Understanding Emerging Synchronous Technology
Three examples of synchronous technologies are:
- Video – conferencing
- Webinars or Web -conferencing
- Tele-conferencing or Audio – conferencing
Video Conferencing
Video – Conferencing is the communication channel where by parties in remote locations can communicate verbally and via body language by having their image shown at another location and vice versa. Video –Conferencing is possibly the most expensive form of remote synchronous communication but is the closest simulation to real-life communication.
Integrated Vision Describes their service as:
Videoconferencing is used to describe a collection of technologies that integrate video with audio and data and convey the concentrated signal, in real time, over distances for the purpose of a meeting between widely separated sites.
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. Each frame is made up of two fields, both the fields are separated at the time of video transmission (coded) and combined on reception at the other end (decoded). The more frames received by the far site, the more fluid the video motion on the television monitor.
Webinars
Webinars are a web based seminar which can integrate speaking and visuals such as PowerPoint slides over the internet. The advantage is people in remote locations can dial into the webinar and listen to the content of the seminar while also view the visual stimulus, they have the opportunity to ask questions and if facilitated have their turn to speak.
Webex is a provider of webinars and web conferencing services and describes their service as:
Use web meetings to present information, share applications, and collaborate on projects with customers and coworkers around the globe.
Audio – conferencing
Audio Conferencing is a more cost effective method for remote synchronous communication. It allow parties to communicate via telephone hook up on a designated number to contribute to the communicate event or listen to the designated speaker.
