History of Web Conferencing

People always confused when talking about Web Conferencing and Vedio Conferencing. In fact, Web Conferencing has great range of  functions than Vedio Conferencing. We can not only see each other in the conference room, but also can we share our documents and applications, access shared desktops, and use presentation features.

So, Let's scan the history of Web Conferencing.

In the 1960’s, the University of Illinois developed a system known as PLATO for their Computer-based Education Research Laboratory (CERL). It was a small, self-contained system supporting a single classroom of terminals connected to one mainframe computer. In 1972, PLATO was moved to a new system of mainframes that eventually supported over one thousand users at a time.

In 1973, Talkomatic was developed by Doug Brown. This was essentially the first “instant messaging” program ever designed, with multiple windows displaying typed notes in real time for several users simultaneously. In 1974, Kim Mast developed Personal Notes, a new feature for PLATO that enabled private mail for users.

In 1975, Control Data Corporation set up its own PLATO system in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the first commercial use of multi-function conferencing system. Within ten years, PLATO was being used in over one hundred sites around the world, some with dedicated lines for full-time use.

In the late 1980’s, however, microcomputers were becoming more reasonably priced and the heyday of mainframe-based systems was over. Eventually the original Control Data systems were shut down because PLATO was no longer cost-effective. Control Data now has a few systems operating under the name CYBIS.

Then, UseNet software was developed with specific protocols to format and transmit messages. It also allowed messages to be passed from one news server to another, replicating around the world rather than being stored in any one location. It has become the standard for news readers on the Internet, with Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer both having built-in news readers for UseNet.

Easynet, founded in 1994, is a broadband networking company based in Europe providing primarily European businesses with Web conferencing capabilities. This infrastructure based provider provides unbundled loop access to companies in some countries as a part of a “leased line” program for conferencing.

Now VoIP
The latest frontier in Web conferencing is the practicality of using IP based voice communications on a regular basis with Web conferencing. While Web conferencing is considered desirable for document exchange, text messaging and whiteboards and many other functions, many people still think VoIP technology has poor quality overall, especially with so many people still using dial-up connections.