Zoom (software)

Zoom Communications Logo

Zoom Alma Mater Europaea

Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (Zoom) is a American multinational technology company headquartered in San Jose, California. It provides videotelephony and online chat services through a cloud-based peer-to-peer software platform and is used for teleconferencing, telecommuting, distance education, and social relations. Founded by Eric Yuan in 2011, Zoom's main product is its video conferencing software, which started gaining widespread popularity in the early 2020s, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic as many businesses and educational institutions moved to remote work and learning.

History

Zoom was founded by Eric Yuan, a former lead engineer at Cisco Systems and its collaboration unit, WebEx. Yuan left Cisco in 2011 due to dissatisfaction with the company's direction on video conferencing and started Zoom. The company grew rapidly, initially focusing on the corporate market before expanding into other domains such as education and healthcare.

Features

Zoom offers video conferencing, online meetings, chat, and mobile collaboration. Its key features include:

• High-definition video and audio
• Support for up to 1000 video participants and 49 videos on screen
• Screen sharing and collaborative whiteboards
• Secure socket layer (SSL) encryption and AES 256-bit encryption
• Meeting recording and transcripts
• Integrated scheduling with Outlook, Google Calendar, and iCal
• Virtual backgrounds and touch-up features

Usage and Popularity

The use of Zoom skyrocketed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as it became a primary tool for remote work, online learning, and virtual social gatherings. Its ease of use and reliability contributed to its widespread adoption across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and government.

Controversies and Challenges

Despite its popularity, Zoom has faced several controversies, particularly concerning privacy and security. Issues such as "Zoombombing" (uninvited guests disrupting meetings), data sharing policies with third parties, and encryption standards have been significant concerns. In response, Zoom has taken steps to improve security, such as enhancing encryption and providing more control to meeting hosts.

Impact

Zoom has had a profound impact on how people communicate, particularly in the context of remote work and education. It has changed the landscape of video conferencing, challenging established players in the market and becoming a household name.

See Also

• Video conferencing
• Telecommuting
• Distance education
• COVID-19 pandemic