Those who follow technology regularly have a lot to like when it comes to Web-based real time communications (WebRTC), and not without reason. WebRTC has an absolutely staggering number of potential uses to it, and that means plenty of exciting new possibilities. But thinning down the mix into an opening-level explanation of just what exactly WebRTC is, and isn't, can be a tall order, so at BlogGeek.me, Tsahi Levent-Levi put forth an explanation that should help provide the basics of just what exactly this new communications technology really is at its roots.
What Levi's explanation makes clear, in the very beginning, is that trying to explain WebRTC to other people—particularly those who haven't seen it—is probably a bad idea. This may sound counter-intuitive, but the explanation makes one very good point: there are already several services out there offering a perfectly good look at just what WebRTC is and what it does, so users can get acquainted with the new software by actually putting it to use.
Levi runs down some of the best out there, from his personal favorite Talky.io to openVRI.com. Each has its own valuable points to it, so trying any one of these should result in a better understanding of WebRTC's capabilities. Talky.io, for example, offers vanity uniform resource locator (URL) service with no logins, an iOS version for those on the go, and for added fun, a little game where you can blow up a rocket ship while waiting for the rest of a party to arrive. Tawk.com, meanwhile, also weighs in thanks to its vanity URLs and interesting background, though needs a password, which makes it Levy's former personal favorite. Appear.in also shows up with vanity URLs and an iOS app, but Levy doesn't enjoy the design so much. Appear.in is also noteworthy in that it was created by a carrier known as Telenor, something of an unusual proposition given carriers' concerns overall about over-the-top (OTT) services and the impact these may have on the bottom line.
vline.com was pointed out for its use of routing instead of meshing in videos, and its use of ad-hoc conferencing URLs to promote its service. It's also been unusually quiet in terms of development of late, it's been pointed out, so that may make something in the works for a near-term release. Finally, there's openVRI.com, which uses ad-hoc conferencing URLs as well, a text chat model, and was all built by one developer who was between jobs at the time, so it has a backstory that's worth noting.
With all these services in place, one thing becomes exceedingly clear. While the basics behind WebRTC can be explained—it's a service that allows users to talk back and forth, via video, voice or text, as well as sharing files, all from a Web browser that requires no plugins or extra downloads—it's much better to actually try it out and see just what it can do. Using one or more of these services, just to get a handle on WebRTC in general, beats plenty of lecture proceedings, so for those who are wondering, it's probably best just to step in and see what it can do.
While this approach may not work for everybody—Levi doesn't seem to consider that some people actually learn best from lecture-based approaches—it's still worth considering that, even in a lecture environment, some demonstration is likely to prove worthwhile. Actually trying WebRTC should prove particularly valuable, either as reinforcement or introduction, and should be undertaken.
Edited by
Maurice Nagle
