
Its easy to start a video conference, select (play-all) and the video conference is on! Advanced users can select between multiple video inputs, size, compression, frames per second and more. The software automatically makes adjustments when available bandwidth adversely affects video performance.
Through its variety of services, MegaMeeting provides full-featured and flexible web conferencing software, video chat server and webinar software. Participants can communicate by voice, instant messaging chat and see each other by video/videoconference. This is made possible by the powerful video chat server. With Professional and Enterprise versions of its web conferencing software, MegaMeeting includes multipoint, desktop video conferencing software that allows up to 16 individuals to be seen at the same time, and an unlimited number of additional web conferencing attendees to see those 16. Participants can talk and hear one another by using standard microphones and headsets thanks to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). As an alternative, if you wish, you can choose to use free, integrated teleconferencing for the handling of audio in your webinars.
Progressively, more corporations are using video conference as a means to communicate with other corporations. Yesterday, secretaries were typing memos that required days to send. Today, professionals are instantly communicating messages with a click of one button. Typewriters replaced handwritten notes, and now, electronic meetings are replacing typewriters. Todays technology is allowing professionals to finally catch up their breath. This saved time can now be spent achieving more at work or visiting families. Therefore, video conference has managed to bridge the gap of not only business relationships but familial relationships, as well.
The uses of MegaMeeting’s web and desktop video conferencing systems are limited only by your imagination. Companies are presently using MegaMeeting services to hold Internet meetings (videoconferencing), demonstrate their products and services to potential clients, conduct staff training sessions and even perform after-sales servicing of their products and software (by using remote desktop control software).
Imagine the freedom of being able to hold an impromptu meeting with people all over the globe from wherever you wish, be it at home or in the office. All you need is a web camera, or webcam, a microphone headset, software, your computer, and your broadband internet connection. You get all of the benefits without any of the hassle of using a video conference facility.
The complete video conference system includes the following equipment: a high definition codec, high definition camera, high definition audio conference phone and wireless remote control. LifeSize Room is fully integrated for instant plug-and-play use with any display or monitor.
The core technology used in a videoteleconference (VTC) system is digital compression of audio and video streams in real time. The hardware or software that performs compression is called a codec (coder/decoder). Compression rates of up to 1:500 can be achieved. The resulting digital stream of 1s and 0s is subdivided into labelled packets, which are then transmitted through a digital network of some kind (usually ISDN or IP). The use of audio modems in the transmission line allow for the use of POTS, or the Plain Old Telephone System, in some low-speed applications, such as videotelephony, because they convert the digital pulses to/from analog waves in the audio spectrum range.
Dedicated systems (manufactured by companies such as Polycom, Sony, Tandberg, Radvision Ltd., and LifeSize) have all required components packaged into a single piece of equipment, usually a console with a high quality remote controlled video camera. These cameras can be controlled at a distance to pan left and right, tilt up and down, and zoom. They became known as PTZ cameras. The console contains all electrical interfaces, the control computer, and the software or hardware-based codec. Omnidirectional microphones are connected to the console, as well as a TV monitor with loudspeakers and/or a video projector.
