Webcams and videophones have always served the same basic function: visually connect people in real-time from across the country or across the globe. While videophones were undoubtedly revolutionary for their time, their failure is only one example of how the widespread availability of cheap, high-speed Internet access has revolutionized the products on the market.
Videophones were doomed from the start, their reliance on the existing telephone infrastructure meant the pictures transmitted were black and white, lower resolution, and had a limited field of view, as noted by Dickson & Bowers. On top of that, the cameras picked up infrared wavelengths that made it hard for the user to look their best, and made toupees and wigs easily identified. If that wasn’t enough to kill off this technology, the outrageous prices for the equipment and fees to make calls made it hard for businesses or individuals to see the value.
In many ways real-time video conversations were ahead of their time. Relying on existing transmission systems without a lot of bandwidth crippled the technology before it could take off. That’s where the webcam comes in.
Over the past decade Internet access has not only gotten faster, but it’s become widespread. It has also created a standard protocol that allows a wide array of devices to communicate with one another across a room or across the continent. This is what has allowed webcams to succeed in the place of videophones. Thanks to the Internet it has become practical and very cheap to access the bandwidth needed to transmit high-quality video that eliminates many of the problems associated with the videophone technology.
While webcams are becoming standard on many computer models, their popularity has caused them to move onto other products as well. Already LG and Panasonic have announced plans to have webcam enabled television sets in stores by the end of 2010. Both companies have worked with the popular online telephone and video chat service Skype to create TVs that connect to a user’s broadband connection and video chat via webcam with anyone from the comfort of their living room couch.
On the smaller scale, many smartphones on the market today allow for video calls (although not 2-way due to hardware limitations). On the iPhone the free application, Fring, allows users to make one-way video calls from anywhere using the built-in webcam on the phone.
These two examples alone show the versatility that webcams have and how their use of the Internet to deliver data has made them a staple of technology today. While videophones were relegated to board rooms or executive’s offices, webcams have made video chat mobile, affordable, and in reach of nearly everyone.
All the three posts here mentioned the importance of price, which I agree. At the same time, I found human needs to be an interesting factor. Noll (1992) mentioned that only 50% of the respondents considered it important to see the other person during a telephone conversation, which indicated that it was proabably not an urgent need that needs to be satisfied.
ReplyDeleteBut if it's not an urgent need, why has webcam become a success? I think it has something to do with the interaction between price and human needs. When the price is high, as was the case of videophones, people are more likely to ignore the non-urgent needs. But when the price is low, we become more willing to satisfy the non-urgent needs. So although it is still not a "must" to see our conversation partners, we don't mind having a webcam with us since it doesn't cost much.
Although price clearly influences consumers, I think much of the movement toward the infiltration of webcams has to do with personal comfort level with new technology in relation to both simpler programs and a better understanding of technology. Before the invention and proliferation of Skype, I feel like people may have been hesitant to attempt to use the new technology webcams offered because the programs used to run them were confusing and frustrating. Also, people have grown to accept webcams as a necessity with an increase in global travel, international business, etc. While it is not an urgent need, the new and very simplistic programs have provided all different generations of users with the bravery needed to attempt to try and eventually master such technology. And once you realize how easy it is, why wouldn't you want to pretend like you're speaking face to face each time you make a call?
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