WebRTC has been gaining a lot of traction and attention, but as it’s still new, there’s still a low level of understanding about it for many people. As such, this seems like a good time to offer a little education about what WebRTC is.
WebRTC is short for “Web Real-Time Communications,” and is, in a very simplified explanation, using JavaScript APIs in one’s browser for connecting to webcams and/or microphones from browser to browser. This is particularly useful for video calling, such as Google making Talk and Hangouts in JavaScript.
It’s going to be a while before the specifications to evolve to the point where it can really be used reliably. Still, there is some nice progress being made, such as Google’s Magic Xylophone, which is accessible through Chrome and Opera. By using the webcam as an input device, one can unlock many new possibilities for communication and interaction.
Cullen Jennings of Cisco has a video explaining the ins and outs of WebRTC.
RTCWeb Explained from Cullen Jennings on Vimeo.
Of course, video and voice are big parts of WebRTC. It’s pretty hard to have real-time communication without means by which to communicate, after all. It’s a paradigm shift for video calling, working and behaving differently than traditional VoIP, but with potential to be so much greater.
This was just a basic overview of what WebRTC is and can do. The capabilities it offers open the door to yet another wave of advanced Web applications. If all goes according to predictions, more than 50 percent of all Web browsers will support these capabilities in the next few months.
Edited by
Rachel Ramsey
