While both the webcam and videophone have similar functions, the webcam has remained prevalent because it is a more practical device. Both serve the same fundamental use of visually seeing the individual the speaker communicates with. So why did the videophone fail?
Maybe it was because the phone makes people feel more self-conscious? Or because now all a person’s non-verbal expressions are seen? Can the phone be an intrusion to privacy? Dickson and Bowers’ ask these questions in their assessment of the videophone.
These two see potential in the videophone, but what happened along the way that this phone did not become the ‘new trend’?
To start, the price of a videophone is a huge factor. These phones are extremely expensive and video calls are pricey as well. It was thought these phones would be great for business conferences, but the price of international calling is overlooked. Ultimately, a webcam is a more versatile and cheaper purchase. Today, many computers come equipped with webcams or webcams can be found for as low as $15. Also, the Internet is free, so online chatting/conferencing is free or at the most costs very little.
With online chat rooms and video chatting programs such as skype and iphone, offer both text chat and video chat. This creates more opportunity for social interactions. The videophone can only manage one form of chat at a time.
Webcams also allow easy use and are more worthwhile for conferencing. Since a webcam is attached to a computer and uses Internet access, files and documents can easily be transferred to participants of the chat. Videophones cannot send documents and are only able to view the ones sent to the user.
Overall webcams are more versatile and offer more opportunities for use than a videophone. Webcams can be used for education, business, family and entertainment. A computer can be set up to link to a television or projectile screen allowing a large format view of a presentation, demonstration, or conference. The webcam offers more opportunities for creativity and freedom than the videophone. A videophone is tied to a videophone format. But because a webcam uses the Internet there are endless opportunities of how and for what it can be used.
To summarize, videophones will never reach the popularity of a webcam because the product does not offer the same practicality and versatility of the webcam.
Here's what I find most odd: Dickson and Bowers don't mention the obvious fact that videophones' display screens are much smaller than webcam viewers (at least usually). At home on a computer, you've got about 12 inches of space to see the other person. On a phone, I can't expect the same experience.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention that cell phones seem like the obvious "on the go" device. Further still, hands-free earbuds and headphones were made specifically so chatters could multi-task without the need to hold the phone. With the videophone, not only would users need to hold it (or find some way to prop it up) they'd also need to actually look at it.
It seems to me the makers of the videophone confused the fundamentals of the cell phone. Instead of easier, they made communication inconvenient.