Background And History Of Videoconferencing - Video Conferencing Article

By:Jason Cox

The year was 1964 and visitors to the Worlds Fair in New York were witness to a new contraption called the Picturephone, The idea of joining voice and video, 1 frame, every 2 seconds was first demonstrated in 1956 by AT and T, the telephone company founded by Alexander Graham Bell himself. Now instead of just hearing a disembodied voice at the other end of the line, a caller could see the person as well.

The concept of videoconferencing emerged. Whole groups of people could communicate across time and space, from the boardroom to the hospital, exchanging data, ideas, and visual presentations from anywhere to anywhere at anytime.

In 1970, the commercial Picturephone service debuted in downtown Pittsburgh and AT and T executives confidently predicted that a million Picturephone sets would be in use by 1980. But with prices basing at more than 160.00 USD per month, this new form of communication was well out of reach to most citizens. Besides, the equipment was bulky and slow, the controls were difficult to use, and the picture was so small the image could barely be recognized. Work continued outside AT and T resulting in the 1982 product release of the first vC system by Compression Labs.

The system was huge and used enormous resources capable of tripping 15 amp circuit breakers. The selling price for this VC system was 250,000 USD with a connection cost of 1,000 USD per hour. It was, however, the only working VC system available until PictureTel, a Delaware corporation, headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, hit the market in 1986 with their substantially cheaper 80,000 USD system with 100 USD per hour lines.

Even in 1991, when PictureTel aligned with IBM to introduce a more costs reduced black and white video conferencing system, the price was well beyond the average user. This first PC based system held a 20,000 USD price tag with a line charge of 30.00 USD per hour but a new chapter in videoconferencing had begun.

Unfortunately, at this stage a conference room equipped with its equipment was required and not only did the participants of the video conference have to relocate to the same location, the cost of renting the videoconferencing room itself was exorbitant. The following year AT and T again introduced their new Videophone for the home market. Now it cost 1,500 USD but still the general public was, in general, excluded form the new service.

1992 saw Macintosh open with a videoconference system called CU SeeMe v0.1 for the personal computer. Although the first version did not have audio, it was the best video system developed to that point. By 1993, the MAC program had multipoint capability, and in 1994, CU SeeMe in Macintosh was a true video conferencing system with audio. As good as this system was, it was limited only to a Mac so developers worked day and night to create a CU SeeMe compatible with Windows, the most popular home based operating system.

This was accomplished with the April 1994 CU SeeME for Windows but it had no audio. Finally the CU SeeMe v0.66b1 for Windows was released in August of 1995 and now the speaker or speakers could not only see the person they were talking to, they could do this from the safety and convenience of their own office or home. The boom began and more high tech companies joined in the creation of videoconferencing software and equipment. By 1996, Microsoft NetMeeting v20.0b2 was released and videoconferencing became available to almost anyone with a home computer.

1996 also saw the emergence of VocalTec Surf and Call, the first web to phone plug in. Surf and Call allowed visitors of a website to conduct business, one on one, any place in the world as if a virtual salesclerk stood in the room with the buyer while families could log on to a family website and share more than just pictures in real time.

Finally, by 2000 Samsung released the first MPEG 4 streaming 3G video cell phone. Streaming means media that is consumed read, heard, viewed while it is being delivered, read live, and today the price of videoconferencing depends on the need. The average individual can now videoconference the whole world over for as little as 12.00 USD a month and the price of a phone while industry giants like Yahoo and MSN have made the service free.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: Background, History Of Videoconferencing, Alexander Graham Bell, PictureTel aligned with IBM

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website 1VideoConference.com

Top Video Conferencing Articles
1). How to Use Integrated Audio Conference Calling to Enhance Your Video & Web Conference Meetings By : Dan Richmond There are two technologies that are making a revolution in intra-organizational communications: They are telephone conferencing and web conferencing. Using either web or telephone conferencing, companies and non-profit organizations are now able to hold many more meetings than ever before.
2). The Benefits Of Conference Calling for Businesses By : Richard Cussons Whether your business is large or small, conference calling is a solution that you have likely used at some time or another for its time saving and relationship building advantages. While you may just think of a call with multiple participants when you hear the word conference call, there are actually quite a few different conference calling solutions available to you.
3). Video Conferencing Hardware and You By : Mark Walters If you are new to the game there is some video conferencing hardware to consider. Gone are the days when you had to fly across the country and drain your company's expense account just to attend a two-hour meeting. Now, all you have to do is turn on your computer and you're ready to go. But if you are new to the world of video conferencing online, it may not be that easy.
4). Conference Calls - Stay Connected! By : Paul MacIver Did you ever imagine that you could actually talk to more than one person using your phone? Well, conference calls allow you to. This means you and your friends can communicate from different places at the same time, and even listen to each others voice without having to put one on hold. Now with the invention of video conference you can even look at each other while talking.
5). Teleconferencing - The Bordlerless Classroom By : Faye Spencer Teleconferencing has become so elementary and so pervasive in day-to-day society that it does not involve a great level of skill to operate. On the contrary, you can be a junior high school student or even medical student or beyond, and it would work just as easy for you. In fact, students from all over the nation and around the globe are hosting their own video teleconferencing sessions as we speak, whether it's for a school related project or if it is to discuss a business project, etc.
6). Video Conferencing Will Help Your Business By : Robert Michael Does your business have locations far and wide, with employees who must meet with each other in order for your business to run smoothly? If so, you know how expensive gathering all your employees together in one place can be. Video conferencing could help your business save time and money, as well as increase productivity and employee satisfaction. If.
7). Video Chatting tips By : Angela_S Chatting can be full of fun and enjoyment.It is easy to do and you get to know interesting people from around the world. First time chatting is sometimes scary experience for people. You just do not know what to say and everyone is writing with abbreviations, so you don't even understand what is being said. Just remember, everyone in that room had a first time experience and almost everyone will help guide you.
8). Easy Audio And Video Conferencing Solutions By : Conference Webs Businesses and individuals that find themselves operating on ever-enlarging circles of influence can now cut costs and hassle by incorporating the use of conferencing solutions. Conferencing software has developed in response to the widening global economy, wherein businesses and other types of international organizations must maintain frequent contact with individuals widespread across nations and the globe.
9). Video Conferencing - How Law Firms Can Benefit By : Harold German Video conferencing has been used by law firms for many years, but only until recently has it become affordable for even the smallest of firms. Equipment that cost tens of thousands of dollars only a few years ago, can be purchased for a fraction of that cost today. The products have become more reliable, easier to use, more compact, even portable, and their capabilities and features have been enhanced drastically.
10). How to Plan a Teleconference By : Steve Kaye Marathon teleconferences have become a high tech way to waste time in bad meetings. True, people can attend without having to travel. But people can also misbehave by surfing the net, playing games, or leaving their office. This occurs because people lack visual contact, which hinders effective communication and provides opportunities to misbehave.

New Video Conferencing Articles
1). Video Conferencing Hardware and You By : Mark Walters If you are new to the game there is some video conferencing hardware to consider. Gone are the days when you had to fly across the country and drain your company's expense account just to attend a two-hour meeting. Now, all you have to do is turn on your computer and you're ready to go. But if you are new to the world of video conferencing online, it may not be that easy.
2). The Teleconferencing Services Provide Audio And Web Delivery Solutions By : Valipat Muenpan The teleconferencing services provide audio, video and web teleconferencing capabilities on an individual basis as well as bundled services. First of all the University of Otago was asked whether or not their brand of audio teleconferencing hardware was available for purchase. The teleconferencing companies will be able to provide their customers with TellSoft's streaming audio creation and delivery solutions.
3). Live Video Teleconference Broadcast Via Satellite Feed By : Suwat Muenpan Video or teleconferences can be scheduled for any time, any day 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. This was again a live video teleconference broadcast via satellite feed. You may see no video, or live feeds of other educational events at this link before the teleconference date and time. Scheduling a convenient time for the video teleconference can be tricky based on when classes meet and what time zone they are located in.
4). Steps To Evaluate Video Conference Educational Program By : Valipat Muenpan If you have videoconference capabilities, your class can participate in virtual field trips to the Buffalo Museum of Science without even leaving your building. Let the education department bring some of the wonders of the natural world to your classroom via a videoconference. When the videoconference is over, take formal steps to evaluate what could be done to improve the next one.
5). Desktop Video Conferencing Consumer Version Technology Such As VOIP By : Amporn Saechin Desktop video conferencing is the consumer version of the "picturephone" services used by large corporations. If the analysts are correct, desktop videoconferencing is set to take off. Technology such as VOIP can be used in conjunction with desktop videoconferencing to enable face-to-face business meetings without leaving the desktop. Desktop PC videoconferencing promises to make this a reality, although it remains to be seen whether there is widespread enthusiasm for video calling.
6). Conference Call to Improve Your Business Communication By : Justin Brown The internet has brought with it endless possibilities and many advantages for internet users. Conference calling is no exception. This method of calling means that conversations can be held between more than just two people which makes conference calling very attractive for businesses. Conference calling isn't only beneficial to businesses though, but also to those that would like to speak to family and friends.
7). Conference Provides Opportunity Program Dedicated Theme Network Resources By : Suwat Muenpan This special Conference provides that opportunity with a program dedicated to the theme of promoting the effective organization of networked resources. DUX2005 Program The full DUX2005 conference spans three event-filled days with reflection, discussion, and debate on designing for user experiences. Bookmark this site, and return often for updated details of the conference and program.
8). Conference Call Services - Easy, Cheap, Effective By : Oliver Turner Irrespective of the service provider, at the end of the day, the user may find that conference call services are the most cost effective way to arrange a trans-continental business meeting. Conference call services are service providers facilitating conference call facilities to all those who want to perform an audio or web conference at a short notice.
9). Conference Calls - Stay Connected! By : Paul MacIver Did you ever imagine that you could actually talk to more than one person using your phone? Well, conference calls allow you to. This means you and your friends can communicate from different places at the same time, and even listen to each others voice without having to put one on hold. Now with the invention of video conference you can even look at each other while talking.
10). Cheap Conference Calls - All About Flat Rate Conference Call Services, Discounted Conference Calling Rates And More By : Oliver Turner Cheap conference calls – as the first term suggests – is the relatively cheaper version of conference call services. For all those who want to perform an audio or web conference at a short notice, and that within a limited budget, this is the right choice. It does the balancing act between reliable service and cost per minute. In the following paragraphs, we’ll see the advantages and pricing of flat rate conference call services, discounted conference calling rates, and how the company manages to offer such a concession in a realistic domain.