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This page contains the best free solutions and equipment about desktop tele video conferencing softwares, web conferencing systems and services,CU-SeeMe Reflectors, Video phones, Linux VC applications, webcams and more.
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| A tele conference is a telephone or video meeting between participants in two or more locations. Tele conferences are similar to telephone calls, but they can expand discussion to more than two people. Using tele conferencing in a planning process, members of a group can all participate in a conference with agency staff people.
Tele conferencing uses communications network technology to connect participants’ voices. In many cases, speaker telephones are used for conference calls among the participants. A two-way radio system can also be used. In some remote areas, satellite enhancement of connections is desirable.
Video conferencing can transmit pictures as well as voices through video cameras and computer modems. Video conferencing technology is developing rapidly, capitalizing on the increas ingly powerful capabilities of computers and telecommunications networks. Video conferencing centers and equipment are available for rent in many locations.
Why is it useful?
Tele conferencing reaches large or sparsely-populated areas. It offers opportunities for people in outlying regions to participate. People participate either from home or from a local teleconferencing center. In Alaska, where winter weather and long distances between municipal ities serve as roadblocks to public meetings, the State legislature has developed the Legislative Tele communication Network (LTN). As an audio tele conference system, LTN can receive legis lative testimony from residents or hold meetings with constituents during 'electronic office hours.' Although its main center is in the capitol building, it has 28 full-time conference centers and 26 voluntary conference centers in homes or offices of people who store and operate equip ment for other local people. The system averages three tele conferences per day when the legis lature is in session.
A wider group of participants means a broader range of ideas and points of view. Audio interaction makes dialogue more lively, personal, and interesting. Teleconferencing provides an immediate response to concerns or issues. It enables people with disabilities, parents with childcare conflicts, the elderly, and others to participate without having to travel. (See Americans with Disabilities.) In response to requests from residents in remote rural areas, the Oregon Department of Transportation (DOT) held two-way video teleconferences for its statewide Transportation Improvement Plan update. Two special meetings were broadcast by a private non-profit organization that operates ED-NET, a two-way teleconferencing system. ED-NET provided a teleconference among staff members in one of the DOT’s five regional offices and participants at central transmission facilities in a hospital and a community college in eastern Oregon.
Tele conferencing saves time by reaching more people with fewer meetings. A teleconference may reach more people in one session than in several sessions held in the field over several weeks. Usually, it is difficult to schedule more than two or three public meetings in the field within one week, due to staff commitments and other considerations. However, tele conference connections to several remote locations save several days or weeks of agency time and facilitate a fast-track schedule.
Does it have special uses?
Tele conferencing is useful when an issue is State- or regionwide. The World Bank uses moderated electronic conferences to identify best public involvement practices from front-line staff. The discussion focuses around fleshing out and sharing ideas so that practitioners in different locations can learn from the experiences of others around the world.
Tele conferencing helps increase the number of participants. People may be reluctant to travel to a meeting because of weather conditions, poor highway or transit access, neighborhood safety concerns, or other problems. Tele conferencing offers equal opportunity for people to par ticipate, thus allowing more points of view to emerge, revealing areas of disagreement, and enabling people to exchange views and ask questions freely.
Equipment for a telephone conference is minimal. Speaker phones allow several people to use one phone to listen to and speak with others, but they are not required. Individuals can be contacted on their extensions and participate fully in the conversations. While the basic equip ment does not require an audiovisual specialist to operate, a technician may be required to set up equipment and establish telecommunications or satellite connections, particularly in more sophis ticated applications.
Video conferencing needs are more complex. Basic equipment can involve:
personal computers;
a main computer control system;
one or more dedicated telephone lines or a satellite hook-up;
a television or computer monitor for each participant or group of participants; and
a video camera or webcam for each participant or group of participants.
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