Here is an extremely limited list of some of the things I’ve seen or read about: Milton’s initial work with videoconferencing was with university level distance learning courses, but the possibilities in education are really endless. While a simple phone call may be good enough in some cases, many times interactive video links are required to provide effective medical care, such as working with children, identifying schizophrenia, or deciding on proper care in medical emergencies. The idea is to be able to provide more access to medical care for those in poor, underserved, or remote areas. But it’s really with the improved telecommunication technology in the last 15 years that it has become a more accepted medical practice. In 1967 Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Logan Airport clinic established a working system that allowed transferring data, remote diagnosis by interactive television. In 1964, Nebraska Psychiatric Institute and Norfolk State Hospital established the first interactive video link. Zundel’s history of telemedicine shows that it has actually been around for quite awhile. “Position Paper On The Emergence of E-Everything” takes a more thorough look at all the various technologies being utilized by the judicial system. It is most commonly used for arraignments, which are rather perfunctory proceedings that would otherwise require more time and money in order to transport and securely hold the defendants. In fact, researchers Fullwood, Judd, and Finn explain that in cases of sexual assault involving children, the law requires children’s testimonies to be given via a video link.īesides witness testimonies, videoconferencing may also be used for arraignments, court reporting, translation services from outside the county or state, legal consultations, etc. In the U.S., it has been used since before the Criminal Justice Act (1988) which allowed evidence to be given over a live video link.
Whatever the reason, videoconferencing is gaining momentum in all kinds of fields, not just your typical corporate business.ĭespite concerns about the fairness and validity of using videoconferencing in judicial proceedings, videoconferencing is being widely used in courts in many countries today including Australia, Slovenia, Malaysia, India, Hungary, England, and France. Maybe it’s because the world really is a global village today or because we’re in the middle of a communication revolution. Maybe it’s the advances in networking technologies and services or the pricking of our environmental consciences. Maybe it’s the $4 per gallon gas prices or perhaps people are tired of traveling 6-8 hours for one 45-minute meeting.