So, what is Interactive Videoconferencing? The interactive videoconferencing technologies employed by the RTC will permit the dynamic, visual communication between individuals or groups within a community, region, nationally and internationally that normally only occurs during direct, face-to-face communication. Consequently, interactive videoconferencing has proven to be one of the major means to overcome the geographic boundaries experienced by many rural communities. Interactive videoconferencing is also an opportunity to share limited resources or to make greater use of resources when face-to-face, dynamic communication is required.
Examples of interactive videoconferencing abound throughout the United States. Most of these examples have concentrated on using interactive videoconferencing to increase access or reduce traveling and resource replacement expenses through distance education and medical applications, including provider and patient education and medical consultations. As greater familiarity is achieved with interactive videoconferencing and the technology changes to fit within other existing technologies, creative approaches are being explored. For instance, insurance agents have begun to expand their market territory and ability to provide remote services by using interactive videoconferencing to meet clients or to remotely view damage claims to automobiles. Telecommuters can now attend meetings from their homes or a telecommuting center even though their colleagues are located in an urban corporate office or distributed throughout the country. Home health providers can make more frequent visits to a patient using in-home videoconferencing technologies, while providing the home bound patient quicker response to an emergency. Judicial systems are using interactive videoconferencing to arraign inmates directly from a jail. Community groups are directly and frequently communicating with their state and national legislators even though thousands of miles may separate them. As individuals and communities come together newer uses of interactive videoconferencing are being found, each providing economic opportunities through additional revenue generation or cost savings.