Video conferencing allows people in different locations to communicate face-to-face through real-time transmission of audio and video. It has evolved from an expensive technology seen at world's fairs in the 1960s to a widely used tool for business meetings, distance learning, and telemedicine. Standards and improvements in quality have increased its usability and acceptance. As networks and capabilities continue to advance, forecasts predict video conferencing applications like desktop conferencing will double each year through 2001, driving further network development.