Web Conferencing

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Web Conferencing

• By Shane Vaughan
• Neel Natarajan
• Al Levine
• Mike Riley
• Nichole DIntino

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What is Web Conferencing?

• Web conferencing is used to conduct live meetings
  or presentations via the Internet. In a web
  conference, each participant sits at his or her
  own computer and is connected to other
  participants via the internet.
• A virtual learning environment (VLE) is a
  software system designed to support teaching and
  learning in an educational setting.
• A podcast is a series of audio or video digital
  media files which are distributed over the
  Internet by syndicated download, through Web
  feeds, to portable media players and personal
  computers.
• A videocast is a term used for the online
  delivery of video on demand video clip.

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Web Conference Software

• There are many types of software which are used
  in order to conduct web conferencing. For
  example, Ventrilo, Skype, and GoToMeeting are
  just a few types of these softwares.
• Skype is a software that allows users to make
  telephone calls over the Internet. Calls to other
  users of the service and to free of charge
  numbers are free, while calls to other landlines
  and mobile phones can cost a small amount of
  money. Additional features include instant
  messaging, file transfer and video conferencing.

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Web Conferencing Softwares Continued

• Ventrilo is a Voice over Internet Protocol
  program with clients for Microsoft Windows and
  Mac OS X. Most users of Ventrilo use a headset or
  microphone and use the program to talk to each
  other, similar to a telephone conference call.
  Ventrilo is often used by multiplayer video game
  players.
• GoToMeeting is a remote meeting and desktop
  sharing software, which means that it enables the
  users to meet with other computer users via the
  Internet.

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Skype

• Skype allows people from across the world and
  from various locations to communicate with each
  other as long as they have downloaded the
  appropriate software and have purchased the
  necessary hardware devices.
• A positive aspect to Skype is that users can
  purchase a phone type device, that plugs into the
  USB port, in order to make communication much
  more efficient, easier, and more recognizable.
• In a business environment, a positive aspect to
  using Skype is that it allows for employees of a
  business to communicate over very long distances
  without having to pay for the costs of traveling
  across the world or nation in order to attend a
  meeting.
• However, a negative aspect to this is that
  employees dont get the person to person type
  of communication. This deteriorates relationships
  in the company and doesnt allow for employee
  bonding.

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Pros of Web Conferencing

• Web conferencing allows for users to interact
  with each other through microphones allowing for
  voice to voice communication
• On the other hand, video conferencing is used for
  educational training, surveillance, emergency
  response and security.
• When video conferencing is used correctly, it has
  a significant effect on the way people do
  business and the success of the business.
• In addition, many people can use video
  conferencing to stay in touch with each other and
  to stay up to date with current events.
• Decisions can be made quickly web conferencing
  and video conferencing.
• Another obvious benefit of using video
  conferencing is that it allows people, especially
  business owners, to meet with their clients from
  any location, even from across the world.

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Cons of Web Conferencing

• Unfortunately, with the pluses that come with
  video conferencing, there are some limitations.
• This sophisticated technology requires months to
  design a network and install conferencing
  equipment.
• The initial cost is very high. A conference room
  has to be available for the video system to be
  installed, and the system might be underutilized.
  
• Also, the system itself may need at least one
  staff person to run the technical part of any
  conference.
• There are still problems with this video
  technology, thus there can be a lot of wasted
  time that can cause disruptions, etc.

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Security Issues with Web Conferencing

• While virtual meetings free companies from the
  financial and logistical complications of
  face-to-face conferences, they also place
  confidential company information in an
  environment vulnerable to rivals and hackers.
• Trade secrets, employee records, product
  knowledge and earnings projections are some of
  the information commonly shared during Web
  conferences.
• Sharing this information online makes it
  vulnerable to theft.
• Although it costs money for all of the employees
  of a company to meet at a designated location, it
  does ensure safety. Information shared within a
  locked area isnt vulnerable to hackers. However,
  once the employees converse over the Internet, it
  is accessible to hackers along with personnel
  information and company information.

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Initial Costs

• All costs do not include the cost of setting up a
  network.
• Web Camera 50-1,500
• Monthly Maintenance 0-200
• Initial Software and Setup 500
• Video Screens 100-5,000

10
Social and Ethical Issues

• One social and ethical issue regarding to Web
  communication, such as, Ventrilo and Skype is
  that it lacks face to face conferencing. Many
  people argue that if there is a lack of face to
  face communications, less information will be
  obtained causing the session to be less
  productive.