Two-way audio refers to camera or intercom hardware capable of both broadcasting sound to a location and picking up sound from it, enabling a real-time, back-and-forth conversation between a remote operator and someone on-site.
This bidirectional capability underlies several distinct use cases:
- Remote greeting, allowing a virtual receptionist to speak with a visitor or delivery driver at an entrance
- Incident response, where an operator can ask a person on-site to identify themselves before deciding what action to take
- Coordination, letting an operator communicate directly with on-site staff or contractors during an event
One common use of two-way audio is for audio deterrents, when a remote video monitor/virtual guard can challenge unauthorized personnel.
