Videoconferencing

Videoconferencing is a set of telecommunications tools that enable real-time video and audio communication between participants in different locations. It often includes features such as screen sharing, chat, and document collaboration, and may involve multipoint conferences with three or more participants. Videoconferencing can be conducted through dedicated room systems, software clients, or web browsers, and can be point-to-point or multipoint.

History and development: Early experiments include the 1960s AT&T Picturephone, but practical widespread use emerged in the 1990s with ISDN, then Internet-based systems using H.323 and SIP. The rise of cloud-based platforms in the 2010s enabled scalable, accessible videoconferencing over the public internet, with WebRTC enabling browser-based solutions.

Technology and architecture: Endpoints or clients capture video and audio, compress with codecs, transmit over IP networks, and decode on the other end. Bandwidth, latency, and jitter affect quality. Common standards include H.323, SIP, and WebRTC, while cloud or on-premises servers support management and recording. Features often include scheduling, recording, screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, and chat. Security considerations include encryption in transit and at rest, access controls, and privacy policies.

Applications and impact: Used in business meetings, education, healthcare, government, and media. Benefits include reduced travel time and costs, faster decision-making, and improved collaboration, but limitations include dependence on network quality, potential fatigue, and interoperability challenges across platforms.

Future directions: Increased use of cloud services, AI-powered features such as live transcription and translation, improved accessibility, higher resolutions with lower latency, and efforts toward better interoperability and security.