NASA teleconferencing pilot project - An evaluation of teleconferencing as a substitute for travel

NASA conducted a Pilot Project during 1975-1976 to determine the extent to which teleconferencing could replace travel to meetings. The network consisted of approximately 34 teleconference rooms and 50 fast facsimile machines, all interconnected on private lines to a master switchboard in Huntsville, Alabama. In addition, portable conference telephones augmented the voice network and experimental video conferences were attempted. Evaluations showed that the teleconferences saved travel costs approximating 21% of the travel budget at a communications cost of 3% of this budget.