The history and use of video conferencing in the technology age


During the first manned space flights, NASA used two radiofrequency (UHForVHF) links, one in each direction. TV channels routinely use this kind of videoconferencing when reporting from distant locations, for instance. Then mobile links to satelites using specially equipped trucks became rather common.

Telemedicine, distance education, business meetings, and so on, particularly in long-distance applications. Attempts at using normal telephony networks to transmit slow-scan video, such as the first systems developed by AT&T, failed mostly due to the poor picture quality and the lack of efficient video compression techniques. The greater 1 MHz bandwidth and 6 Mbit/s bit rate of Picture phone in the 1970s also did not cause the service to prosper.

Finally, in the 1990s, IP (Internet Protocol) based videoconferencing became possible, and more efficient video compression technologies were developed, permitting desktop, or personal computer (PC)-based videoconferencing. In 1992 CU-SeeMe was developed at Cornell by Tim Dorcey et al., IVS was designed at INRIA, VTC arrived to the masses and free services, web plugins and software, such as Net Meeting, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Sidespeed , Skpe and others brought cheap, albeit low-quality, VTC.

The other components required for a VTC system include:

  • Video input : video camera or webcam
  • Video output: computer monitor, television or projector
  • Audio input: microphones
  • Audio output: usually loud speakers associated with the display device or telephone
Some observers argue that two outstanding issues are preventing videoconferencing from becoming a standard form of communication.


A second problem with videoconferencing is that one is on camera, with the video stream possibly even being recorded. The burden of presenting an acceptable on-screen appearance is not present in audio-only communication.

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