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The development of telemedicine in the world.

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The development of telemedicine in the world.

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Modern telemedicine began in the early 1900s in the Netherlands with the transmission of heart rhythms over the telephone, 3 which was followed by transmissions to radio consultation centers in Europe in the 1920s. In the 1940s, radiographic images were transmitted by telephone between cities in Pennsylvania.

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ABSTRACT

Telemedicine has the potential to transform the future of medicine in both rural and urban settings by improving access to medical care and providing a more affordable way to deliver it. Low reimbursement rates and lack of interstate licensing are the main obstacles limiting its widespread use in the United States. Demand for telemedicine, however, will likely continue to rise, and primary care providers will need to be familiar with the practical and legal considerations in establishing this type of service.

KEY POINTS

An estimated 7 million patients in the United States will use telemedicine services this year alone; demand will continue to rise.

Low reimbursement rates and current lack of interstate licensure laws limit the ability of many health care providers to offer telemedicine services.

The rules and regulations addressing ancillary team members' participation in telemedicine vary from state to state.

Areas of future growth include chronic disease management and "hospital at home" care.

Telemedicine has been used successfully to improve patient access to medical care while reducing healthcare costs. In 2016, an estimated 61% of US healthcare institutions and 40% to 50% of US hospitals used telemedicine. From 2012 to 2013, the telemedicine market grew by 60%. However, its widespread use has been limited by low reimbursement rates and interstate licensing and practice issues.

In this commentary, we discuss the history of telemedicine, current uses and challenges, and areas of future growth.

DEFINITION AND HISTORY

The World Health Organization defines telemedicine as "the delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of healthcare providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities."

Modern telemedicine began in the early 1900s in the Netherlands with the transmission of heart rhythms over the telephone, which was followed by transmissions to radio consultation centers in Europe in the 1920s. In the 1940s, radiographic images were transmitted by telephone between cities in Pennsylvania.

Today, telemedicine is used in a variety of specialties including radiology, neurology, and pathology and by organizations in the United States ranging from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Kaiser Permanente to the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA, in particular, is a leader in telemedicine. In 2012, it reduced mental health hospitalizations by over 40%, heart failure hospitalizations by 25%, and diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospitalizations by about 20% using telemedicine programs. In 2015, it provided about 2.1 million telemedicine consultations to 677,000 veterans.

TYPES OF TELEMEDICINE PROGRAMS

There are 2 types of telemedicine programs.

Synchronous programs take place in real time and are a live 2-way interaction between the patient and healthcare provider. This includes virtual appointments that are conducted using the patient's smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera. When using a smartphone or tablet, patients must first download an app that connects them with a provider.

Asynchronous programs, also known as "store and forward" applications, are not live and involve the transfer of images, videos, and other clinical information that a healthcare provider views and responds to at a later time. In this case, patients may wear medical devices to monitor and track health information (eg, blood pressure) in a personal health application that they forward to their healthcare provider.

IMPROVING PATIENT ACCESS TO CARE WHILE REDUCING COSTS

Telemedicine allows patients living in both rural and urban areas to access healthcare when they need it. Currently, about 59 million Americans reside in health professional-shortage areas, which are rural and urban areas with shortages of primary care providers. These patients often experience long delays when attempting to schedule a healthcare visit and may experience issues with continuity of care if they are unable to see the same care provider at every visit.

It also provides access to care to patients without reliable transportation or those who may be too sick to travel long distances. For some patients, such as those with cystic fibrosis who do not want to come to the hospital for fear of contracting multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a virtual office visit may be safer.

At the same time, telemedicine helps reduce healthcare costs. For example, it:

Optimizes staff distribution and healthcare resources within a healthcare facility and across an entire system

Enables primary care providers to conduct appointments without additional office staff at any time, thereby extending office hours and availability

Reduces the financial impact of patient no-shows

Improves patient engagement and outcomes

Reduces unnecessary office and emergency room visits and hospital admissions.

The last point is especially important for senior living and skilled nursing centers whose residents are known to have high rates of hospital admissions. In these facilities, 24-hour medical assistance may not be available, and telemedicine can help troubleshoot common problems.

LOW REIMBURSEMENT RATES CURTAIL USE

Limited reimbursement has curtailed the widespread use of telemedicine. Although rules for reimbursement are evolving, telemedicine still represents a small amount of total healthcare expenditures. In 2015, Medicare spent approximately $14.4 million on services delivered via telemedicine-less than 0.01% of total spending on healthcare services.

Currently, 31 states and the District of Columbia have telemedicine parity laws that mandate private commercial insurers to pay for telemedicine services. Unfortunately, there is a lack of uniformity in the specifics of these laws, resulting in variations in reimbursement rates. Furthermore, a large number of larger insurers such as Medicare and Medicaid and many self-insured plans do not fall under these mandates.

Another factor that affects reimbursement for telemedicine services is the setting of the medical encounter. Medicare reimburses providers for telemedicine services only when they are conducted at specific sites such as physician's offices, hospitals, rural health centers, and skilled nursing facilities. Additionally, Medicare only reimburses for services in areas with a shortage of healthcare professionals and in non-metropolitan areas, which excludes many urban patients.

In contrast, more commercial reimbursement is occurring for online urgent care, and options for commercial reimbursement of online behavioral services are being explored.

INTERSTATE LICENSURE ISSUES

Current licensure laws also limit the ability of many healthcare providers to offer telemedicine services. Federal law requires providers to be fully licensed to practice medicine in the state where the patient is physically located. In cases of health systems that have locations in more than one state, providers may need to apply for and pay to maintain multiple licenses (current interstate licensing laws vary across states).

Interstate licensure is one way to solve this problem. Thus far, a number of states have joined the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact that intends to allow physicians to obtain expedited licenses to practice in multiple states.

The federal TELE-MED Act was introduced in 2015 but not passed. It proposed to "allow a Medicare provider to provide telemedicine services to a Medicare beneficiary who is in a different state from the one in which the provider is licensed or authorized to provide healthcare services."

CAN TELEMEDICINE FOSTER A GOOD PROVIDER-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP?

In-person encounters provide healthcare providers with the opportunity to build a therapeutic relationship with their patients. Face-to-face encounters also increase patient satisfaction scores and outcomes. As such, critics fear that patient relationships may suffer with the use of telemedicine. However, using video technology for new patient encounters may help overcome this challenge. During a video encounter, the provider can see the patient's facial expressions and take cues from nonverbal behaviors.

At times, the element of distance may enhance the encounter. For example, in behavioral health, patients often feel more comfortable in their home environment than in a sterile office environment.

Telemedicine patients often have positive experiences, given the speed of access, precision, time savings, and the ability to stay in contact with healthcare providers from the comfort of their homes. Ultimately, these virtual visits may help improve compliance with follow-up consultations since the barriers of distance and transportation are circumvented.

WHO CAN CONDUCT TELEMEDICINE VISITS?

Although a patient's healthcare team is likely to consist of members who are not physicians, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, and psychologists, not everyone can, by law, conduct telemedicine visits. Currently, the rules and regulations addressing ancillary team members' participation in telemedicine vary from state to state.

TELEMEDICINE VISITS AT CLEVELAND CLINIC

Our health system has several telemedicine programs, including our eHospital program. Launched in 2014, this program provides patients at 4 hospitals with input from staff intensivists and experienced critical care nurses during the night (7 PM to 7 AM) via remote monitoring. These remote caregivers have full access to patient charts and, when signalled, can activate an in-room camera to initiate 2-way audio communication with patients, their families, and bedside caregivers.

In addition, new patient consults are being offered via telemedicine for several services including dermatology, where pictures of skin lesions are reviewed and triaged, and management recommendations are provided accordingly.

In 2016, Cleveland Clinic launched its Remote Hypertension Improvement Program-an enterprise-wide initiative to minimize hypertension-associated mortality and morbidity with the assistance of telehealth services. The program was first piloted in a group of 80 high-risk hypertensive patients who were monitored and followed through a Bluetooth-enabled remote monitoring tool, which exported blood pressure readings to a central dashboard. A multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists used this dashboard to adjust medication when needed and provide virtual lifestyle coaching. Over a 24-week period, the patients' systolic blood pressure decreased by an average of 7.5 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 3.1 mm Hg (unpublished data).

Beginning this year, blood pressure readings will be directly exported from the remote monitoring tool into the patient's electronic medical record, providing the healthcare team with the information needed to make informed decisions to remotely manage patients with hypertension.

Remote monitoring of patients with hypertension is also being used at other institutions such as the VA. In 2016, almost 19,000 veterans were using the remote monitoring system, and this number is expected to increase with the enhanced adaptation of telemedicine services.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

About 50% of all adults in the United States have at least 1 chronic disease. In all, chronic disease accounts for roughly 75% of the total healthcare expenditure and 70% of all deaths. Recent data suggest that virtual chronic disease management represents an untapped market for telemedicine, given its relative underutilization compared to other services such as telebehavorial health and specialty telemedicine. These patients require frequent visits to the doctor, and targeting this patient population with telemedicine may decrease the number of emergency room visits and hospital admissions.

Another growing area in the field of telemedicine is the "hospital at home" model in which patients who meet the criteria for hospitalization but are otherwise stable are treated at home for diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, and heart failure. Studies have shown that the hospital-at-home model, when used appropriately, is not only more cost-effective than hospitalization but results in a shorter treatment duration and lower rates of delirium.

Finally, in the acute setting, we have seen wide success with telemedicine programs in stroke care, radiology, intensive care, and psychiatry, and several studies have shown mortality rates comparable to those with the traditional model. These encounters often require specialized skills and are the focus of multiple ongoing studies. ■

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank Matthew Faiman, MD, for providing information regarding the Remote Hypertension Program.

Footnotes

Dr. Rasmussen has disclosed consulting for Boston Scientific; membership on advisory committees or review panels for Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Mehana Medical, Nervive, Perflow Medical, and Stryker Neurovascular; and ownership interest (stock or stock options) in Nervive, Neurvana, and Perflow Medical.

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Telemedicine has the potential to transform the future of medicine in both rural and urban settings by improving access to medical care and providing a more affordable way to deliver it. Low reimbursement rates and lack of interstate licensing are the main obstacles limiting its widespread use in the United States.

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Mobile telemedicine complexes belong to mobile units equipped with telemedicine technology and medical institutions that can provide remote medical services in various places. These complexes usually include medical equipment such as examination instruments, diagnostic devices, and communication systems that allow medical professionals to conduct consultations, diagnose and treat diseases remotely.

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Telemedicine is a field of healthcare that uses technology to provide medical care, transfer information and support educational tasks ¹. Portable devices help can make this a quick and accurate process, despite geographic and economic barriers.

Telemedicine: digital access to medical care

Researchers divide the services provided using telemedicine into several types ²:

1. Medical information is transmitted in real time. This includes video chat consultations where the patientconnects the hospital remotely. In another case the patient could be located in a clinic equipped with diagnostic equipment and medical staff. The nurse performs the examination, and the doctor evaluates the results remotely.

2. The doctor or patientcollects information about the illness; various test results, diagnostic images (such as CT scans or radiographs). The data is transferred to another specialist for evaluation.

3. Remote monitoring. The state of health is assessed over a long period of time using direct video surveillance or studying the results of remotely collected diagnostics.

Information systems find their application in various areas, such as cardiology, endocrinology, dermatology, neurology, psychiatry. Telemedicine allows to ³:

monitor the patient's condition after surgical interventions, for example, after the installation of pacemakers;

improve medical carefor chronic kidney disease, diabetes, bronchial asthma;

provide remote rehabilitation programs;

provide regular counseling for mental health problems.

Digitalized healthcare systems consist of several components ⁴:

1. Points of emergency medical care. They are based on ambulances, rural medical centers, ships and come equipped with telemedicine technologies that allow the exchange of data with the hospital.

2. Intensive care units. The condition of seriously ill patients is monitored and the information is shared with other specialists.

3. Telemonitoring at home. The patient has diagnostic devices connected to the telemedicine system at home. The readings are measured and sent to the doctor.

4. Uses its own information systemto interact with other members.

5. Communication channels. Communication standards and protocols ensure the transfer of secure data.

Telemedicine improves the quality and accessibility of medical care, allowing the healthcare system to significant amount of resources ⁵.

What is a mobile telemedicine complex?

A mobile telemedicine complex combines software, diagnostic equipment and medical procedures. It is distinguished by portability: it is capable of transferring data at a distance and providing qualified medical care to remote areas ⁶.

Medical care on land and on water: how telemedicine connects the dots on the map

Diagnostic complexes can be based on ground transport. For example, mobile clinics from Mayo Clinic are based on blue vans serving in several US states and equipped with the necessary medical equipment. Services include preventive check-ups, immunizations, testing for acute and chronic diseases ⁷.

Technology provides continuity for medical care services ⁷:

Mobile teams use the electronic health record (EHR) to learn about past appointments and add new data.

Telemedicine allows quick connection with other experts of the clinic.

Some consultations, such as pacemaker checks, are virtual.

Telemedicine is essential in regions where access to specialized medical care is no readily available. For example, India uses van-based mobile diagnostic systems with the support of the Center for the Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) ⁸.

Each van is equipped as a high-tech clinic: with a computer, a videoconferencing system, medical equipment for instrumental and laboratory research. Patients can consult with a doctor via real-time video link, transmit diagnostic images, and work under EHR. Mobile telemedicine complexes are used for early detection of oncology and eye diseases ⁸.

Ambulances are also equipped with telemedicine technologies. This is important when conducting urgent examinations away from the hospital. Portable systems required for this include a wireless modem or router, a power source, and a tablet with a mount. The ambulance team conducts a video consultation with a specialized doctor in order to make a decision on further transportation of the patient or adjust treatment tactics 9,10.

Telemedicine is an important assistant on ships, where medical specialists can diagnose and treat seafarers in a remote format. Mobile telemedicine complexes, such as the Marine Doctor software developed by Italian scientists, bridges the gap between sea and land ¹¹:

1. Information about the sailor is entered into the system: height and weight, temperature, blood pressure and pulse, observed symptoms.

2. If necessary, an image, such as a photo of the injury, can also be included.

3. The doctor, located on land, analyzes the sent data and gives recommendations in the response message.

In severe cases, life-saving equipment can be requested to transport and disembark patients on shore ¹¹.

Mobile telemedicine complex fits in a case

The medical bag is first mentioned in the writings of Hippocrates around 350 BC. Over the millennia, its appearance and contents have changed, but the purpose has remained the same: it is held by the doctor to keep the necessary tools and medicines easily accessible ¹².

A mobile telemedicine complex that is installed inside a case pays tribute to traditions, adjusted for the achievements of our time. It includes instruments for measuring key clinical indicators and device support for information systems.

Compact telemedicine is in demand if the patient is located far from places where primary health care is available. Technological cases are essential part of NASA space programs for providing remote assistance to astronauts. The development has also been useful on Earth, for conducting diagnostics in rural areas of developing countries ¹³.

MDDC FAP from SberMedAI: portable diagnostics with artificial intelligence

Over the past decades, the potential range of tasks for mobile telemedicine complexes have expanded significantly. An example is the MDDC FAP from SberMedAI, which has been successfully piloted in 24 regions of the Russian Federation and has helped to conduct over 6,000 studies.

MDDC FAP is a hardware diagnostic complex enclosed in a secure case. It's form makes it easy to transport.

The main part of the mobile telemedicine complex is a tablet computer that provides access to the MDDC FAP. Medical Digital Diagnostic Center (MDDC) is an information system that combines algorithms based on artificial intelligence (AI). Synchronization with MDDC expands diagnostic capabilities and speeds up data exchange between specialists.

The program interface includes several sections:

1. Patients. EHRs are displayed as a list. To find the one you need, enter your full name or SNILS insurance account number in the search line.

2. In this section, the doctor can add, delete and close appointments.

3. Here you can add new diagnostic procedures and view test results.

The MDDC FAP includes medical equipment for primary examination:

Urine analyzer. For express analysis, a special device and test strips are used.

Measures blood pressure and heart rate.

Blood analyzer. Assesses the level of cholesterol in the blood. For analysis, the kit includes a lancet and test strips.

Measures blood glucose levels.

ECG recorder. The doctor turns on the device, connects the sensors and launches the program on the computer. The ECG recording process is displayed on the screen. The AI creates a preliminary description of the electrocardiogram. The specialist verifies the AI's conclusion AI and leaves recommendations.

The device measures body temperature.

Pulse oximeter. Measures the level of blood oxygen saturation.

Thermometer and pulse oximeter readings are entered manually. The data of other devices are automatically loaded into the information system.

The final stage of work with the MDDC FAP is creating a conclusion. Here, the doctor can use AI-based algorithms. For example, the TOP-3 service analyzes EHR and anamnesis data and offers the 3 most likely diagnoses according to ICD-10. The algorithm helps to draw a more accurate conclusion, saving time.

Remote patient monitoring

Mobile telemedicine complex allows monitoring at home. Tracking symptoms helps to control the illness and prevent possible complications. Telemonitoring is used in various conditions ¹⁴:

Benefits of using telemonitoring ¹⁵:

saves time and resources that might have been spent traveling to the hospital;

improves access to medical carefor people with chronic diseases and older patients;

provides convenient way of service - video conferencing and devices that transfer data automatically.

The mobile telemedicine complex for home monitoring consists of two parts 16,17,18,19,20:

1. Represented by special software or web applications. The patientaccesses it from his computer or smartphone. In some cases, the patient receives a tablet computer or a special case. Communication with the doctor is maintained through the program. One has to fill in a digital health diary, noting their indicators or symptoms and connect to video consultations.

2. Includes sensors and devices for measuring blood pressure, glucose levels, taking ECG and other indicators. Data is loaded into the system automatically or entered manually.

Smart watches are increasingly claiming the role of a mobile telemedicine complex. The device can evaluate heart rate, physical activity, posture, sleep quality. Special applications allow patients to collect, transfer and analyze data. Tracking biosignals improves the quality of medical care for neurological and cardiovascular diseases, as well as diabetes ²¹.

Communication channels used by telemedicine

A specialist can conduct consultations by phone, e-mail, via videoconference or using a special program on a computer or smartphone ¹.

Wireless technologies are used for data transmission in telemedicine ²²:

cellular mobile communications under 3G, 4G and 5G standards;

satellite connection;

Wireless LAN: WLAN/IEEE 802.11 standard;

wearable computer network WBAN;

broadband wireless access: WiMAX/IEEE 802.16 standard;

cognitive radio network CRN.

Significant attention in telemedicine is paid to information security. It is important to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data processed using a mobile telemedicine complex ²³. Various protection mechanisms are used, including multi-factor authentication, search for system vulnerabilities and data encryption ²⁴.
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Mobile telemedicine complex: transport-based solutions, portable cases, remote patient monitoring. Communication channels used by telemedicine.

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As a consultant or industry expert at the VP level, it is essential to stay informed about the rapidly growing tele-education platform market. Market research indicates that the tele-education platform market has experienced significant growth in recent years, with an increasing number of educational institutions and businesses utilizing these platforms to deliver education and training remotely.

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Abstract

Tele-education has been used for many years to deliver continuing education programmes to rural health-care professionals. The main modes are audio, video and computer. Audio technologies involve the transmission of the spoken word (voice) between learners and instructors, either synchronously or asynchronously. Examples of the former include audioconferencing and short-wave radio; examples of the latter include audiotape or audiocassette. Video for distance learning, like audio, can be used in either synchronous or asynchronous fashion. Videoconferencing, or interactive television, are considered synchronous because there is the opportunity for live visual and verbal interaction between instructors and learners. Asynchronous instructional video tools include slow-scan video, interactive videodiscs and videotapes. Computer-assisted learning or instruction can be defined as any learning that is mediated by a computer and which requires no direct interaction between the user and a human instructor in order to run. It is becoming increasingly common. Examples include: the Internet and World Wide Web, email, synchronous and asynchronous computer-mediated communication applications and interactive multimedia applications on CD-ROM. Tele-education technologies have an important role to play in addressing the professional isolation which is experienced by rural and remote health-care professionals.

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Tele-education has been used for many years to deliver continuing education programmes to rural health-care professionals. The main modes are audio, video and computer. Audio technologies involve the transmission of the spoken word (voice) between learners and instructors, either synchronously or as ...

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The purpose of conducting and participating in the teleconference.

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Teleconferencing is the umbrella term for connecting two or more participants electronically. The term is mostly used to describe a telephone meeting between more than two people. Where is teleconferencing used? A teleconference is often effective for sharing news and information. It can be used to facilitate communication with a large group of people such as a division but also a smaller, targeted group such as a team.

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Chapter 12. Providing Training and Technical Assistance | Section 6. Organizing a Teleconference | Main Section | Community Tool Box

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Learn how to organize a teleconference, a transmission by electronic means of audio and/or visual contact, and material – images, documents, music, etc.

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Types of teleconferences and server. Participation in online and offline teleconferences

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Types of teleconferences and server. Participation in online and offline teleconferences

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A teleconference is a business meeting or educational session conducted among participants in different locations using telecommunications equipment. All types of teleconferencing require interactive communication. Long-distance meetings via teleconference save time and money, and the practice eliminates the need to travel for a face-to-face meeting, thereby greatly reducing a company's carbon footprint.

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What is teleconferencing?

A teleconference is a live audio or audiovisual meeting with two or more participants. With the ability to teleconference, remote teams in an organization can collaborate and communicate, even when geographically dispersed. The process involves technology more sophisticated than a simple two-way phone connection.

At its simplest, a teleconference can be an interactive audio conference with people at two or more locations communicating over a speakerphone. With more equipment and special arrangements, a teleconference also can be a video conference, in which the participants can see each other.

Telecommunication systems support teleconferences by providing audio, video and data services. Participants communicate with teleconference platforms using devices such as desktop computers, tablets, smartphones and laptops. Teleconferences were initially conducted through telephone lines and were limited to audio; however, now it is more common for teleconferences to be conducted online or using voice over IP ( VoIP).

Types of teleconferencing

Teams in an organization have the option to conduct teleconferencing through multiple means, including the following:

Audio teleconferencing. These voice-only calls are conducted similar to normal telephone calls but can support up to 100 participants.

Video teleconferencing. This form of teleconferencing combines live visual and audio mediums. Depending on the vendor, video conferencing can support over 100 participants. Users in the meeting can use features such as screen sharing or file sharing.

Web teleconferencing. A web teleconference is an umbrella term that describes teleconference services or mediums provided online, which includes web meetings, webinars and webcasts. A video conference is, therefore, a type of teleconference.

How does teleconferencing work?

Teleconferencing works differently depending on the type of teleconference used:

In audio teleconferencing, participants dial a designated phone number to connect to a call that is conducted over telephone lines or the internet. VoIP is a key component of internet audio conferences. An organization can choose to have its own bridge or have a telephone service provider host conference calls.

Video conferences use VoIP for real-time communication over the internet. Participants can join using a combination of video, audio and audiovisual options. Users also can join and participate in video calls using their phones, tablets, laptops or PCs.

Because web teleconferencing is an umbrella term, it works similar to other forms of internet-based conference systems. Users can communicate using video, audio and instant messaging. Most web conferencing platforms also have features designed for file sharing and screen sharing.

Advantages and disadvantages of teleconferencing

Potential advantages of teleconferencing include the following:

Is cost-effective. Teleconferencing saves remote employees the cost of transportation.

Enables users to communicate over long distances. Teams can be geographically dispersed and still hold meetings.

Offers flexibility. Employees can attend a teleconference call from almost any device from any location.

Helps users collaborate. Group chat functions can enable users to further communicate and collaborate on projects while remote.

Enables users to keep records. Attendees can record calls for reference or for other employees who cannot make it to a meeting.

Offers scheduling. Scheduling and calendar tools can simplify setting up meetings.

Provides security. Participant access codes can help ensure unauthorized users do not join meetings.

There are some downsides that come with teleconferencing, however. Two important factors include the following:

Impersonal. A teleconference call can be impersonal, even with video, as it lacks real, in-person interactions.

Difficult to monitor. Calls with a large number of attendees are difficult to manage. This includes making sure attendees are present and attentive.

Running an effective teleconference

To run an effective teleconference, the host should first understand how the system they are using works. This includes familiarizing themselves with features that may aid their conference, such as messaging and chat or breakout rooms.

This image shows the features offered in many teleconference systems.

Before hosting, the user should ensure they have a sufficient amount of bandwidth for the meeting. Documents, agendas and access numbers should be shared ahead of the meeting so that attendees know what the meeting is about, can securely access the meeting and be prepared when it starts. An access number could be a dial-in number or a PIN. Security codes ensure no one joins the meeting who is not supposed to be there. The host should also be mindful of their connection, potential noise distractions or other factors that can impede call quality, such as a lack of good lighting on a video call.

When the meeting occurs, the host may also have the option to record it. They can do this so that attendees can go back and review specific portions of the meeting, or to accommodate those who could not attend.

Some security best practices to follow while having a video conference include enforcing meeting starting times, locking the meeting when all participants are in it and using virtual backgrounds if an attendee's real background is distracting.

This image shows some best practices involved in teleconferencing.

History of teleconferencing

In 1956, Bell Labs became the first organization to develop the concept of telephone conferencing. And in 1964, AT&T exhibited the Picturephone at the New York World's Fair. Users could speak to and see others using a black-and-white screen that managed video and audio using three phone lines. But it took until the 1990s for AT&T to release a more commercially viable version. In 1973, David Brown developed the first chat software for the Plato Notes computer conferencing system.

In 1989, a developer named Brian C. Wiles created RASCAL, which is short for Remote Audio Sound Card Application Link. RASCAL was the first application to send voice over Ethernet networks, or VoIP. In 1991, WebEx Systems developed a higher quality sound and video system capable of being carried over broadband. One year later, AT&T released a commercially viable teleconferencing system.

It took until the 2000s for video teleconferencing to become more widely used. Web conferencing products started being used more frequently for business meetings as well. In 2004, Citrix released GoToMeeting as its first web conferencing product. In 2012, Zoom was released, and Microsoft Teams followed in 2017. During the COVID-19 pandemic, video teleconferencing apps such as these saw a large rise in users, as webinars and group meetings became more normalized -- enabling more workers to do their jobs remotely.

Future of teleconferencing

Organizations saw an increase in the use of teleconferencing applications in 2020 and 2021, as employees began working from home more due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Teleconferencing apps enabled teams to stay in touch with each other and remain productive. With a workplace structure steadily leaning toward and becoming more accepting of remote work, it is likely that teleconferencing tools will continue to be used for the foreseeable future.

Some examples of recent and potential advancements in teleconferencing include the following:

Artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate subtitles for audio.

Machine learning and improved algorithms to create better noise isolation. This enables a user to block out background noise so their voice is more distinguishable.

As computational photography improves, the simulation of a shallow depth of field will also likely improve. This is a useful feature for isolating foregrounds and backgrounds. Depth of field refers to the distance between the closest and the farthest objects in focus in an image. Shallow depths of field typically create an esthetic blur effect in the out-of-focus parts of an image. It can be controlled with lenses on an SLR (single-lens reflex), DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) and mirrorless cameras. However, the aperture, which controls the depth of field in a camera or laptop device, is fixed, meaning mobile devices have to simulate the effect. Software like Microsoft Teams or FaceTime can simulate shallow depths of field; however, it is not currently at the same level as a traditional camera.

As 5G usage grows, and more infrastructure is developed, the speed, quality and bandwidth of audio and video call quality will improve.

Learn how the virtual whiteboard feature in Zoom and Microsoft Teams can help remote employees better collaborate.

Continue Reading About teleconference

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Learn about audio, video and web teleconferences, the pros and cons of teleconferencing, and best practices for hosting a teleconference.