Sometimes your physical attendance is vital. But there are times, when there is simply no way for you to be there at the appointed time as well as location of the meeting. So what do you do?

First, you may dial the person up to tell him you cannot be present. The conference is significant, yet it's improbable for you to be in two or even three places at the same time. Nevertheless, that predicament might now be easily addressed with the use of video conferencing facilities. So what is video conferencing? Video conferencing is an interactive collaboration between two or more groups from various areas making use of the internet, video, and audio technology in real-time.

For a video conference to function, important parts as in audio and video inputs (microphones, cameras), audio and video outputs (speakers, headphones, projectors), along with the main control network that will allow data transfer must be present. But for the meeting or conference to be livelier and interactive, alternative tools as in IMs, Flash technology, Java scripts, etc., could allow attendees to express themselves not merely verbally, but they would be able to exchange data and other relevant material by sharing files, watch slide presentations, share videos, and make use of a universal whiteboard where each participant may draw or scribble on. Several video conferencing amenities have all the equipments as well as applications and much more depending on your needs.

There are numerous video conferencing companies that give online video meeting options patterned to your necessity. They can accommodate a discussion involving a group of three to ten persons to a conference of up to above a hundred attendees in different geographic areas. Fees can range according to the equipments, software, and applications employed. You could either pick a universal rate conference calling service or a per-minute calling plan. However, you can always begin your own video meeting if you have the fundamental technologies for this.

With the use of video conferencing technology, things have become much more convenient. For a lecturer, for example, rather than getting a plane ride from California to a college in New York to join a meeting or conduct a lecture, he can utilize video phones to deliver his speech or discussion to a group of school people in real time yet still be able to entertain their queries without having to postpone his following class. This technology is now being very reasonably widely recognized. However, physical presence can never replace technology no matter how advanced it is.


Mike Zhmudikov - EzineArticles Expert Author