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A set of telecommunication technologies that are interactive and allow 2 or greater locations to simultaneously network through 2 audio and video transmissions is known as a video conference. A video conference is a type of groupware and has also been referred to as visual collaboration.Video conferencing is different from video phone calls because the design it has is used to serve a conference as opposed to individuals. It was first organized commercially in the early 1970s, by AT&T technology called Picture phone and is also an intermediate type of video telephony.
Video streams in real time and digital compression of audio is the principal technology used in video conferencing. Codec is the software or hardware that performs compression. Compression rates that are as high as 1:500 are able to be achieved. The digital stream with results of ones and zeros is subdivided into packets that are labeled, which then are sent via a type of digital network, usually IP or ISDN. When audio modems are used in the transmission line, it allows POTS to be used or the traditional telephone system in a low speed application because they are able to change digital pulses from/to analog waves in the audio spectrum range. Additional things needed for a video conferencing system are:
- Audio input-cassette player, DVD, CD player, microphones, or additional sources of Pre amp audio outlet.
- Video output-Projector, television, computer monitor
- Video input-webcam or video camera
- Data transfer-Internets, LAN, digital or analog telephone network
- Audio output-Typically loudspeakers in relation with the telephone or display device
The two basic types of video conferencing systems are dedicated systems and desktop systems. Dedicated systems require parts that are packaged in a single piece of equipment, typically a console with a video camera. Desktop systems are PCs to add-on transforming these to a type of video conference device.