Much has changed in the way we communicate with each other since the early ’70s, when Ray Tomlinson introduced his SNDMSG computer program to send emails. Needless to say, SNDMSG was a very simple program and it only allowed people connected to the same Arpanet network to communicate with each other. However, SNDMSG paved the way for other, more modern online means of communication.
When discussing the history of online communication, we should mention popular chat rooms. The very first online chat room was created by David R. Woolley and Doug Brown in 1973. A year later, the very first ISP (Internet Service Provider) Telenet was born. In 1982, Internet Protocol and Transmission Control Protocol for Arpanet also appeared on the scene. Ten years later, the very first SMS was sent. Only two years later, the Dycam Model 1 digital camera went on sale in the United States.
In 2003, Skype was born, and this marked a whole new, exciting era of online communication. Only a year later, LinkedIn and MySpace appeared on the scene, followed by Facebook, YouTube, Twitter. In 2010. Both Instagram and Pinterest were launched. All of these different social media and online communication platforms paved the way for more modern video communication platforms that completely changed the way we communicate.
Video conferencing and video communication platforms
The origins of video conferencing date back to the late 1870s. While video conferencing and video communication platforms have emerged relatively recently, none of this would be possible without the technologies of the past that have evolved over the years. The very first videophones from Bell Lab and the technology in the audio lines are responsible for a fantastic technical and technological advancement that led to the introduction of modern video communication platforms and first-class video conferencing.
Video communication platforms have completely changed the way we communicate with each other. Video conferencing helps companies and businesses communicate with their partners and team members at any time along the way. The most basic requirements for video conferencing include having a modern one webcam, PC, portable or modern mobile device, stable internet connection, video conferencing app or software and microphone.
Video conferencing and video communication platforms have become even more popular in recent times due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The use of video communication platforms and video conferencing has kept us in touch during the pandemic. In fact, video conferencing and telecommuting have been the only surefire way to stay in touch with others, so basically the coronavirus pandemic has become one of the main driving forces behind the growing popularity of video communication services.
The emergence of video communication platforms during the pandemic
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, video conferencing and video communication platforms have changed significantly. Since 2020, many different video communication platforms have become operational, the most popular being Zoom. According to one report from MarketsAndMarkets, the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic on the video communications market has been enormous. The entire market has gained the much-needed traction during the pandemic, with more and more people turning to Zoom and other similar platforms as their preferred way of keeping in touch with friends and family.
Video conferencing is also one of the most important solutions for companies, corporations and government organizations to connect and stay in touch with their employees, customers and remote employees. On the bottom line, the pandemic was very beneficial to Zoom and other similar services. The end of the global pandemic will not mean the end of video conferencing, but rather less zoom and video use in general is expected.
Source: The Nordic Page