Videoconferencing as a communication tool

With videoconferencing available on the desktop, the technology is becoming feasible for small- to medium-sized companies, as well as mobile workers. Videoconferencing applications range from internal company communications, educating and training remote employees, to telecommuting. It can even eliminate certain travel requirements, thereby cutting costs. In spite of several factors which are fueling the growth in videoconferencing, early projections have been overly optimistic. A literature review reveals that many technological and other barriers are preventing videoconferencing from gaining mainstream popularity. Users are primarily concerned with the costs of hardware and usage, interoperability, and poor quality. Advancements in compression algorithms and chip speed have made videoconferencing affordable to more people in the last decade. However, a video signal with quality acceptable only to some is still very costly and relatively complicated to utilize with the transport capabilities of today. Some say the turning point will not occur until hardware prices drop enough for video to become an add-on to users' PCs.