What is a videoconference?
Videoconferencing is transforming work, learning and personal relationships. But... do you know what exactly is video conferencing? In this article we tell you what a videoconference is, how it works, which are the most popular videoconferencing platforms and what are the future trends in this communication technology.
According to Wikipedia, a videoconference is "two-way simultaneous audio and video communication, which allows meetings to be held with groups of people located in remote locations". In other words, videoconferencing allows real-time visual and audio communication between people located in different places, creating an experience similar to that of a face-to-face meeting.
How does videoconferencing work?
The basic elements of a videoconference are as follows:
- Internet connection: Participants connect to a videoconferencing platform via the Internet.
- Software: The platform uses software to encode and decode the audio and video signal from each participant. The software provides an interface for participants to interact with each other, share content and manage the videoconference.
- Transmission: The signal is transmitted in real time through the network, allowing bidirectional communication.
- Hardware: Necessary for transmission: computer, camera, microphone, loudspeaker...
Main platforms for videoconferencing
There are several videoconferencing platforms on the market, with different features and prices. Some of the most popular are:
- Zoom
- Google Meet
- Microsoft Teams
- Cisco Webex
- goFacing,...
Use of the Internet to make calls and video calls
According to the 2023 report "Key figures on Europe" conducted by Eurostat (the European Statistical Office), in the period from 2017 to 2022, Spain was the European Union country where the use of the internet for making calls or video calls increased the most, from 42.5% to 77.5%. In other words, the vast majority of the Spanish population is already familiar with making video calls and video conferences. And, in fact, we are ranked number 8 in Europe in their use.
In the rest of Europe, although all countries have increased their use of the Internet to make calls or video calls (an average of 28.5%), in some countries the increase has been much lower than in Spain, such as Germany, Denmark and Luxembourg.
Future trends in videoconferencing
- Virtual and augmented reality: for an even more immersive experience, the integration of augmented reality elements will enhance user experience
- Artificial intelligence: AI will be used to automate tasks such as transcription and translation in real time
- Security and privacy: security measures will be increased to protect users' privacy and prevent unwanted intrusions.
- Integration with other tools: to achieve greater fluidity and productivity at work
The importance of good audiovisual equipment for videoconferences
Video conferencing with one piece of audiovisual equipment is not the same as with another. Quality equipment goes a long way in making video calls as close to face-to-face meetings as possible, because the better the transmission, the better the user experience .
External cameras, for example, as opposed to those built into laptops, offer numerous additional features, such as:
- Better image quality: their minimum resolution is 1080p (Full HD) and, increasingly, they offer 2160p (Ultra HD or 4k).
- Better sound
- Larger field of vision
- Automatic light adjustment in low light conditions
- Autofocus, tracked by Artificial Intelligence
