Video Conferencing Key Terms

These video conferencing key terms will help polish your professional appearance

Videoconferencing is becoming an increasingly popular way to do business. It allows workers in all areas of the world to meet face to face without spending a lot of money on travel expenses. However, if you want to start using videoconferencing in your company, there are a few terms you need to know, which will help you to make the right choices in purchasing equipment. For instance, you need to know whether you want a system that has a continuous presence or a voice activated mode. You may need a system that allows for telepresence, or a simple desktop video conferencing system may work for you.

 

Multipoint videoconferencing

Multipoint videoconferencing allows you to conference with people in several different locations at the same time. It is a bit more sophisticated than a system that only allows two people to conference with each other.
Try: Nefsis offers an explanation on how multipoint videoconferencing works, including some diagrams.

Telepresence

Telepresence is the feeling that the people participating in the video conference are present in the room with you. It involves large video screens that produce life size images. Often, a company will set up the screens so that the participants appear to be sitting at the conference table. TelePresence is a brand name product that does this, though other companies offer similar technology.
Try: Check out Cisco's TelePresence information to learn more.

Certified videoconferencing engineer

A certified videoconferencing engineer has the industry certification showing that they have the technical skills and knowledge to set up a videoconferencing system, which can be a complicated task. If you're looking to outsource your set up rather than using your in-house IT department, look for this certification.
Try: Learn more about the certified videoconferencing engineer program from Polycom.

Continuous presence vs. voice activated mode

In a continuous presence system, all participants in the video conference appear on the screen at the same time. A system that has a voice activated mode only shows the location that has most recently spoken.
Try: The Texas State Library and Archives Commission explains the difference between continuous presence and voice activated modes when videoconferencing.

Multipoint control unit (MCU)

The multipoint control unit, or MCU, is a piece of hardware that connects all the different aspects of videoconferencing, including telephones, video cameras and recording devices.
Try: SWITCHpoint offers a diagram of how their MCU works.

Desktop video conferencing

For some small companies and individual freelancers, desktop video conferencing is an adequate way to hold a meeting. Users simply use their computers, seeing a small video of the other person on their monitor. While not as grandiose as other systems, it's find for simple one-on-one meetings.
Try: Tandberg explains how their programs make desktop video conferencing possible.

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