The development of the Internet and information technology has led to the emergence of new methods of remote communication. These include, in particular, webinars and video conferencing. What is the difference between a webinar and a video conference?
A webinar is usually a one-way interaction between the presenter and the remote audience with a minimum of feedback from them. This method of online communication is mainly used for presentations, lectures and training courses.
Video conferencing is a two-way full-fledged communication between equal participants. This method is irreplaceable for holding meetings, working together on a project with the outcome of collective decisions.
Webinar
The origin of the word “webinar” is obvious, and means a virtual (web, web) seminar. This event is intended for conducting an online broadcast of a lecture, practical lesson or presentation via the Internet. In most cases, webinars are one-sided. Their main presenter introduces information to his listeners, whom he cannot see or hear. The latter's participation in the webinar is passive. Although they can see and hear the presenter, contact with him is limited to questions asked via chat.
The undoubted advantage of webinars is their accessibility and democratic nature. Services for their implementation, as a rule, function using a regular browser. Therefore, on both sides, a computer with access to the World Wide Web and a standard platform is sufficient. No special software is required for a webinar.
The main areas of application of webinars are business (marketing, sales of goods and services, staff training) and education (distance learning). Companies present their products to potential clients around the world and, if necessary, conduct their centralized training. The number of webinar participants can be in the thousands.
Video conferences
This method of online switching is significantly different. It emphasizes equal interaction between participants. This format of communication, which involves visual contact with remote interlocutors, is much closer to face-to-face.
Participants can discuss joint projects and work on them remotely, exchange files. Such capabilities are provided by special hardware and software platforms. The former include high-quality video cameras, microphones and speakers, the latter - specialized programs, including foreign Microsoft Teams or MyOwnConference, Russian - eXpress, Kontur.Tolk, MTS Link and others.
The costs for them pay off by accelerating the adoption of optimal business decisions without distracting employees on expensive business trips and renting premises for general meetings. Video conferences usually involve a small number of people (from two to ten), with active interaction between them.
Webinars and video conferences in business
Modern online communication tools significantly save time and resources for business companies.
Webinars attract numerous participants from different countries. Business companies demonstrate their products and services to potential clients, simultaneously conducting training courses on them.
Video conferences stimulate the exchange of proposals, accelerating the adoption of decisions that suit all participants. They can actively communicate with the presenters.
It is difficult to overestimate the role of webinars and video conferences in the field of business education. Company employees are trained without leaving the office or home. Participants can ask questions to the training leader and receive answers to them in real time. Lectures and trainings are often recorded for further study by the audience at a convenient time.
Disadvantages and limitations
Effective use of webinars and video conferences requires a stable and high-quality broadband Internet connection. The lack of such a connection can negate the advantages noted above.
Using modern means of remote communication requires preliminary training of employees. It is especially relevant in those numerous companies that are not related to Internet technologies by their nature of activity. It is not a fact that their employees will be able to figure out video conferencing interfaces on their own.
And in webinars, the lack of the usual visual contact can be a negative limiting factor.
Criteria for choosing a platform
When choosing a specific online communication service, you should take into account:
- number of participants;
- interactivity;
- functionality;
- security and reliability;
- cost.
Platforms support different numbers of participants and different sets of features. For example, the platform supports more than 250 participants in one conference. Built-in chat, hand raising function, virtual backgrounds, conference recording, screen sharing and other features allow using the platform for holding large online meetings.
For corporate online meetings and student training courses, it is necessary to choose services with data encryption. Russian platforms are considered safer, since they are hosted on the company’s own servers, unlike foreign ones.
