15. Audio / Video and Teleconferencing

Teleconferencing allows people in different locations to talk to each other as a group. This is also known as an Audio-conference or simply a 'Conference Call'

It works by each person 'logging on' to the conference call. When you switch on your conference call device and enter your user ID number, an automatic voice saying something like "Mr Jones has joined the conference" is broadcast. Everyone says hello and carries on with the meeting.

Video conferencing is similar to teleconferencing except that people in the meeting can now see one another because video cameras are used to send live images over telephone lines.

Now that broadband is offering good speeds, video conferencing with friends and family is also popular.