Kirklees Ednet - Information and resources developed for schools in the Kirklees area

Subject and Aspects > ICT General > Technical > Video Conferencing

Video Conferencing Glossary of terms

Glossary

A - Z

What is Videoconferencing? Videoconferencing makes use of electronic communications to allow two or more people, sat at different locations (maybe on opposite sides of the world), to talk to each other whilst being able to see each other live (well, allowing a slight delay for the data to travel). It also enables you to exchange sound, images and videos, share resources and work collaboratively on documents, spreadsheets and diagrams.

A
Analog video:
Signal that consists of a continuous waveform, as opposed to digital or discrete signals. It was the predominant transmission mode for videoconferencing until the 1980's and still is for commercial television. An analog video signal requires a higher bandwidth than a digital signal.

B
Bandwidth:
The rate of data transmission, measured in bits per second (bps) .

Broadband:
The term applied to networks having bandwidths significantly greater than that found in telephone networks. Broadband systems are capable of carrying a large number of moving images or a vast quantity of data simultaneously. Broadband techniques usually depend on coaxial or optical cable for transmissions.

Bridge:
A piece of video networking equipment that allows multiple sites to participate in a single video conference. It is also known as a Multipoint control Unit (MCU).

C
Compressed Video:
Video signal that results when a compression algorithm digitizes the key elements of a picture in digital form, thus reducing the required transmission bandwidth. Identifying what we do as compressed video can often be helpful in clarifying that we are not using satellite or other analog transmission.

CU-SeeMe:
A program, like NetMeeting , that allows users to communicate using VideoConferencing.

D
Data Conferencing:
Real-time communications that allow users to work together using PC-based information. Includes capabilities such as "application sharing", whereby users can simultaneously see and edit a computer file, and "shared whiteboard" for marking up information from a computer file. May or may not be accompanied by video conferencing.

Dedicated Line:
Connection between two locations on a fixed fee basis.

Dedicated Network:
Permanent connection between various sites at a fixed cost, regardless of the amount of traffic.

Desktop Videoconferencing:
Attachment for a personal computer that allows an individual to video conferencedirectly from a desk to another location within the building or through a network to a remote site. These are becoming more popular and cheaper as is the rest of the videoconferencing equipment.

Digital Video Capture Speed:
Defines how many frames per second (fps) a Web cam captures when recording a video. Most Web cams capture video at 30 frames per second. The higher the fps rate, the smoother the video image will appear (see also Frames per second).

Distance Learning:
Using a Web cam or live video image to help continue education from a remote location.

E
Echo Effect:
A time-delayed electronic reflection of a speaker's voice.

F
Frames per second:
Fps The current maximum, and preferable operating rate, is 30 frames per second. Many systems are operating at 15 frames per second. This is acceptable though not as smooth. CU-SeeMe , an inexpensive option for conferencing that utilizes computers already in place, operates at about 6 frames per second.

G
Gateway:
Another term for the router.

H
H.320:
This is the standard for videoconferencing adopted by the International Telecommunications Union.

Hub:
A collection of video networking equipment that allows several video conferences both point to point and multipoint, to go on at the same time.

I
Internet Locator Service:
ILS Designed to help people find one another so they can join a video conference.

I-Mux (Inverse Multiplexer):
A device that creates a single higher-speed transmission combining/synchronizing two or more channels.

Internet Service Provider:
ISP An organization that links schools, businesses and home users to the Internet.

IP Address:
Internet Protocol Address A number that uniquely identifies your computer on the Internet.

ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network Provides digital connections between the customer and network interface. Used for videoconferencing and other high data transfer demands. Lines must be drawn directly to the site but then connect into the already existing telecommunications infrastructure. Kbps: Kilobits per second. Our current maximum data transmission is ???????

M
Multiplexer:
Electronic equipment that allows two or more signals to pass over one communications circuit.

Multipoint Control Unit (MCU):
A piece of equipment that allows more than 2 users to video conferenceat the same time. (Also see Bridge ).

N
NetMeeting:
Popular and free videoconferencing program developed by Microsoft. Unlike other videoconferencing programs, it only runs under Windows.

Node:
A concentration point in a network where numerous trunks come together at the same switch.

P
PIP Picture-in-Picture:
When videoconferencing you are able to see the picture that you are transmitting as well as the other person's.

Point-to-Point Videoconferencing:
A conference made by one video conferencelocation directly dialing another video conferencelocation.

POTS:
Plain Old Telephone System Conventional analog telephone lines using twisted-pair copper wire.

R
Real Time:
The processing of information that returns a result so rapidly that the interaction appears to be instantaneous. Telephone calls and videoconferencing are examples of real-time applications. These kinds of real-time information not only need to be processed almost instantaneously, but it needs to arrive in the exact order it's sent. A delay between parts of a word, or the transmission of video frames out of sequence, makes the communication unintelligible.

Resolution:
Defines the crispness of an image in terms of the number of pixels used vertically and horizontally. Resolutions are often given in numbers such as 640 x 480, 800 x 600, 1024 x 768.

U
Universal Serial Port :
USB A type of connection used to connect most Web cams to a computer.

Uplink:
The earth station used to transmit signals for a satellite video conference.

V
Videoconferencing
Communicating with others through voice and video in real time.

W
Web Cam:
A video camera that connects to your computer, usually through a USB port, and displays images on your computer screen and on others through Videoconferencing .

Whiteboard:
A feature offered by videoconferencing programs to display a common screen that all participants can write, draw or show images on.

For a more comprehensive Videoconferencing Glossary, go to http://tcct.soe.purdue.edu/vcglossary/index.htm