Online Collaboration and Video Conferencing

Why is collaboration important?

It enables us to share resources, achieve shared goals,

share new ideas and new perspectives. It also allows us to

leverage new relationships by taking advantage of tools

and skill sets unique to each individual.

What is online collaboration?

Online collaboration lets a group of people work together in real-time over the Internet. Those engaged in online collaboration can work together on word processor documents, Power Point presentations and even for brainstorming, all without needing to be in the same room at the same time.

There are many great online collaboration tools available, which can help your team accomplish its goals.

Key features of an online collaboration tool

A successful online collaboration tool needs to be easy to use and set up. Then, it needs to be secure and to have the features that will fit your purposes - these are different for every team.

So if you mainly want to hold online brainstorming sessions, for example, it’s important that the tool you choose has a good whiteboard functionality.

Other useful features are the ability to upload documents, a calendar and notifications by e-mail when changes have been made to a document e.g. www.wiziq.com,www.anymeeting.com and google docs etc.

What is an audio conference?

An audio conference call is a telephone call or a call over the internet in which the calling party wishes to have more than one called party listen in to the audio portion of the call.

The conference calls may be designed to allow the called party to participate during the call, or the call may be set up so that the called party merely listens into the call and cannot speak.

What is video conferencing?Video conferencing means using computers to provide a video-link between two or more people. Instead of just talking to someone by telephone, you are able to see them as well.

Video conferencing is a widely accepted mode of communication among business houses as well as other organizations. Like all technologies, it has its share of advantages and disadvantages.

A couple of the top (free) social video conferencing sites are Skype, google hangout and ooVoo. A couple of the top business video conferencing sites are Webex Communications, Polycom, and Tandberg video teleconferencing.

Items required for hosting a video conference

• a computer• a web cam• a microphone (most webcams have a microphone

built-in)• speakers• broadband Internet access• Video conferencing software e.g. skype, oovoo, google

hangout etc.• It is possible to buy a special video conferencing

machine just for this purpose.

Advantages and disadvantages of video conferencing

Advantages Disadvantages• Meetings can take place

without leaving the office.• Travel costs and the time

taken to travel can be reduced significantly.

• Meetings can be called instantly worldwide with little notice.

• Delegates can still attend meetings even if they are physically unable to.

• May not be as productive as a discussion around a table.

• Confidential documents may need to be viewed and signed in person.

• There will always be times when you need to be able to meet face to face.

Use of video conference in educational institutions

When video Conferencing is used in education, it is easier to have interactive communications between teacher to teacher, teacher to classroom, or classroom to classroom with students in different places.

• Another benefit would be conjoining efforts. Now groups of students from different parts of the world can work as a team and share more ideas with one another.

• Contests - Schools would be able to have competitions with each other nationwide. Spelling Bees, Talent Shows, etc.

Use of video conference in medical facilities

• Medical students can receive top of the line training from qualified professionals who may be located at one of the top 5 hospitals in the World.

• Individuals can view live procedures. Some medical students assist the surgeons on procedures. However, the benefits of video conferencing in this aspect is that it can allow for several students to view procedures and operations.

• It can allow for televised procedures to large audiences.• Contact with doctors and staff at different branches or

facilities.