Web Conferencing Analysis: Google Hangout, Skype, and Online Research

This report provides a comprehensive comparison of two prominent web conferencing providers, Google Hangout and Skype, evaluating their features, applications, and differences. It delves into the core functionalities, such as video and voice calls, file sharing, and integration with other applications. Furthermore, the report explores the essential skills required for conducting effective online research, including technical proficiency, time management, and critical thinking, while also addressing the challenges encountered, such as information overload, reliability of sources, and the difficulty of finding original sources. The analysis highlights the benefits and drawbacks of each platform, offering insights into their suitability for various communication and collaboration needs. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizing the importance of both web conferencing tools and effective online research skills in today's digital landscape.

ASSESSMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
1. Comparison of two different web conferencing providers. ...................................................3
2. Skills required to conduct online research and its challenges.................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Information and communication technology refers to the telecommunication technology,
and through this all the informations are being accessed. This information and technology
primarily focus on the communication technology. This includes the wireless networks, internet,
cell phones and other communication mediums. This assessment will evaluate the difference
between web conferencing providers such as Skype and google hangout. Further more this will
describe the skills required to conduct online research.
MAIN BODY
1. Comparison of two different web conferencing providers.
Web conferencing refers top the internet based platform that enable the individuals to real
time-sharing of the computer screen, internet content and application between the tow or more
computer and mobile devices with the help of the software. Most of the web conferencing
support the video and voice both type of conferencing. These web conferencing help the
individuals to conduct business meetings and seminar over the video conferencing, provide
online presentation and offer the direct consumer support with having the voice and video
conferencing and via chat with them as well (Roddenberry and Fister, 2018). There are number
of web conferencing software available that helps the individuals to have the video and voice
conference with others such as Google hangout, Skype, G suit, Livestrom and many more. These
have different features from each other. Difference between Google Hangout and Skype is:
Basis Hangout Skype
Meaning Hangout is being developed by
the Google, with having the
features of voice and video
calling and conferencing,
messaging an chat with the
other person. It can be
accessed via different devices
like Gmail, mobile app,
browser plug-in, desktop
This Skype conferencing
application is popular among
the subscribers for the free
calling. This is being used
extensively used by the people
over the world for both
personal; and professional use.
It provide the low cot video
calling wit lesser data usage.

application and Google+. Its
main features are calling, auto
screen focus, built in screen
sharing, instant messaging and
have compatibility with
multiple devices. In this
hangout application, numbers
of individual up to 15
members can be participated at
single time with the other
google application (Morrison,
Lichtenwald and Tang, 2019).
In addition with this, it also
provide the facility to file
transfer, chat, texting and
video conferencing with
anyone across the world. Key
feature of the Skype is its low
cost video calling with other
subscriber and free for the
Skype users, instant image
sharing, file sharing, instant
calling, caller ID, forward calls
and also the group calls with
max 25 people with using
same platform.
Features Hangout enables the users to
have communication with two
or more individuals. This
facility of communication can
be accessed with the help of
the Google+ or Gmail over
internet with using computer
website and mobile
application. This can used on
both the mobile platform
android and iOS.
Skype enable its listed users
and subscribers to make
communication via both voice
and messing (Maheshwary and
Bhandari, 2019). This also
provide the facility to sharing
data like image and files,
storing the data and backup
history, also give the feature to
edit the past backup history of
the users. This provides the
free video calls with the
another Skype user.
Applications Hangout is integrated with
many applications and
business system like, Google
Skype is integrated with
number of b business systems
and application like MS word,

apps, slack, Sprint, Lucid, Hip
chat, Zen desk, Flow dock and
many more. The desktop
chrome application version of
Hangout display the
notification of Hangout at the
top of it window.
MS outlook, MS power point,
MS lync, wimi, grasshopper,
lucid meetings, Microsoft
dynamics CRM online. There
are other mobile application
and desktop app like MacOS,
Linux, iOS and android, Nokia
on which this Skype is being
performed.
Future of web conferencing Google has declared that this
Hangout will target the
business users with the
hangout business brand. This
is classified into two
categories Hangout chat and
Hangout meet. In which,
Hangout meet will be used for
the video conferencing and
Hangout chat will be used for
the instant messaging.
Microsoft bound its latest
version of the Skype only wit
the iOS device, which
integrate, revamped designs
and new third party
combination with having the
platform like you tube, Gfycat,
Up Worthy.
Mobile device access All the mobile support the
Hangout. To access this,
requires Wi-Fi or 3G/4G data
connection in their mobile.
Hangout application\ will not
work on the android devices
on AT&T's network, they need
to have Wi-Fi connection top
access Hangout (Ashwickn,
Turgoose and Murphy, 2019).
Whereas Skype is supported
by al the mobile devices and
platform. This also require to
have the Wi-Fi connection or
cellular data in their mobile.

Screen sharing In the Hangout, user can create
the chat room before inviting
the other user to make call and
participate in video chat to test
the screen visibility and audio
clarity.
In the Skype, user only share
their screen after connecting
the video chat with other user.
File sharing Hangout provide the facility of
file sharing with Google drive
that enables the documents
sharing and Google+ help to
image sharing of individuals.
Skype allows the their
subscribers to share their files
over the IM or audio or video
calls.
Platform supported Hangout support Chrome,
Firefox, Windows, Windows
vista, Windows XP, ubuntu
and chrome operating system.
This is being supported by IE,
Chrome, safari browser,
windows XP, Windows vista
and Ubuntu operating system.
2. Skills required to conduct online research and its challenges.
To conduct a online research in order to find out the relevant and large amount of the data
information for the students and business is important. That gives the large number of the
information across the world to the relevant subject of the student and to the employee of an
organization. In order to conduct online research and find out best suited information, some skills
are necessary. These skills are:
Technical skills
To use the internet and conduct the online research, user must have the technical skill.
This help the user to operate different kind of the platform over the internet. This also enable the
user to handle any technical problem if arises while searching their data and information (Khan
and Das, 2018). Technical skill also help the users to find out the relevant technical data and
information for their subjective use and for the business as well.
Time management skill

In order to find out the number of information from the different fields, user must have
the time management skill. This skills help the user or researcher to prioritize their search.
Which information need to be search first and which need more time. So the researchers can
easily access the data and information from the online resources (Caulfield and Hill, 2018).
Researchers can find out the important data as according to set time effectively and get best
suited information.
Critical thinking
This also one of the important skills that must have to conduct research over internet. This skill
enables the user to find out which is best suited information for them and which can be
neglected. With the help of this skill, researcher can identify and compare among the large
amount of information.
Challenges facing in online research:
While conducting the online research, researchers also have to face some challenges.
That create problem to get best and deserve information for their subject and business. These
challenges are:
Large Amount of informations: As internet is very vast, this includes the large amount
of the information and data across the world. While conducting the online research, user get the
number of information and data of on single topic, this can become difficult for the user which is
to be picked up and choose for their subjective use. Use get confused by seeing the results of the
search.
Reliability of Information: As there are large amounts of the information and data are
available over the internet of the one topic./ it is very necessary for the user to find out which
information is reliable and authentic for their use, so that they can pick up. There are number of
fake data and information are also available that can create hurdle in a way of researcher to find
and get best result of their research (Tawfik and et.al., 2018).
Finding out original source: It is necessary to find out the best and original source, from
which researcher can get the authentic information for their use. There are many fake sources are
available that can harm the system at single click. Many of the writer can make infographics on
their websites, that create the problem to researcher that they do no find the appropriate link and
sources for the data and can find out the original information that they can pick up and use for
the business and education.

CONCLUSION
From the above assessment it has been concluded that, any web conference provider
helps the users to make their communication effective via internet. It has also identified that,
Google Hangout and Skype both are the web conferencing application with having different
features of video calls and chat, file sharing. It also been analysed that, to conduct online
research individuals must have some skills like time management skill, critical thinking skills
and many more that enable to find out better result over internet. While conducting online
research they also have top face some challenges like large amount of data and information and
reliability of the available information.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ashwick, R., Turgoose, D. and Murphy, D., 2019. Exploring the acceptability of delivering
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to UK veterans with PTSD over Skype: a qualitative
study. European journal of psychotraumatology. 10(1). p.1573128.
Caulfield, L. and Hill, J., 2018. Criminological Skills and Research for Beginners: A Student's
Guide. Routledge.
Khan, R. and Das, A., 2018. Business and Monetization. In Build Better Chatbots (pp. 91-106).
Apress, Berkeley, CA.
Maheshwary, P. and Bhandari, A., 2019. Case-Study-Google for Education. Available at SSRN
3375711.
Morrison, D., Lichtenwald, K. and Tang, R., 2019. Extending the online focus group method
using web-based conferencing to explore older adults online learning. International
Journal of Research & Method in Education, pp.1-15.
Roddenberry, C. and Fister, M., 2018. Web Conferencing Supports the Wake Tech High School
Equivalency Program. Elearn. 2018(12). p.15.
Tawfik and et.al., 2018. Aspiring experience journey towards research: importance and essential
skills.
Online
Google Hangouts vs. Skype: A comparative look.2019.[Online]Available
through<https://searchunifiedcommunications.techtarget.com/feature/Google-Hangouts-vs-
Skype-A-comparative-look>