Eighteen area business and professional leaders learned how to cut travel costs, improve communication with distant colleagues, and expand training opportunities at Genesee Community College's first videoconferencing seminar in late October.

During the videoconferencing seminar, held October 31 at the college's Conable Technology Building, business leaders learned more about Genesee videoconferencing capabilities. A videoconference is a live, interactive gathering of people located in different parts of the state or country using state-of-the-art communications technology.

The Conable Technology Building hosts videoconferencing technology in the distance learning laboratory. Area business firms such as Lapp Insulator Company and Graham Manufacturing Company have already used the technology to conduct sales and management conferences with people in other parts of the United States.

Through oversized video screens and microphone-actuated cameras, videoconferencing participants in one location can see, hear, and communicate with people in another location. The technology is ideal for companies that have plants located in other states, out-of-area job interviewing needs, or that wish to bring nationally-ranked training and professional conferences to local employees.

Genesee routinely uses videoconferencing for classroom instruction, academic seminars, and continuing education. Genesee's facilities are available to area business firms and organizations wishing to conduct videoconferences. For information about using Genesee's facility, call 345-6809.