With Video Communication, the Future is Now

Star Trek fans may remember the futuristic feel of Captain Kirk's and Captain Picard's video communication from the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The idea of being able to see the person speaking was new, exciting, and almost unimaginable. Well, as evidenced by the growing popularity of video communication via the Internet, the future is now.

More than YouTube

Thanks to digital cameras and cell phones with video capabilities, and to Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim - the founders of YouTube - the popularity of video sharing has rocketed into the stratosphere. The Internet may have begun with text and migrated to images, but high-speed access and today's technology have created an insatiable appetite for multimedia websites. Social networking sites now have a video component, and the video blog and video podcast are quickly gaining momentum. Some people are also creating a streaming live broadcast for their families, friends, and fans. But it's safe to say that, in our tech-savvy world, video email is the next "big thing."

Why Video?

From a philosophical perspective, it makes sense that video is becoming an integral part of our communication. There has been enormous criticism that electronic communication removes the human element, and that people are increasingly isolating themselves from the "real world." Critics say that sitting at a keyboard - whether a computer keyboard, BlackBerry keyboard, or cell phone touch pad - allows people to keep their distance from others and gives them an excuse to behave badly, something that anyone who has ever been flamed can attest to.

Video, on the other hand, enables people to communicate face to face with their family members, friends, and colleagues. Whether through a live broadcast or via a video email, people seem to establish or re-establish the kind of personal bond that is elusive with instant messaging, text messaging, and email.

Full Integration Ahead

Today, people go from website to website, application to application, and device to device to get the multimedia information they crave. There's little doubt that a sea change is about to occur, one in which people will begin to use a single portal with multiple video-related products. They will, for instance, take advantage of a virtual studio, where they can create and manage a live broadcast, video email, video instant messaging, a video blog, and a video podcast. With everything in one location, storage and publication will become a breeze, and best of all, a Web-based portal allows instant access from a variety of computers and devices.

Entrepreneurs are Taking Note

Today, entrepreneurs are jumping on the video bandwagon. They have witnessed the success of YouTube and can envision a fully integrated, Web-based platform for creating, storing, managing, and publishing video. Those who capitalized on the dot-com boom of the 1990s, as well as those who missed the boom, are witnessing this next revolutionary step in the Digital Age and are positioning themselves to ride the wave. As Captain Picard would say, "Make it so."

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Video Communication Taking Off or Majon's Multimedia directory.