9. Audio / Video and Teleconferencing

Teleconferencing allows people in different locations to talk to each other as a group. This is also known as an Audio-conference or simply a 'Conference Call'

It works by each person 'logging on' to the conference call. When you switch on your conference call device and enter your user ID number, an automatic voice saying something like "Mr Jones has joined the conference" is broadcast. Everyone says hello and carries on with the meeting.

Video conferencing is similar to teleconferencing except that people in the meeting can now see one another because video cameras are used to send live images over telephone lines.

Typical uses

• Business meetings
• Remote training sessions - a trainer in one country could run a session for a group in another country avoiding the need for travel
• Online education. For instance attending an University lecture remotely
• Family and friends. Laptops have a built-in webcam as standard
• Gaming. It is common for an online gaming team / group to join an audio conference server so they can chat whilst playing.
• Virtual tourism. Many museums and exhibitions offer a virtual tour of their exhibits
• Remote medical care. There are pilots underway that make it possible for a doctor to consult with patients remotely. A medical assistant at the remote site carries out the doctor's instructions such as taking a pulse or measuring blood pressure