Synchronous conferencing is a method of communication that allows people from various locations to interact in real time. It comes in several forms including audio conferencing, which solely depends on audio communication, and video conferencing, that incorporates both audio and visual communication. Other types include point-to-point, connecting two computers directly, and multipoint, linking multiple computers at once. This type of conferencing differs from asynchronous conferencing as it requires participants to be online at the same time, enabling instant interaction. It’s commonly used in educational settings due to its benefits such as increased student engagement, real-time feedback, and fostering a sense of community. For effective implementation, factors like high-quality audio and video, sufficient training for participants, and direct interaction between teachers and students are crucial.
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Synchronous conferencing is the formal term used in computing, in particular in computer-mediated communication, collaboration and learning, to describe technologies informally known as online chat. It is sometimes extended to include audio/video conferencing or instant messaging systems that provide a text-based multi-user chat function. The word synchronous is used to qualify the conferencing as real-time, as distinct from a system such as email, where messages are left and answered later.
Synchronous conferencing protocols include:
- IRC (Internet Relay Chat)
- PSYC (Protocol for Synchronous Conferencing)
- SILC (Secure Internet Live Conferencing protocol)
- XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol)
- SIMPLE (instant messaging protocol) (Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions)
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