Patterns & Metaphors
Full motion video teleconferencing
Other Names:
Electronic meeting
Template:
Meetings involving participants in geographically separated groups connected by full audio and visual circuits. Recent technical development has produced advances in full-motion video compression and large screen video projection units are becoming readily available. Used with high resolution graphics or facsimile facilities, together with an adaptive bit-sharing multiplexer which allows simultaneous transmission of audio and video data.
[Advantages] These systems may eliminate the need for many of the meetings that consume so much time and energy. The opportunity for simultaneous international interactive communication has enormous implications for international relations.
[Disadvantages] Costly. The lack (as yet) of standardization of the systems. Many factors have not yet been assessed; such as fatigue, distraction and other user reactions. The feeling that greater communications may lead to greater efficiency may be an illusion; communications may be used as a substitute for delegating responsibility thus placing the participants in a constraining network where they feel obliged to "cable back for instructions".
