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Our Company
Over fifteen years ago, I began to tell my college students that some day, the way classes were attended would change as the result of computer technology. I described a futuristic “virtual class-room” in which students would attend classes from the comfort and convenience of their homes, and in front of their own computer screens. I told them that they would be able to see their professor, and the other students as well in small pictures around their screens. They would be able to talk to each other and their professor just like they would in a standard class-room.
I received skeptical stares from some students, who for the most part questioned whether such a thing would come to pass. Then within a few years, a series of distance learning technologies came along. They exploded onto the scene and today, most post-secondary institutions use them for course delivery. While most distance learning is delivered in the asynchronous mode, a number of synchronous web-based systems evolved as well. However, they lacked the one crucial component that was touted my envisioned system, the ability of all parties to see as well as talk to each other. Even the most sophisticated web based system lacked this multipoint, two way video capability. Then Mega-Meeting came along.
I discovered that this California based company had just the propriatory software that would make my virtual class-room a reality. Their system went far beyond anything that I had seen on the current market or had envisioned. In addition to two way video and audio multi-point networking, it had an embedded chat screen and a host of special presentation tools. I anxiously contacted them, and in the year that followed, learned to work with and better adapt their product to the teaching-learning environment.
I consider their system to be the best and most versatile in the world for education purposes, and we are presently an independent reseller for their company. Business applications are a main focus of this technology. With increased travel costs, inconvenience and lost time, companies are discovering that they can effectively do everything they wanted to do in a live two-way, multi-participant multi-site web conference than they could have done in person conferences. This new technology is rapidly replacing the way business conferencing is taking place.
In recent years, we have devoted our time to increasing the usefulness of the Mega-Meeting product to a teaching-learning platform These adaptations include developing cost-free ways to record entire class sessions, an inexpensive document camera and teaching methodologies. We now feel that we can offer have what is no less than the best and most versatile synchronous educational platform in the world.
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