People Video Conference Companies Conferencing Web Share Information

In the United States, many companies need to have "conferences," or meetings, with people in different "locations" or places. Companies used to use phone conferencing and then video conferencing for these meetings. But today, "web conferencing" is becoming more common. "Web conferencing" uses computers and the Internet to let people in different locations communicate with each other.

In a "web conference," people at each location have a computer. Each computer sends video and audio to the other computers, so that people can see and hear each other in "real time" (live). Web conferencing also allows people to share information in other ways. The "participants," or the people in the web conference, can see the same "screen," the rectangular box that shows information from a computer. Participants can put text and "images" (pictures) on the screen and then other people can make comments or change the information. This lets people in "distant" (far) locations "collaborate," or share ideas, about a project.

One popular type of web conference is a "webinar." A "webinar" in an online "seminar," or an instructional or educational conference for many people. A webinar has a "presenter," or the person who is giving or sending information. The other participants are in the audience and want to learn from the presenter. Because the webinar is in real time, people can hear the presenter as he or she speaks, and they can ask questions at any time. This makes webinars "interactive," meaning that people can actively communicate with each other while asking and answering questions, rather than just listening. Many companies use webinars to share important information about new products or projects. Webinars are also used to "train" or educate new employees who work at different office buildings.