On Online Meetings and Conferences

Text chatting amenities such as the IRC gained popularity early in the Internet’s history. During the mid 90s, web based chat and instant messaging appeared and also became a hit among Internet users worldwide. Today, an accepted alternative in face to face meetings has been expanding well and is being used by businessmen and consumers alike, and this richer form of Internet communication is also known as a web conference.

This new approach is used in order to manage live meetings and/or presentations online, or over the Internet. In the earlier years of the Internet, web conference is usually synonymous to group discussions presented within a message board, posted via text messages and not live. However, this term has evolved and is now specifically referred to as live or synchronous meetings, while posted messages are now coined as forums, bulletin boards, or message boards.

During a web conference, each participating individual sits down at their personal computer, and is linked to other individuals as well via the Internet. The conference can either be a downloaded application on each participant or in a web-based application where participants would only enter a valid URL to be able to connect and enter the live meeting or conference online. Usual features of a web conference includes live video screenings (via webcam or any digital video camera), through VoIP, recordings, slide presentations (with use of PowerPoint), whiteboard with annotations, text chat, polls and surveys, screen sharing or desktop sharing, wherein individuals can view anything from the presenter’s screen.

An essential ability of web conferences would be application sharing, wherein one party within a web conference can share an application online. For example, they can share web browsers and spread sheets to other members of the conference group from their own desktop, and pass the control of the application to someone else in the meeting.

A specific type of web conference is also commonly used nowadays, and this is known as a webinar. This type of web conference is usually one way, from the speaker to the audience with limited audience interaction. However, this type can be very collaborative, since it includes question and answer sessions and includes polling too. Upon doing it in this way, webinars allow full participation among the presenter and the audience as well. Webinars are considered live in the sense that the information being shared is according to a specific agenda, with a start and ending time.

Holding a web conference can clearly save time, effort, and of course, money. By just applying web conferencing into one’s own company, this can save the budget of one’s business since the company would not have to spend money in order to travel and meet up with other representatives of the company. Also, different processes and transactions are completed in a short period of time, since all these can be discussed online, and in real time. Clearly, web conference is just one method in leading the business world in a much higher state, where people, business, and communication itself travels in a much faster rate.

Technology Makes Our Business Communications Faster

Technology today can be quite overwhelming. There are a lot of new devices, systems, and equipment that are changing the way we live now. New technology brings about new ideas, and with a fast paced lifestyle, many people are becoming more dependent on technology, for it can make the way we do things faster.

One important advantage of technology is having faster communications between the two ends. From state of the art cellular telephones that has access to the Internet, to high end video conferencing, businessmen and students alike would now have an easier and faster way to communicate.

Seeing the world as it is today, we can confirm that businesses from all over the world tend to communicate with one another without seeing face to face, all with the help of video conferencing. This type of communication allows businessmen to interact and share ideas and files without seeing each other face to face. This kind of technology helps businesses that cater to the world, with many different locations acting as one. Video conferencing works by simultaneous sharing of information through video, voice, digital whiteboard, and data files. In a set video conference meeting, several individuals can share their voice and see themselves talk with the use of a live camera. The image size seen in the monitor can be compressed to be able to have more space for files that are accessed, displayed, and edited on the monitor at the same time. Businessmen engaging in a video conference have the option to work and share their information from either party’s computer. While changes within a certain project are discussed verbally, individuals may also edit and share their immediate feedback at the same time. Having the advantage of the digital whiteboard, individuals may also write on each other’s whiteboards to allow professionals to make decisions and solve whatever problems they have on the spot.

Video conferencing showcases a lot of benefits with regards to the business itself. First, by using video conferencing, businessmen might have easier negotiations with other businesses and/or individuals. By using this new approach, it can also save the company some money since by using such, businessmen would not have to pay for flights, in case meetings are held in another location. This kind of conferencing can also fast track instructions and deals within the company. Instead of written instructions, one can tell the person doing the job directly what needs to be done. By talking and communicating in real time, different tasks can be done faster and with more precision.

Of course, video conferencing also has its downside. This approach to faster communications may not be too reasonable for smaller businesses. Big companies have the privilege to use this kind of conferencing, simply because the have the budget to do so. Either way, video conferencing is a positive aspect in one’s business, for it can heighten communications within the company, therefore boosting the business itself.

Singapore…….A Tiger Economy of Asia

Singapore is a nation that rebounded successfully from the economic recession of 2001. Unlike the other bubble economies of Asia, The country is blessed with a highly developed and successful free-market economy.

Consider the following facts: GDP in 2005 was US$26,833; The economy expected to grow further by 6.9% in year 2006 as compared to the 3-5% as forecast; It is the 4^th largest foreign exchange trading centre in the world, next only to London, New York City and Tokyo; It is the most business-friendly economy in the world; and second in the index of economic freedom.

No doubt Singapore has achieved its Tiger Economy status with its resilient and vibrant business atmosphere. Once just a thriving port, Singapore has emerged as a nation that prides itself with its relatively corruption-free. And transparent, stable prices. Its port is undoubtedly the business in the world, even surpassing that of Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Singapore, indeed, is a success story to emulate. But its present status is by no chance an easy feat. The country has invested heavily on its Human Resource and Labor Force to reach its economic success. The country had embarked on a successful education policy in producing skilled workers. So far, Singapore business has recorded its highest employment rate in 15 years, particularly among older workers. Singapore’s success in this area is a fundamental factor in its drive to become a leading exporting nation.

Singapore’s exports oriented economy, particularly in the areas of electronics and manufacturing is likely to make it Southeast Asia’s financial and high-tech hub. Thanks to the low interest rates. It refers to businesses, considered as Singapore’s fiscal stimulus. The economy was able to flex its economic arm to combat the effect of the 2001-2003 Global Recession and the Slump in the technology sector. It’s early as 2004, the country recovered fast and started its growth improvement.

With the above-cited figures, it is recognized that such growth on such a large scale would soon see Singapore eclipsing regional economic rivals like South Korea and Taiwan. Considering that the country has since been embarking on a renewed campaign to boost its pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, Singapore has more leverage for maintaining its growth figures more than the other countries.

In the Long term, the Singaporean Government aims to reorient its economic path and veer away from depending on exports, especially on electronics manufacturing. The government has used much of its revenues to invest heavily on services and goods, which the country hopes to help it to be less to external business cycle and unpredictability world trade.

Philippines……A Tiger Cub Of Southeast Asia

A developing country trying to achieve first world status in 10-15 years, Philippines is one of the most vibrant economies in Southeast Asia these days.

As early as 2004, after 3 years of economic uncertainly brought by the 2001 International financial crisis, the Philippine economy experience a remarkable resurgence. One of the most vibrant business process outsourcing (BPO) industries in Asia; 6% growth rate; Philippine Peso as considered the best performing currency in Asia; moving long increase in export by more than 15%; investment increase of over $2 billion dollar.

Philippines business indeed is a growing economy to watch. As an agriculture economy, the country has newly industrialized countries (NICS). Government initiates and economic strategies to manage its public debt make the country on the right track to grow further.

Strategies such as heavy infrastructure program, more efficient tax collection system such as E-Vat/R-Vat, and further deregulation and privatization improve its image abroad as a business friendly economy.

Still, despite a growing economy, several areas are to be focused into by the Philippine Government. It has to address the huge income disparity among is considered uneven with Mega Manila and the rest of Luzon grabbing most economic incentives to the detriment of the other islands.

Yes, the presence of a large migrant work force contributed greatly to rise in GDP per capita among Filipinos. Huge remittances from Filipino Workers abroad are widely recognized as having contributed to the increase in GNP of the country.