Web conferencing is a technology that allows people to communicate more effectively over the Internet. All participants of a web conference go to one web page where they are able to share audio, video, content, or a combination of these in real-time. Web conferencing has the benefit of allowing people to attend meetings or presentations when they can’t be physically present at the event.

A web-based virtual environment allows you to display visual information to all participants in the conference. This can include video (from a web camera attached to a participant’s computer) and content information (e.g., PowerPoint slides, web sites, documents). Web conferencing applications often provide additional tools for visual communication, such as a virtual whiteboard or a chat window where participants can type messages to each other.

The audio communication portion of a web conference can occur by teleconferencing using phones or over the Internet using a microphone attached to a participant’s computer.

The combination of audio and visual components allows participants to interact with one another much as they would at an in-person training or meeting.

There are many commercial providers of web conferencing services. The Northwest Center for Public Health Practice (NWCPHP) uses iLinc. iLinc is used regularly for the Hot Topics in Preparedness forum, the Northwest Public Health Leadership Institute, virtual meetings of our network, and a variety of trainings for the public health workforce.