You might be wondering what an article on love and marriage has to do with desktop conferencing.  Well, answer these questions:  Are you one of the thousands who wonder if love will ever be in their cards?  Have you looked on as other happy couples have met, fell in love, and finally got married?  Have you been to more weddings as a guest or member of the wedding party than you care to remember?  If so, there is good news for you: love is waiting for you, and all you need to do is log on.

Oh sure, you might have tried a dating service - but only to realize why so much emphasis is put on the term "nice personality."  You don not mean to sound shallow, but the packaging is of some importance as well.  You may have also tried the online dating services that promise compatibility matches based on questionnaires and other profiling tools. You may have even met someone who via email sounded wonderful, and even over the telephone managed to hold her or his own, yet when photos were exchanged or you finally met face to face, you were somewhat disappointed.

Thank goodness for modern technology! Desktop conferencing has been around for a very long time. It is available in two flavors, if you will call it that, namely audio and video desktop conferencing.  For the audio function, you will require a computer setup that comes with a soundcard and microphone.  Both of these peripherals are very inexpensive.  If you would like to go ahead with the video option, you only desktop videoconferencing equipment needed in addition to your computer and soundcard are a mini-camera and supporting software.

You may wonder why Cupid could be working with desktop conferencing these days, but it is surprisingly simple. Talking to a potential mate via e-mail is cumbersome at best. You have a significant time delay, and because of heavy editing that both parties engage in, they will consistently put forth their best behavior and effort - very unlike real life situations.  Chat rooms are only marginally better.  Instant messaging is a nice addition to the mix, but once again, it lacks the spontaneity of the spoken word with its nuances and depth.  Audio desktop conferencing will be able to help you to preserve some anonymity; after all, you do not have to give out your home telephone number and now have to weed out unwanted calls, while you will be able to early on relate to a potential mate via the spoken word.  Oftentimes this will permit you to very quickly ascertain if this relationship is worth pursuing on a romantic level, or if you have just met a great friend, but nothing more.

Of course, if you decide to have desktop videoconferencing equipment you will be able to not only speak to your new friend, but to also look into her or his eyes, see mannerisms, and take an inventory of the overall body language she or he may display.  You will be able to tell if the she or he is truly who the ad claims them to be.  You will be able to tell if the person on the other side is indeed someone who laughs easily, genuinely wants to chat with you, and actively listens to what you are saying. Who knows, you may have just met your future spouse!