Difference between revisions of "Web conferencing"

From NGO Handbook
(Features)
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Hybrid models are events that are done face-to-face in a particular location but part or all of the content also carried via Web conferencing.
 
Hybrid models are events that are done face-to-face in a particular location but part or all of the content also carried via Web conferencing.
  
==Features==
 
Other typical features of a web conference include (Frost and Sullivan 2006):
 
 
*Slide show presentations - where [[PowerPoint]] or [[Keynote (presentation software)|Keynote]] slides are presented to the audience and markup tools and a remote mouse pointer are used to engage the audience while the presenter discusses slide content.
 
*Live or Streaming video - where full motion webcam, digital video camera or multi-media files are pushed to the audience.
 
*[[VoIP]] (Real time audio communication through the computer via use of headphones and speakers)
 
* Web tours - where URLs, data from forms, cookies, scripts and session data can be pushed to other participants enabling them to be pushed though web based logons, clicks, etc.  This type of feature works well when demonstrating websites where users themselves can also participate.
 
* Meeting Recording - where presentation activity is recorded on the client side or server side for later viewing and/or distribution.
 
*[[Whiteboard]] with annotation (allowing the presenter and/or attendees to highlight or mark items on the slide presentation.  Or, simply make notes on a blank whiteboard.)
 
*[[Text chat]] - For live question and answer sessions, limited to the people connected to the meeting. Text chat may be public (echo'ed to all participants) or private (between 2 participants).
 
*Polls and surveys (allows the presenter to conduct questions with multiple choice answers directed to the audience)
 
*Screen sharing/desktop sharing/application sharing  (where participants can view anything the presenter currently has shown on their screen.  Some screen sharing applications allow for remote desktop control, allowing participants to manipulate the presenters screen, although this is not widely used.) (Epiphan 2010).
 
 
Web conferencing is often sold as a service, hosted on a [[web server]] controlled by the vendor. Offerings vary per vendor but most hosted services provide a cost per user per minute model, a monthly flat fee model and a seat model.  Some vendors also provide a server side solution which allows the customer to host their own web conferencing service on their own servers.
 
  
  

Revision as of 19:12, 14 January 2010

Web conferencing, or online conferencing, is a method of using the Internet to conduct live meetings, trainings, or presentations among two or more users in two or more locations. Participants in web conferences receive the content and interact with presenters and/or other attendees while sitting in front of their computers and being connected via the Internet. In its broadest sense, the term Web conferencing includes the broadcasting of audio or video content to recipients with little or no audience interaction (Webcasts); to presenting of a lecture or workshop that may include partial or full interaction between the audience and presenters (Webinars); to live meetings that are fully interactive (Web meetings).

Web conferences involve real-time audio and/or video sessions. In the early years of the Internet, the term "web conferencing" often was used to describe a group discussion in a message board and therefore not live. The term has evolved to refer specifically to live or "synchronous" meetings. However, there may be an option of having some or all presentations recorded, such that some participants can choose to view them at a time more convenient for them (on demand). The sessions may be conducted via a web-based connection, which requires attendees to simply enter a web site address (URL) to enter the conference, or the connection may be via a downloaded application on each of the attendee’s computers.


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