Video-conferencing or face-to-face meetings?

Today, discussions, meetings and seminars could be held virtually on various platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, Skype or Zoho Meeting.

These platforms became popular around 2020, when the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Humans, as social beings, could not stay alone.

Thus, meetings during lockdowns were still possible through interaction via these virtual conferencing platforms.

Hence, virtual video discussions through computer cameras, introduced by Tim Dorcey from Cornell University in 1992, have become a lifestyle and work style.

By 2022, the number of users of these video conferencing applications reached 1.26 billion worldwide.

Now, virtual discussions through these applications have become a necessity.

Besides discussions and meetings, more and more lectures were being held this way.

A busy schedule was no longer a barrier to joining discussions. Whether cooking or stuck in traffic, people could still participate.

Perhaps, due to the rising cost of living recently, the work-from-home phenomenon will regain popularity because it was practical, time-saving and effective.

Many companies like accounting, human resources, publishing, illustration and content creation could operate effectively through meetings in this video discussion format.

However, this method also has its challenges.

Apart from sudden internet connectivity issues that can disrupt discussions, no one knew if all attendees were paying attention to what was being discussed.

Others could just be doing their own thing by "disappearing" from the screen.

With the sophistication of artificial intelligence (AI), there will be attendees who displayed an image of themselves seemingly engrossed in the discussion, when in fact, it was not them.

However, face-to-face interactions will still be the primary choice as it allowed those in discussion to provide feedback in the actual atmosphere.

Discussions will be more meaningful when in live communication, all physical gestures could be observed, aiding effective communication.

Compared to video conferencing, the experience of someone watching a presentation on a screen can confuse the mind into thinking that what was happening is a performance.

Face-to-face discussions created a more controlled environment, reduce distractions, maintain discipline and enhance focus. Thus, it is more transparent and honest.

Discussions can be conducted virtually if it was a follow-up to get updates on a project.

Likewise, virtual lectures were suitable for advanced knowledge, not for specific or new knowledge.

Additionally, any exchange of knowledge and tasks should be conducted face-to-face and in real time. Furthermore, in an increasingly sophisticated world, scammers also became sophisticated in disguising falsehoods as truth.

With AI technology, a religious scholar giving lectures on fiqh and hadith can also talk about the prostate and recommended medications.

A legitimate financial expert can talk about investments in a Ponzi scheme manner.

Their lectures seemed credible because they appeared to come from qualified individuals, but in reality, they were just the voices and gestures of AI-generated avatars.

The teaching between the Prophet Muhammad SAW and the angel Jibril happened face-to-face or "talaqqi".

Jibril sat close until their knees touched. Therefore, face-to-face interaction should be prioritised over virtual interaction.

We cannot ignore technology. In fact, all its developments needed to be embraced and utilised, but we need to remember that if people in the past lived in jungles full of dangerous wild animals, today we live in urban jungles also full of dangerous humans.

So, face-to-face discussions are safer than on camera.

Norden Mohamed is the former Sinar Harian chief editor