E-conferencing is a popular way of communication, often done over the web, and includes internet chat, audio and video conversations, and file sharing. It can be used for business or social purposes and is facilitated by various software applications, some of which offer security features. E-conferencing can also include pre-recorded presentations. As more people use computers, e-conferencing will become increasingly popular.
One of the exciting new ways people communicate these days is e-conferencing. That first letter stands for electronic. Such e-conferencing is usually done over the Web, but server-based e-conferencing is also common.
The most common type of electronic conferencing is Internet chat, otherwise known as Internet messaging or simply IM. Whether you realize it or not, every time you engage in one of these sessions, you are e-conferencing. Even if it’s just a social chat between friends, it can still be classified as e-conferencing.
What most people picture when they think of e-conferencing, however, is business-related interaction. Such e-conferencing can take the form of audio and/or video conversations, exchanging messages, sharing files, and other forms of electronic interaction that simulate the experience of everyone in the same room. This is the essence of e-conferencing, the ability to make it appear as if everyone is in one room even if they are on separate continents.
People participate in electronic conferencing using a variety of software applications. Some types of Internet chat applications, such as Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Skype or Google Chat, are primarily text chat enablers. These applications, however, also boast file sharing features, with some of the more adventurous applications including links to other services offered by the portal or the manufacturer.
Some software applications offer all sorts of electronic conferencing possibilities. You can even, if you search hard enough, find a suite of applications that does it all, giving you audio, video, messaging, data sharing, and so much more. Most vendors of this type of suite, in particular, include a very attractive security package, so that you and your colleagues can interact virtually while enjoying the peace of mind of not being spied on and your data sharing activities not are violated. Other smaller e-conferencing vendors also have varying degrees of security.
The common perception of e-conferencing is that it happens in real time, with everyone interacting at the same time. This isn’t always the case. A widespread use of e-conferencing is the pre-recording and subsequent viewing of presentations, for business meetings or even educational sessions. This type of meeting is still considered e-conferencing, even though it doesn’t seem to fit the common definition. The interaction is still going on electronically; the introduction and absorption of information are simply not simultaneous.
As more people own and use computers on a regular basis, e-conferencing will become increasingly attractive as an option for sharing thoughts, laughter, and sensitive information. Software applications will also continue to improve to meet this growing demand. It’s all a by-product of the always-on, interconnected global society made possible by computers and the Web.
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