[LINK] The PLAN, and broadband speeds?

[Jan Whitaker]

At 06:01 PM 22/06/2007, Craig Sanders wrote:

>what the hell else can you possibly mean when you're talking about
>"videoconferencing" in the home? videoconferencing and videophones
>basically means the same thing except that the "videoconferencing"
>implies more expensive, professional or semi-professional equipment,
>while "videophone" implies simple, cheaper consumer equipment. aside
>from the expense and the quality of the equipment, both terms are
>talking about essentially the same technology.

uh, no. videoconferencing doesn't have to use expensive, professional 
equipment, but they help increase quality. Videoconferencing is the 
linkage of two or more locations using videocameras and microphones 
as input devices, with video monitors (computer or television) and 
speakers as outputs, linked by a telecommunications channel. There 
are two types: point to point, which is what you are thinking with 
the videophone as the input/output device, and multi-point, which 
requires a bridge to manage signal distribution. Videophones are a 
type of videoconference device. Videophones could be expensive. They 
are when compared to telephones.

Would home-based teleworkers benefit? possibly/probably, depending on 
the business. Would families benefit? possible/probably, depending on 
the family. Does the entire society have to fund the Mercedes 
version? I don't think so. Do we need 'head room' for unanticipated 
applications? Sure, to a degree. But do we do that out of the shoot? 
I don't think so. That's my parity question. Can we afford it for 
every home? Would higher bandwidth services be good for business and 
social institutions like medicine and education? I think yes.

Horses for courses must be part of the analysis, don't you agree?


Jan Whitaker
JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
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