Pros And Cons Of Video Conferencing

One of the best strategic enabling tools of the information economy, video conferencing is largely being accepted by major business houses and organizations. This widely accepted mode of communication facilitates easy personal as well as business communication, without you having to actually travel to the person. By allowing you to see the person with whom you are communicating, video conferencing, also known as video teleconferencing, enhances effective and efficient communication. However, just as the saying goes, ‘not all that glitters is gold’, video conferencing is no exception. Much like all other technologies, video conferencing too has its own share of disadvantages or shortcomings. In the following lines, check out the various pros and cons of video conferencing.

 

 

You do not have to travel places to conduct your conferences or meetings. Instead, all the conventions can be fixed right from your office or home through videoconferencing. Also, it can be done be at any time of the day or night as per your convenience. This is especially beneficial in cases where people have to travel between countries and continents.

 

While setting up the video conferencing tool, access to your client’s computer is not required. A single computer can be set up allowing everyone to access the screen, thereby making things easy to explain and understand.

 

Video conferencing allows PowerPoint and other visual displays to be shared easily amongst all the people attending the conference. This makes everyone involved in the conference, thereby improving focus on work. Furthermore, virtual whiteboards can be used allowing everyone present, to share their thoughts and suggestions with the rest of the group in the conference.

 

Life is getting easier and convenient for doctors, scientists and researchers through video conferencing. All latest studies and findings can be shared and further developed through video conferencing, thereby saving time and cost. In times of emergency, doctors can at least start the treatment of patients living in far off places with the help of video conferencing.

 

Video conferencing has been highly successful in playing a vital role towards spreading education to places around the globe, especially in cases of long distance education programs and instructional courses. Lectures, study material and group discussions can be easily accessed through video conference by both students and professionals.

 

 

Though video conferencing turns out to be a cheaper deal as compared to traveling to the concerned destination, the entire cost of setting up the facility proves to be a relatively costlier affair. Moreover, in some cases, the cost of using this facility may turn out to be more costly for the clients than what they willing to pay for the services being offered by you. 

 

While you can maintain eye contact with the person on the other side of the screen, you cannot take a glimpse of all the people attending the conference. Additionally, you cannot even see everyone’s reactions or keep a watch on their movements while you are conversing on the screen. As such, video conferencing may be deemed as a convenient option, but it cannot be as effective as face to face communication. 

 

Technical difficulties arising from software, hardware or network failure is one of the most major disadvantages of video conferencing. Imagine your screen going blank, while you are in the middle of an important discussion with your client! Not only is it disrupting, but it also turns out to be a frustrating and embarrassing situation. Video conferencing conducted in remote areas are more liable to be hampered, mainly due to environmental changes.