WhAT iS CoNfEReNcInG:
Conferencing shortened the distances among people,
increasing the daily interaction in an effective and efficient way. It's an
emerging disruption and a form of real-time communications where multiple users
can interact with each other by seeing the same screen through their Internet
Web browser. Conferencing is highly useful to interact with family, friends, acquaintances and business employees. Web conferencing is an entertainment system with features
including as texting, VoIP (voice over IP) and full-motion video. In addition
of the social interaction Web conferencing allows firms to carry their business
meetings and seminars to make presentations. Also conduct demonstrations and
helps to provide online education and effectively offers direct customer
support.
The combination of programing tools of Web pages and
Internet communication create Web conferencing. The following programming tools
when bundled into one interface create interactive meeting environment:
-HTML, XML and ASL markup
-Java scripts
-Flash animation
-Instant messaging
-Streaming audio and video
How does it works:
The meetings are conducted on the software and server space
that has ben provided by hosting services. The meetings are coordinated by
software provided by hosting services or companies accommodated with ample
server space and bandwidth. The programs can be merged with the firm’s existing
email, messaging calendar and other office productivity applications. The
attendees can either view presentations in their web browser without installing
software and it also provides options for security and encryption. Some
meetings require user login and password for the attendees and moderator and
use SSL and TSL encryption to protect data. Some companies have use corporate
firewalls by suing internal servers for hosting web conferences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhxbTnDP4xg
Transformation of Technology
with the passage of time and Role of Cloud:
As in these fast changing and competitive environment,
technology has been transforming with great pace. Technology has been changing
and transforming in various ways, both in hardware and software getting compact
day by day. I would like to use the example of Apple on this. Apple being a
technological revolutionary changing company that invented and started Touch
technology which is huge transformation change in mobile devices and tablets
etc. Similarly, the way Apple is changing the concept of hardware technology of
laptops and desktops from MacBook pro to MacBook air and IMacs. No hard drive
in the upcoming laptops with not much space. All it depends on the data, which
is not present in the device BUT somewhere on Internet and that, is a CLOUD.
Cloud is making the technological transformation happening
and easy, so in future there in no need to carry heavy devices. This would be
beneficial in either ways for both hardware and software in future. From
hardware perspective since there is no hard drive and related parts, which are
expensive in the laptop and will reduce the overall asset cost. From software
perspective as all the data present in Cloud and no need for any storage on the
personal device makes it cost effective too.
Conferencing on Cloud
Computing:
As we all know cloud computing is the practice of using a
network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process
data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.
Conferencing on cloud along with end-to-end parallel
processing technologies deliver speed and local bearing capability. But the
customer operating environments vary a great deal, especially on the regional
basis and participants outside office environment. Using cloud computing for
conferencing give huge edge and advantages in various ways in terms of
low-cost, convenience, less storage, efficiency for biz productivity.
Types of Conferencing:
In today’s time conferencing has been needed at every walk
of life. This is due to many reasons such as globalization in which people need
to live and work overseas away from family and friends. Life is become easy -
video and audio conferencing helps to connect face to face anytime and
anywhere. Especially in business world conferencing has made it convenient and
help firms to achieve their goals of meeting their estimated budgets and cost
optimization. As follows are the different types of conferencing:
-
Social Conferencing
– This type of conferencing helps people to interact socially with family,
friends, acquaintance etc. Some basic type of web based conferencing Skype etc.
-
Business
Conferencing – This type of conferencing help businesses to do long
distance business meetings face to face. This is very advantageous for firms to
save a lot of travelling, accommodation and food costs of their business
executives. Some types of business conferencing such as Cisco, Microsoft Lync,
Tele presence etc.
-
Mobile
applications based Conferencing – As the emergence of mobile industry, the
conferencing is absolutely handy and mobile. People can do conferencing anytime
and anywhere on mobile. Various mobile-based applications start conferencing
services such as Skype, WeChat, Viber, Tango, Facetime etc.
Impact of Globalization on
conferencing:
Conferencing can play vital role in Globalization. As the
main purpose of globalization is to integrate people from around the world
Culturally, demographically, economically, politically, historically, socially
etc. The first thing to start Globalization with is ‘Interaction’. To interact
people in long distance with low cost is only through Conferencing.
Emerging Innovation Practices of Cloud Computing:
Cloud
computing, a current trends reveling the next-generation application
architecture. A recent report from market research shows that overall cloud
market to grow $121bln in 2015, 26% compounded annual growth from $37bln in
2010. Cloud computing, an emerging concept, has attracted much attention in
both commercial and academic spheres.
The use
of the term ‘cloud’ is metaphorical and typically points to a large pool of
usable resources such as hardware and software that are easily accessible via
the Internet. Cloud services delivery models can broadly categorize as:
Software-as-a-service (SaaS), Service, Platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and
Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS). Each of the service types serve different
purposes and target different customers however they share a common business
model that is that they ‘rent’ the use of their computing resources including
services, applications, infrastructures, and platform to customers.
The benefits of cloud computing can
accessed from various perspectives as financial savings and resources
management. Reduction
in capital investment in hardware and software infrastructures, cloud therefore
provides companies with the opportunity to acquire IT capacities that they may
not have been able to afford in the past.
Despite
the promise of cloud services, there are also obstacles in its growth and
adoption. Cloud computing relies heavily on Internet, but lack of constant
Internet speed connections would be a significant obstacle. Application program
interfaces standardization lacking and platform technologies means that
interoperability among platforms is poor and companies will not be able to
transfer easily from one cloud provider to another.
New Business practices for
Conferencing on Cloud computing:
A lot of firms are adopting cost optimization methods to
reduce the costs and focus on budget reductions and savings. Especially after
the financial crisis in 2008, firms are looking ways to cut the daily expenses
and reduce costs. For the purpose firms take various measures such as BYOD and
AWS.
BYOD (Bring your own
Device): This method has been adopting by most firms widely. This is mainly
for cost savings and employee productivity. This would help employees to be
mobile and productive. Conferencing is the growing trend and well suited for
BYOD method. I would like to my experience on this, we use to have a global
conference call in the bank I worked. The call was conducted by global office
in New York with participants all over Asia. To match the time difference
between NY and HK the time of the call was 7pm HK time and 7am in NY. Almost
all of the NY employees attend calls from their home. And certain work required
operating on data so the device is needed, therefore most of the people use
their personal device to conduct the call.
AWS (Alternate work
schedule): This method also widely use in most of the firms for benefiting
employees for their enhanced productivity. This is to provide employees the
flexibility of working from home. Working from home with requires either
business device or APN (Access point name) to connect to another network from
frequently public Internet.
Business Strategies
Low Cost strategy:
Based on the analysis, conferencing on cloud computing in any way is a low cost
strategy. There is high potential to save costs even when buying, running and
maintain the firm’s potential software and established clouds.
Mass Market: The
analysis shows the usage of conferencing on high and diversified level. The
primary concept of cloud computing is to spread it across the globe to capture
the mass market. Due to the low cost and convenience the mass market including
the firms and local people all are the targeted customers.
STEEP Model for Conferencing:
Social: Web
conferencing has been well developed socially. In todays’ world the rate of
interaction due to globalization, conferencing has been developed well. People
have changed their lifestyles as long distance face-to-face talks and interact
socially with friends and family.
Technological:
With technological advancement and transformation, conferencing has gained a
lot of acceptance and development. The transformation of technology give a high
credentials to conferencing especially on cloud computing. The simplification
and reduction of hardware and software in technology allow the conferencing a
boost with cloud computing.
Economical:
Conferencing on cloud computing with the technological advancement has gained a
huge edge economically. The low costs along with the added advantages of
convenience, flexibility and mobility make conferencing on cloud highly
beneficial.
Environmental:
The conferencing on cloud computing makes it highly beneficial environmentally.
As the long distance interaction via video and audio conferencing for social
and business perspective enable less travelling. Therefore saving flight
expenses would enable less usage of fuel and flight and make the environment
pollution free.
Political:
Since the evolution of Globalization, the interaction of mega firms allows the
countries to have some flexibility in political environment. Conferencing plays
a huge role in Globalization for the interaction. And the flexible policies of
the countries allow conferencing to emerge widely.
Knowledge Transfer Process -
Conferencing on cloud computing
Conferencing in knowledge transfer process has been widely
accepted. Most of the part conferencing on cloud termed as ‘Tacit’ and
‘Explicit’ at the same time. Conferencing fall in the category of Routine
knowledge where it is routinized and embedded in actions and practices. Also it
reflects for Systemic knowledge asset where it is systemized and packed
explicit knowledge requires database, patents licenses form business
perspective.
Apparently the purpose of cloud computing is low cost and
convenience. The conferencing has been determined in entertainment category as low
cost method.
Conclusion
Through the analysis, it has been identified conferencing on
cloud computing is part of entertainment that has been increasing
significantly. It could be said that it is a disruptive and emergence
technology at the same time. It keeps gaining momentum and spreading on vast
level capturing mass market with its low cost strategy and playing an important
role in Globalization.
Conferencing on cloud computing as an innovation signifies
the potential growth in the changing the business models of firms causing them
high benefit financially to achieve the business objectives. It also play major
role in social interaction of the people making the life easy and convenient.
The STEEP model helps in determining the potential scope of conferencing in all
factors socially, technologically, economically, environmentally and
politically.
Overall to say the cloud computing on conferencing plays a
significant role in establishing globalization, giving an entire and innovative
perspective in changing perceptions, attitudes of the firms and people.
References:
1) Cloud computing as innovation: perception, attitude and adoption, April 2012 by Angele Lin
4) Better Videoconferencing in the Cloud, January 2014 - Nitin Pradhan
5) Web Conferencing, 2013- Margaret Rouse
