Video conferencing is becoming an ever more important means of corporate communications. And with many companies restricting business travel due to rapidly rising travel and lodging costs, the adoption of video conferencing is increasing at record rates. Not everyone, however, is comfortable with this still fairly new means of communication, and some training may be required to take full advantage of the technology.

There are two major roadblocks to efficient use of video conferencing The first is people not being comfortable with it, and the second people not taking video conferencing seriously because, after all, they are not "there." The first problem requires training and practice, the second a set of rules and guidelines. So let's see how we can best negotiate those roadblocks.

Video Conferencing Angst

Video conferencing angst describes the feeling many people get when they are confronted with people on a screen looking back at them and talking to them. This is an interesting phenomenon. While people have no problem having a conversation with a disembodied voice in a headset, they may clam up or feel uncomfortable when they do something much more natural - talking with people they can actually see. People stricken with this sort of anxiety may stare at the screen, avoid eye contact, or avoid video conferences altogether. Fortunately, for most video conferencing phobes, getting over the uneasiness and awkwardness is simply a matter of practice. Set up some training sessions in a relaxed setting without pressure and with people they already know, and most will quickly become comfortable with the technology.

Video Conferencing Etiquette

Most people know phone etiquette and meeting etiquette, but not everyone seems to know (or observe) video conference etiquette. While being on time, being prepared, and paying attention are the norm for phone calls and person-to-person meetings, some people do not follow those common sense, common courtesy rules when video conferencing Just like using a Blackberry or walking off to use a cell phone during a meeting reduces productivity and disrupts the flow of the meeting, those same transgressions are equally unacceptable in video conferencing If this is a problem, managers and supervisors need to bring it to the attention of individuals who do not follow etiquette. What works even better is setting up periodic meetings to review video conferencing issues, including rules, use, issues and etiquette.

Why is it important to tackle these issues? In the case of video conferencing "angst" because employees who shy away from video conferencing not only hurt their own career path, they also hurt overall efforts to use the technology to its best advantage. In the case of poor videoconferencing etiquette, transgressors can hurt their company by leaving poor impressions with other conference participants and by making the conferences less efficient than they could be. Either syndrome results in under utilizing a potentially terrific productivity tool.

Video conferencing can cut costs and improve communication but, like any other technology, it must be used properly. That means effectively dealing with holdouts and setting reasonable rules.


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The world is changing and so are methods of communication available to businesses. To stay afloat in this ever-changing market, you need to keep your business up to date. By replacing your years-old communication process with video conferencing, you can benefit from these changes to technology whilst saving money.

What is Video Conferencing?
Video conferencing is an interface that lets users organise a conference using telecommunication technologies. Users located at different offices or companies can participate in a videoconference to get a real time conferencing experience without the travel.

By streaming video and audio files in real time, video conferencing equipment helps people in two or more locations to interact with each other; creating the right virtual environment for group communication and discussion.

Video conferencing consists of suitable hardware and software to transmit video and audio signal simultaneously.

Videoconference technology is distinguishably different from videophones though both are capable of audio and video transmission simultaneously. Videophone uses duplex transmission process where only two nodes can communicate with each other; whereas, video conferencing is designed for group or one on one communications.

Hence, individuals and groups in two or more places can easily interact with each other with a video conference solution, allowing world wide real time meetings to take place.

Advantages of Video Conference technology:
Video Conference solutions provide real financial benefits in the long run. Without video conferencing in your company when you need to hold conferences or meetings with staff in remote locations, customers or suppliers you need to arrange either a basic telephone conference or visit these locations physically. Both the processes are expensive and limiting. Using video conferencing services, you can meet remotely located people and have a group communication without incurring any additional cost.

Saving travelling time and costs will also reduce the carbon footprint of your company whilst saving lengthy delays caused by most travel methods - weather you are flying or travelling by car.

Finally, the interface is simple to use. Video conferencing equipment does not need highly skilled operators; users can control the hardware and software with just basic training.


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Video Conferencing helps multinational companies spread across the globe to have better, economical video interactions often. Many companies who have an inconvenient location can be highly helped by the use of Video conferencing to avoid their employees' travel.

It can also be used as a strong means of partnering when used in cooperation with hardware and information sharing applications. All the employees taking part in this video interaction have the dual benefit of seeing their counterparts as well as the desktop Presentation data. All types of information relating to various fields of research, training which would be otherwise presented on paper can be presented using this medium.

Almost every strata of the organization and all the allied businesses can use the IP (Internet Protocol) video conferencing method. Nowadays, latest technology like good quality audio interspersed with high speed video solutions is made available according to the clients needs. The conference members can also have a session for clearing their doubts, which can be held online. Sector specific solutions are also available. Any multinational which wishes to develop cordial relations with its remote customers or alliances can be greatly helped by the use of video Conferencing.

Video Conferencing also increases Efficiency through the use of the latest applications in software and complicated hardware designs. This helps us to be quick in decision making. Further, it helps us in introducing our products in the market faster, giving us an edge over our rivals.

In the case where a company has many branches spread all over the world, feedback can be exchanged easily. This also helps the top management to interact with its staff, wherever they may be located, very frequently and easily at the click of a button. Video is used very often now to communicate internally too. Technology has advanced so much that a Video Conference is just a telephone call away, and not much manpower is needed. Video Conferencing is a blessing for those employees who need to attend a meeting after a long, tiring day full of stress.It is not at all cumbersome.

Video Conferencing is economically viable too. As we have discussed till now, Video conferencing does not involve airfare costs and hotel bookings etc. Hence, it is greatly helpful in these times of rising inflation and gas prices. Moreover, above all the merits, the most important one can be decrease in the "downtime" and an improved and stress-free life for the employees who are always on the move. It can be also said that Video Conferencing helps build strong long distance employee relations, since they do not meet often.

Same is the case with our Clients and suppliers. Video Conferencing is a great way to garner goodwill amongst our esteemed Clientele and that too without wasting their precious time. Although personal meetings are favorable, Video Conferencing gives a personal touch to the interaction along with being convenient.


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