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The Internet environment, with its packet‐switched network and lack of resource reservation mechanisms, has made the delivery of low bit‐rate real‐time communication services particularly difficult and challenging. The high potential transmission delay and data packet loss under varying network conditions will lead to unpleasant and unintelligible audio and jerky video play‐out. The Internet TCP/IP protocol suite can be extended with new mechanisms in an attempt to tackle such problems. In this research, an integrated transmission mechanism that incorporates a number of existing techniques to enhance the quality and deliver “acceptable” real‐time services is proposed. These techniques include the use of data compression, data buffering, dynamic rate control, packet lost replacement, silence deletion and virtual video play‐out mechanism. The proposed transmission mechanism is designed as a generic communication system so that it can be used in different systems and conditions. This approach has been successfully implemented and demonstrated using three separate systems that include the Internet Phone, WebVideo and video‐conferencing tool.

Reviews the advantages and disadvantages of various forms of desktop conferencing: telephone conferencing, audio conferencing, computer conferencing, desktop computer conferencing, and video conferencing.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of video‐conferencing as a suitable technology for business process reengineering (BPR) training of 12 health sector participants located in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

An action research was adopted. The participants received training from a remote BPR consultant located in Northern Ireland (UK), with the assistance of local moderators. The focus of the study is concerned with the quality of the learning experience and the important role played by local moderators.

Overall, the use of video‐conferencing technology provided a valuable learning experience. It was also cost effective and an efficient use of both the consultant's and the participants' time. A key part of the success of the exercise was the role of one of the local moderators who acted as the “eyes and ears” of the consultant.

A general contribution to knowledge is the positioning of the argument developed within the technology diffusion literature. The paper offers important insights into the effective use of video‐conferencing technology for BPR training purposes; and Knipe and Lee's evaluation of a video‐conferencing experiment in terms of the relationship between the human actors at the remote and local sites is discussed and extended.

It is estimated that managers spend more time in meetings than in any other single activity — these will vary from informal discussion or briefing sessions around the workplace to carefully planned formal presentations involving sophisticated audio‐visual support Even in the smallest of organisations, the provision of comfortable, well‐designed and adequately equipped meeting rooms is essential. Not only is the meeting room a prime tool for management, training and selling the organisation's service, it is also the most potent indicator of corporate image and an important element in the overall design brief.

Organization efforts in groups generate interaction and procedural structures, or “rules of behavior”. The type and extent of structuring are affected by preexisting preferences among group members for a desired degree of procedural order, as well as by the communication media available in the meeting environment. Analysis of thirty partially‐distributed groups that met over a series of four sessions was conducted by using two methods. Questionnaires were administered to ascertain perceptions of satisfaction and procedural practices. Content analysis was used to determine actual procedural behavioral patterns. It appears that preferences for procedural order does affect structuring behaviors, but do not affect their satisfaction with the group process. Interestingly, and counter to the expectations elicited from a history of media richness theory and studies, results here indicate that interaction media (video conferencing vs. audio conferencing) have no affect on either members’ perceptions of procedural structuring, their satisfaction, or their actual procedural structuring practices. Implications of these results are discussed.

Previous research has revealed that sales trainers have been reluctant to incorporate distance education training methods into their programs. This study investigated the effectiveness of six different teaching methods in delivering one sales training course to a national salesforce from one organization. Training methods ranged from no‐tech to high‐tec and included: an on‐site instructor, a written manual, a manual plus videotape, video‐conferencing, audio‐graphics and an interactive multi‐media computer‐based training program. Pre‐ and post‐training evaluations of course content indicated significant improvements. Media were evaluated in terms of training required, number of participants to be trained and other technical considerations. Measures of course content revealed no significant differences in terms of delivery methods. Strengths, weaknesses and situations for optimal utilization of media and delivery method were identified. Findings should assist sales training managers in making more informed choices among distance education delivery options.

This paper aims to review the features of Google+ Hangouts and to discuss how it would be useful for libraries. Google+ Hangouts is a free, easy-to-use video conferencing Web application that allows users to host, record and broadcast online meetings.

This is an observational paper.

This paper discusses the implications of Google+ Hangouts for libraries and reviews the main features for getting started and using Google+ Hangouts and Hangouts On Air.

Google+ Hangouts has been specifically reviewed very rarely in prior library and/or technology literature. This paper addresses some features and uses for Google Hangouts as an audio-visual communication tool within libraries – observations not found elsewhere in the reviewed literature.

The economic downturn has forced many HR and training managers to find more cost effective ways of providing training to employees. This article aims to examine some of these methods, in particular virtual learning via conferencing.

The article examines different types of virtual learning methods and looks in depth at how training via conferencing has benefited two educational organizations, City & Guilds and Cambridge Regional College.

The article shows how virtual learning can provide organizations with cost‐effective training programs.

The methods used in this article offer practical training solutions to HR/training professionals in any organization.

Briefly reviews the concept of information technology and its relationship to various forms of telecommunication services. Discusses the role of the telephone, integrated services digital network (ISDN), freephone numbers, facsimile (FAX), electronic mail, voice messaging, voice mail, video‐conferencing, videophones, and audio‐conferencing.

The CIBER group at University College London are currently evaluating a distance education initiative funded by the Department of Health, providing in‐service training to NHS staff via DiTV and satellite to PC systems. This paper aims to provide the context for the project by outlining a short history of distance education, describing the media used in providing remote education, and to review research literature on achievement, attitude, barriers to learning and learner characteristics.

Literature review, with particular, although not exclusive, emphasis on health.

The literature shows little difference in achievement between distance and traditional learners, although using a variety of media, both to deliver pedagogic material and to facilitate communication, does seem to enhance learning. Similarly, attitudinal studies appear to show that the greater number of channels offered, the more positive students are about their experiences. With regard to barriers to completing courses, the main problems appear to be family or work obligations.

The research work this review seeks to consider is examining “on‐demand” showing of filmed lectures via a DiTV system. The literature on DiTV applications research, however, is dominated by studies of simultaneous viewing by on‐site and remote students, rather than “on‐demand”.

Current research being carried out by the authors should enhance the findings accrued by the literature, by exploring the impact of “on‐demand” video material, delivered by DiTV – something no previous research appears to have examined.

Discusses different electronic systems and their exploitation for distance education, and cross‐references these with several aspects evaluated in the literature: achievement, attitude, barriers to take‐up or success, to provide a holistic picture hitherto missing from the literature.