teleconference

n.

A conference held among people in different locations by means of telecommunications equipment, such as closed-circuit television.

intr.v., -enced, -enc·ing, -enc·es.

To hold or participate in a teleconference.

teleconferencing tel'e·con'fer·enc·ing n.

Broadly, the various ways and means by which people communicate with one another over some distance. In a narrow sense, a teleconference is a two-way, interactive meeting, between relatively small groups of people (approximately 1 to 10 at each end), who usually use permanent teleconferencing facilities. A teleconference involves audio communication between the locations, but may also involve video or graphics. See also Telephone service; Videotelephony.

A teleseminar is utilized for educational purposes; it is primarily one-way communication to many destinations from one source. A teleseminar almost always uses audio communication, and may also use video and some form of graphics. A means is provided for the receiving locations to ask questions of the instructor via microphones or telephone handsets.

A telemeeting is often called an ad hoc teleconference, with the ad hoc referring to places, times, participants, and purpose. A telemeeting is similar to a teleseminar in that it is primarily a one-way communication, usually staged or prepared by video program professionals. It may be set up to order, using temporary equipment or circuits.

Computer conferencing is a method for people to communicate by using computers. The medium is quite flexible, as it can be used between just two people, between one and many people, or among many people. Basically, computer conferencing involves typing a message on a computer terminal and transmitting it to one or more destinations electronically. Sophisticated networks are required to accomplish computer conferencing between many users, or a simple data modem and telephone circuit can allow two people at a time to conference. See also Data communications; Local-area networks; Wide-area networks.

Currently, the most popular form of teleconferencing by far is the audio conference. Using plain speaker telephones, special speaker phones, corporate private branch exchange (PBX) systems, or special services, most business people use this form of teleconference regularly. Probably next in popularity is the Teleseminar, used for “distance learning,” or formal education and training. The Internet has become a popular medium to facilitate both of these forms of teleconferencing, as high-speed connections such as digital subscriber line (DSL), cable modem, and satellite have become more prevalent. See also Communications satellite; Internet; Private branch exchange.

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A conference between persons remote from one another but linked by a telecommunications system.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

(DOD, NATO) A conference between persons remote from one another but linked by a telecommunications system.

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - telekonference

Nederlands (Dutch)
teleconferentie (vergadering op afstand via telefoon etc.)

Français (French)
n. - téléconférence

Deutsch (German)
n. - Konferenz, bei der die Teilnehmer über Fernverbindung kommunizieren

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - τηλε(συν)διάσκεψη

Italiano (Italian)
conferenza telefonica

Português (Portuguese)
n. - teleconferência (f)

Русский (Russian)
деловая встреча/бесе- да/конференция по телесвязи

Español (Spanish)
n. - teleconferencia

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - telekonferens, telefonkonferens

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
电传会议, 电信会议

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 電傳會議, 電信會議

한국어 (Korean)
n. - (통신을 이용한) 원격지간 회의

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 遠隔地間の会議

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) موءتمر الأتصالات‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮שיחת ועידה באמצעות תקשורת-רחק (טלפון, טלביזיה וכו')‬

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