What is videoconferencing? The Lycos Technical Glossary defines videoconferencing as:

"Conducting a conference between two or more participants at different sites by using computer networks to transmit audio and video data. For example, a point-to-point (two-person) video conferencing system works much like a video telephone. Each participant has a video camera, microphone, and speakers mounted on his or her computer. As the two participants speak to one another, their voices are carried over the network and delivered to the other's speakers, and whatever images appear in front of the video camera appear in a window on the other participant's monitor."

"Multipoint videoconferencing allows three or more participants to sit in a virtual conference room and communicate as if they were sitting right next to each other. Until the mid 90s, the hardware costs made videoconferencing prohibitively expensive for most organizations, but that situation is changing rapidly. Many analysts believe that videoconferencing will be one of the fastest-growing segments of the computer industry in the latter half of the decade."

We would like to expand this definition slightly to include not only computer network-based videoconferences but those that utilize ISDN telecommunications links as well. Also, the multimedia nature of modern videoconferencing technology provides for more than just audio/video conferencing. It provides for true multimedia conferencing that includes the sharing of data between applications as well. Lastly, we would like to emphasize the interactive nature of videoconferencing. Thus we might say: Conducting an interactive conference between two or more participants at different sites by using computer networks or ISDN telecommunication links to transmit audio, video, and data.

The other presentations in this "Understanding Videoconferencing" section provide a wealth of information on the details of videoconferencing. The presentations cover a broad range of detail from basics to advanced topics. They discuss videoconferencing from both a general point of view as well as from a Northwestern University specific point of view. While it is not necessary for faculty and staff to understand all of the information provided in these presentations in order to utilize videoconferencing, we hope many will want to develop a deeper understanding of the subject. For those that do not, IT-AT staff is available to help and to consult with users.