| The first involves making a standard telephone call | | | | broadband connection, an ISDN line is again |
| over the internet. This is done by converting | | | | preferable, as this will give more reliable |
| analogue signals (our spoken words) into 'packets' | | | | connections. In order to conduct a video |
| of digital data, carried over a combined voice and | | | | conference, participants need a video card on |
| data network. This type of communication is | | | | their computers, to compress and decompress |
| restricted by our current bandwidth limitations, | | | | the video signals and optimize image quality; a |
| and this is a major driver behind government | | | | camera to capture and transmit participants' |
| plans to create a high-speed digital network for | | | | images; and dedicated videoconferencing |
| the UK over the coming years. | | | | software. Ideally this should allow each participant |
| The next method is data conferencing. Requiring | | | | to control the camera at their end of the |
| less bandwidth, and hence more practical in use, | | | | meeting, and include voice recognition software, |
| this involves exchanging typed messages in close | | | | as this is what allows participants to see each |
| to real time. This is widely seen in internet | | | | other. |
| chatrooms, but in the case of businesses, it can | | | | So will all this technology ever completely do |
| also be used to allow several parties to work on a | | | | away with our traditional telephones? Judging by |
| single document or application at the same time, | | | | the eagerness of telecoms companies to invest in |
| or for point-to-point conferences, which can be | | | | faster, higher capacity connections, many must |
| conducted via an ISDN line. | | | | believe so. |
| Finally, video conferencing, as its name suggests, | | | | Yet, as with mobile phones themselves, and |
| is like a telephone conference call but with the | | | | currently, digital radio and TV, there will be those |
| added benefit that all participants can see each | | | | who believe in the established technology and be |
| other, and so hold 'virtual meetings' whether they | | | | late adopters, if they ever do take the step. |
| are in an office or on the move. | | | | Then, one day of course, we'll all wonder what |
| While such meetings can be conducted using a | | | | the fuss was all about. |