Video at work - bane or boon? [BT broadband office]

Video at work - bane or boon?

Posted 7 March 2008 at 8:33AM by Ian Betteridge in Doing business online

These days, many web sites - including BT Business Insight - feature video. Presenting something in video format lets you get across a lot of information in an easily-digested and very human format. The enduring popularity of film and television proves that human beings are engaged by moving pictures.

But according to a report on the Wall Street Journal, some companies in the US are blocking video in the workplace. The reason? The bandwidth used slows down their Internet connections, and some managers see video as being "a waste of time".

For anyone who has been around for a while, this sounds a little familiar. Back in the early 1990's, some IT managers took the same view of the world wide web, claiming that it was a waste of time which used up precious bandwidth needed for the real productive uses of the Internet - email and file transfer.

So do these businesses have a point? Is there a good business use for video - or is it really just for entertainment?

Tags: bt, bt broadbandoffice, bt insight, video

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Comments

1. At March 7, 2008 2:03 PM, boon wrote:

Everything in the workplace that doesnt appeal to managers or turn a coin is deemed a waste if time. e.g. health and safety, fire drills, chill out time, etc.

2. At March 7, 2008 4:51 PM, Adrian Coward wrote:

AS with any other tool, video on the web is only as good or bad as the purposes that people put it to. Video is one of the best ways to convey information - and also one of the best ways to waste time. Employers who block all video might as well block all email (funny email jokes) and flash content (online games) - for that matter, all web traffic (social networking websites).

3. At March 12, 2008 2:38 AM, Neil wrote:

Its quite cynical really to restrict this type of medium. Most employees are sincere to their employer and don't abuse the facilities they have. If most employers embraced this new and innovative technology they would be more likely to endorse it. I have been on a crusade by showing the benefits of this medium to employers.... surprise, surprise they love it. To send a video email is quicker than actually writing one as most people can speak faster than type (try it yourself). Benefit to employer more work done, action is visual and therefore impact a lot greater. Check it out here's the link. Just copy & paste

http://newsletters.vmdirect.com/admin/video_collateral/tour_ful.wmv

I think it will open your eyes it certainly did to those employers when shown to them. Happy debating folks!! leave a post for me to see what you think. Neil

BT broadband office