Web conferencing
(also referred to as webinars or online workshops for interactive
conferences) as the name suggests, is a service which allows
conferencing events to be shared with remote locations.
This
service is made possible by Internet technologies using TCP/IP
connections. The service allows real time point-to-point communications
as well as multicast communications from one sender to many receivers.
It allows voice, video chat as well as information of text-based
messages to be shared simultaneously across different geographical
locations.
Web
conferencing applications include short presentations, meetings,
training events or lectures from any computer over the Internet.
Interactive web conferencing services
are complemented by EMS (Electronic Meeting System) that provide a wide
range of online facilitation tools such as brainstorming and
categorization, structured discussions or a range of voting methods,
usually with optional anonymity.
Overall,
it can be said that web conferencing has brought revolutionary changes
for business organizations to run their business smoothly. Some of its
features include:
- Live or streaming video, where digital video camera, multi-media files or full motion webcam are pushed to the audience.
- Application sharing, desktop sharing or screen sharing (where participants enabling them to be pushed to other participants to enabling them to be based through clicks, web based logos. This type of feature is required in case of demonstrating websites where users can also participate as per their specific needs and requirements.
- It used for text chat for the live questions and answer sessions, limited to the people connected to the meeting. These kinds of conversation may be private (between two participants or public (echoed to all participants).
- It is used for slide show presentations where images are presented to the audience, and markup tools as well as a remote mouse pointer are used to engage the audience while the presenter discusses slide content.
- VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol): It is referred to as the real time audio communication through the computer via use of speakers and headphones).
- Annotation in whiteboard, which allows presenter or attendees to highlight or mark items on the slide presentation.
- Surveys and polls are used to allow the presenter to conduct the questions with the multiple answers.
Thus,
you can see that web conferencing is very helpful for business
organizations to manage their operations efficiently. There are various
kinds of software and hardware that are used in this service. So, you
must avail services of a professional service provider who has been
installing web conferencing software for many years. In this way, businessmen can install web conferencing system in their offices.