What you learned in school
Technology classes taught that video calling was an interesting novelty but would never be practical for everyday use due to bandwidth limitations, high costs, and technical complexity. Students learned about it as science fiction technology that might work in research labs but would never be accessible to ordinary people. Textbooks described video calling as requiring expensive, specialized equipment and dedicated high-speed connections that would make it impractical for homes or small businesses.
What we know now
Technology classes taught that video calling was an interesting novelty but would never be practical due to bandwidth limitations, cost, and technical complexity. Students learned about it as science fiction rather than near-future technology. Video calling became commonplace through services like Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, and WhatsApp. The COVID-19 pandemic made video conferencing essential for work, education, and social connection. Improvements in internet speed, compression technology, and device capabilities made high-quality video calling accessible and affordable worldwide.