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The Technical Challenge Of Video Calls
Forcing non-technicals to hold meetings online causes a whole raft of amusing, and sometimes quite distressing, situations for everyone.
“All I had to do was pick up the phone
I’m out in space, trying to talk to someone
Yeah, we’re living in
In a modern world.”
- ELO, “Calling America”
Jeff Lynne and the crew had it right back in 1986, and it still rings true today.
We may still think that we’re living in a modern world but we’re still very much trying to talk to someone — but often falling foul of that very modern technology that surrounds us.
Even worse, now we’re also trying to see them too.
Far more worse still, is that it’s most likely we’re all trying to do this in Skype, Zoom, or heaven forbid, Teams.
There are two technologies that powerfully drive advancement in the internet and its related technologies such as high definition low latency cameras, quality and high fidelity microphones, and endlessly adjustable (and extremely comfortable) chairs — gaming and the other one¹.
Let’s focus on the less controversial one and say that gaming has brought with it demand for extremely fast and low latency connections so that we can happily eliminate each other in a range of online worlds with a range of suitably offensive…
