Study: Some workers still balk at video-conferencing

Videoconferencing may be a booming technology, but that doesn't mean workers actually prefer it.

A new study has found that face-to-face meetings still post higher on to-do lists than do virtual ones. Scottish researchers say despite the travel expense savings, reduced carbon output and time saving associated with video conferencing, business people still like to get out of the office, and even see travel as a perk.

Nonetheless, change is coming, the University of Edinburgh study found, as businesses start to be more cost conscious.

"I think people are starting to do as much as they can online," said a Federation of Small Businesses spokesman. "And a lot of that is to do with the fact that the cost of doing things online is dropping considerably."

And, while he noted that "the traditional meeting isn't going to die," he also pointed out that business travel was often really enjoyed by "people who don't have to do it".

New research forecasts the global videoconferencing market will be worth $3.8 billion by 2016, with compound annual growth approaching 6 percent.

Research firm Ovum, in its report, Enterprise Video Forecast 2011-2016, said that growth puts video conferencing among the fastest growing ICT segments.

For more:
- see this Scotsman article

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