Research into Teleconferencing

Abstract : Video teleconferencing offers potential to reduce costs involved in bringing individuals from distant locations together for a conference. A teleconference system connects several sites by video, audio, and/or data channels. This report describes research by Decisions and Designs, Inc. (DDI) involving the design, construction, demonstration and evaluation of a video teleconference system that enhances the communication capability available with current systems. Specifically, the system provides for: natural connection of more than two sites, use of existing communications skills, and real-time examination of pictorial information, such as graphical displays and briefing charts, and other data. Current teleconference systems have not been successful, in part, for the following reasons: (1) there is great difficulty in connecting more than two teleconference sites; (2) video teleconferencing requires the use of communication skills which may be unfamiliar to the conferees; and (3) current video teleconference systems present distorted representation of the spatial arrangement of the conferees and, consequently, do not provide for adequate communication of nonverbal cues.