KINGSLEY OFOSU-AMPONGUniversity of Ghana Computing Systems Kofosu-ampong@ug.edu.gh

TeleconferencingThe word ‘tele’ means distance.

The word ‘conference’ means consultations, discussions.

Through teleconferencing two or more locations situated at a distance are connected so that they can hear or both see and hear each other.

Cont…….It allows the distant sites to

interact with each other and with the teaching end through phone, fax, and e-mail. The interactions occur in real time.

This means that the learners/participants and the resource persons are present at the same time in different locations and are able to communicate with each other. In some situations, questions can be faxed/e-mailed early for response by the resource persons

Uses of TeleconferencingEducationTraining and DevelopmentBusiness/Corporate

CommunicationGovernance***lawMedical Courses/Services

Strengths of Teleconferencing

Accessible to Geographically Dispersed Groups

Communication at National/Regional/Local Level

Quality Teaching using multiple Teaching Resources

Real Time Interaction from Remote Target Groups

Use of Various Teaching Methods enhances Learning

Cost Effective

TYPES OF TELECONFERENCING

AUDIO COFERENCING

Audio Conferencing is a two way voice communication among multiple locations in real time. This generally operates through public telephone network. Individual microphones for participants and external speakers at each location are employed in professional systems to carry out conferences in hands free manner

Cont. The number of people that you

can connect to would depend on your service provider’s capabilities. In any case it could vary from 3 to 30 beyond which it becomes an Audio Broadcast.

Videoconferencing – What Is It?Video conferencing in its most

basic form is the transmission of image (video) and speech (audio) back and forth between two or more physically separate locations.”

Videoconferencing ComponentsCameras (to capture and send

video from your local endpoint) Video displays (to display video

received from remote endpoints)Microphones (to capture and

send audio from your local endpoint)

Speakers (to play audio received from remote endpoints)

In Addition, Two Additional Requirements:Codec - "compressor/de-

compressor“ - makes the audio/video data "small enough" to be practical for sending over expensive network connections. A codec takes analog signals, compresses and digitizes them, and transmits the signals over digital phone lines.

The Supporting System and the Network Connection

TWO WAY VIDEO CONFERENCING

Point-to-point ConferencesPoint-to-point – A

videoconference that connects two locations.

Each site sees and hears the other sites at all times

Multipoint ConferencesPoint-to-multipoint – A

videoconference that connects to more than two sites through the use of a multi-point control unit, or MCU.

Participants at all sites can hear one another at all times and see the site that is currently speaking.◦ Voice activated switching

Benefits of VideoconferencingCan improve work qualityIncrease productivityReduce travel costs (Job Interview channel)Improves communicationGroups can meet more frequentlyCritical meetings can be convened in less

timeMore faculty and staff can be involved

Benefits of Videoconference-based Learning

Closely resembles traditional classroom-based education; permits learners to be active participants in the process

Faculty and staff needs can be met more quickly through just-in-time training

More faculty and staff can be trained faster without increasing training resources

Guest lecturers can be easily integrated into the course

A Web teleconferencing system uses Internet as its communication backbone, web-browser as its client-interface, and web-servers as its server that intercepts and processes the client requests.

Benefit of WCEase of desktop and application sharing.

The ability to present information through PowerPoint Presentations, Excel Spreadsheets, etc ensures runs smoothly and that everyone is on the same page despite the distance.

Increase productivityIncrease customer relationsConduct Employee Training Easily

Web conf…..cont.Web conferencing is used to conduct

live meetings, training, 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. This can be either a downloaded application on each of the attendees' computers or a web-based application where the attendees access the meeting by clicking on a link distributed by e-mail (meeting invitation) to enter the conference

Limitations of VideoconferencingThe absence of QOS (Quality of

Service) provides virtually no guarantee of a satisfying and successful experience

Though the technology is improving, a successful videoconference is dependent upon the connections and technologies at all of the participating sites, AND the network infrastructure

Security issues