Comparison of Conferencing Technologies

System

Elements

Strengths

Weaknesses

Cost

Audio

voice

regular telephone system; connects a large number of locations; short notice

negative impact on users if audio is poor quality

low

Audiographics

voice & visual

regular phone system; extra telephone line for written, graphic, or video information; connect a large number of locations

negative impact on users if audio is poor quality

 

low

Video

voice & visual

shows speaker, three dimensional objects, motion, video footage; approximates face to face; fully interactive ; two way video & audio

one time special event

generally used to extend campus classrooms not available to everyone

high

Full Motion Video

voice & visual

same as video; most economical for point-to multipoint broadcasts

same as video

requires wideband channel

very high

Compressed Video

voice & visual

same as video; allowed access to places not able to have full motion video

same as video; requires T-1 or fiber optics; picture quality degraded from full motion video

high

Desktop Video

voice & visual

same as video; two way synchronous communication; adds file transfer, screen sharing capabilities and collaboration

requires ISDN to operate

requires special equipment (computer & special ISDN card)

middle

Return to Conferencing Technologies
Chart adapted from Terry Martin's Distance Learning Technologies Table
This page by Nancy Pickett. Last updated July 19, 1997