History Of Web Conferencing

Web conferencing is a software application used by individuals to hold meetings or live presentations virtually on the Internet. It is one of the hottest new trends currently in the market and businesses, organizations, and other such entities are quickly adopting its many benefits to their systems.

History of Web Conferencing: The Early Days of the Internet

In the early years of the Internet history, the term “web conferencing” used to mean the same thing as “computer conferencing.” Typically, both refer to group discussions conducted within a message board via posted text messages. However, after advancements in web conferencing technologies and developments made on the Internet emerged in IT history, the term came to refer specifically to live or synchronous meetings via a virtual online meeting room. The posted message variety on the other hand came to be known as a forum, a message board, or a bulletin.

History of Web Conferencing: Basic Set Up

Generally, in a web conferencing system, each participant sits at their own computer that is Internet-connected. To get instant connection with other meeting participants, you can simply open a web browser or launch the web conferencing icon on your desktop. The meeting is conducted wholly online so there’s no need for you to leave your office.

History of Web Conferencing: Basic Feature

In the history of web conferencing, one basic feature present even in the prototypes of the software is screen sharing. This basically allows you to see whatever is on the computer screen of other participants and even the meeting presenter. This provides you with a more interactive way of discussing various points of the presentation and helps generate more audience participation.

History of Web Conferencing: Communication Options

A typical web conferencing set up is usually accompanied by text-based chat facilities. However, due in part to the inherent limitations found in text communication, voice was added somewhere in the history of web conferencing. The two commonest way of adding voice feature on a web conferencing application is by a traditional telephone conference or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). However, text chat remains in place as this also comes in handy in some aspects of the discussion.

History of Web Conferencing: Other Features

The history of web conferencing is colorful indeed. Through the years, several changes were made in order to add to the capabilities of such a system, thereby making it more powerful and more collaborative than it ever was before. Some of the features added are the following:

* Slide presentations
* Application sharing
* Web co-browsing
* Annotation or Whiteboard
* Text messaging
* File sharing
* Polls and Surveys