What About Streaming Video?

Jim Miller

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
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I really don't know where to start with this. Who's an expert on streaming live video? Got questions...

What would I need in terms of hardware, software, connection speed, and bandwidth, to post a live or pre-recorded video online, for about 15-30 minutes? Would a PowerPoint slide show require less sophistication?

My partial T-1 line tested at 265 kbps for the email address. My web site tested at 195 kbps from Washington, DC, 244 kbps from Chicago, and 177 from Detroit, but only 33 kbps from Sydney, Ausralia. Is that sort of connection suitable to stream video? Do I need other information to determine suitability, or other provisions?

I would have to buy at least one video camera, I suppose. What makes a decent quality video online? I have already been advised to buy a 3-CCD camera. I was told 3 separate CDDs for red, green, and blue translates to better color rendition. Extreme resolution is not necessary, just 'normal' imaging quality would be good. Fast, accurate zoom capability of at least 4x would be important, too.

If a person were watching live streaming video, could a telephone conversation (conference call) provide interactive Q&A? Would there be a time delay or other problems with that idea? If a lot of people were watching, would that affect quality of the broadcast or reception for anyone?
 
Jim, does this mean maybe we could take your famous classes on-line? Sign me up!
 
Hi Jim

If your fractional DS1/T1 is only 256k, chances are that it won't be fast enough to host this LIVE. For example, residential cable internet at my house is 18000(18MBit/sec) for downloads. For uploading/sending data it is 2000(2MBit/sec) Soon, residential will be 100MBits.

You can test your actual speed in both directions by running the free test at http://bandwidthplace.com/speedtest/

Offering it as a pre-recorded video can be a very effective way to distribute it, since the file can then be placed on your website instead of broadcasted from your office. The webhosting company, with higher speed, could then pass your file along to people directly.

One other way to do it live is to use a third party video teleconferencing server/service to broadcast it to the audience, with a single feed from you to that server. The bandwidth demand would then be from the users to that server, and not from them to you.

Either of these could be coordinated to happen with a teleconference/phone call - or even an online chat room. If you want to go the chatroom route, i'll be glad to set that part up for you. It would be very similar to the Grumble Chat system, and could have your logo and links for more info.

The only "downside" to pre-recording it as a file is that people will be viewing it at different times, and may not be in synch with the phone or chat presentation.

I hope this basic/general info answers some of your questions and concerns.

Mike
 
Maybe I'm thinking too simply...

Microsoft WIndows Live Messenger
Microsoft Net Meeting

We've just recently installed $10 Logitech Webcams and have been using it for family video calls for a couple of weeks and works good for that. Haven't used NetMeeting yet to get a group together because not everyone in the family is setup yet (small family).

Our connections seem to work for us with speeds at the house testing 512/256 wireless broadband. Connection at the store is Verizon DSL 3000/1500 but usually tests at 2100/384. Rural isolation has it's disadbantages and advantages.

We've seen what color rendition we get using flatscreens with the visualization software, so without knowing technical aspects, it could be that maybe the 3 CCD camera would be overkill.
 
Thanks for the info, Mike. I can get the whole T-1 or other connection in here, but at some cost. I would reeeeally like to have it all going on in the frame shop. If the streaming were done elsewhere, could I have control of it from my desktop? That is, could I be on a conference call, and stop/restart a video or PowerPoint presentation?

For several years I have envisioned having classes online. Others I know who have tried it before have had dismal results. One issue is that many framers do not have the capability to receive streaming video. However, I believe that is changing, and most framers may now have, or have access to, a fast connection. Promotion is another problem. Trade shows attract framers to all kinds of classes. How do you let 10,000 framers know about an online class scheduled on a given day?

In any case, online education is coming to our industry, but slowly. Would online classes replace trade show classes? Some experts say yes, and that would be a problem. The only major, annual framing trade show that is growing is the one that has the best education, so we know education is important. However, if anything happens to make framers stop coming to trade shows, the whole industry would suffer for it in a big way. Perhaps that is why so many of the instructors and trade show education organizers hesitate to embrace the idea of online classes. Also, it is new and unfamiliar -- we don't know how to begin.

Pre-recording classes is costly but not difficult, but then what? A few educators have reproduced their classes on VHS tapes or DVDs for sale, but they are not nearly as effective as the face-to-face experience in a full classroom. There's something missing.

I think the interactive component, which is missing from playing back a disc or tape, is essential to the learning experience. That is, a pre-recorded class could impart detailed instruction, but having the ability to share in the comments and questions of others, and responses from the instructor, puts that knowledge in a stronger context.

How could we bring that interactive component to pre-recorded classes? How close could we come to a classroom experience with an online class?

I would favor a live presentation, but that would be expensive to produce, and many things could go wrong. If pre-recorded classes are most practical, I think the instructor should be able to stop any presentation at any point to respond to comments or questions from students.

A simultaneous conference call might provide that ability most effectively. A chatroom would not work as well as immediate voice communication, I'm afraid. For one thing, multiple responses and follow-ups to a comment or question could eat up a lot of precious class time. The instructor might be unable to keep the class moving along, and chat could distract students from the presentation.

Some of the best classroom experiences involve a lecture supported by a good PowerPoint presentation. When a question or comment comes up, the instructor can easily halt the slides long enough to respond. The instructor can also say, "We'll get to that in a few minutes, let's move on." He/she could do that on a conference call, as well. PPFA has organized several "TelEd" classes for CPF Recertification, and they seem to work pretty well.

The only thing missing from an online live presentation/conference call, pre-recorded video/conference call, or PowerPoint presentation/conference call lecture, as far as I know, would be body language; facial expressions and gestures that add emphasis and context.

What are your thoughts?

What topics would be best for online classes? Would downloadable handouts be useful? If sponsors wanted to send a "goodie bag" of promotional stuff by UPS, would that be a good idea?

Money is another issue. An instructor often spends months researching, developing, and putting together a class, including handouts, charts/graphs, and images. That intellectual property has value, which is demonstrated by the fact that so many framers are happy to receive the benefit of a pirated class-on-tape instead of buying it for themselves. Purchased passwords could assure that only a certain number of computers have access, but how could an instructor guard against someone copying the online presentation and diluting the income of those involved in the production?

Considering that production may be costly, and you can attend by simply going to a fast computer connection -- no travel or other costs, how much would you pay for a quarter-hour or half-hour online class on a topic of interest? Most trade show classes run two or three hours. Would you be able to stay absorbed with an online presentation for a couple of hours, or would it be better to have shorter segments on successive days? Would four 30-minute online sessions, say, Wednesdays from 8:00 to 8:30, work for you?

Hey, Mike. Is there a poll topic in here someplace?
 
Interesting idea Jim.

Have you look into the process that some of the community colleges are doing for their on line classes. It would be basically the same idea.

See what they are doing and how they do it.
 
Good thought, Jerome. I talked briefly with a local community college, but didn't get too far. Their purposes and their capabilities are well beyond anything a framer could want to do, and they're not interested in sharing the knowledge for which they sell video production classes.

I also asked about them streaming a class I would produce, but they didn't see enough potential income to consider it.

Back to Mike's comment about connection speeds - I could get 768 kbps (half a T-1) for a reasonable price per month. I have heard that would be enough to stream some video. Is that right?
 
They might offer a class in video production that can be of use to you. One class of 3 credit hours or so might tell you all you need.

It would be an investment just like the class you teach to framers.
 
Hi Jim,

There are literally dozens of ways to accomplish what you are asking. If you're talking only about putting up a periodic "slide" (similar to PowerPoint), rather than live full motion video, the bandwidth requirements are not a concern. Even dialup users would be able to participate. If presenting live video directly to everyone, even a full T1 is pretty slow by today's standards. If DSL, FIOS, or Cable are available, they might be worth looking into. Not only will you save a lot of money, but they are also exponentially faster than your present speed.

A (voice/telephone) conference call could be set up for about 7 cents per minute, per member, or you could even have a chatroom type system for them to ask questions - and you could answer/present verbally (through the computer's speakers)

There are companies that specialize in doing all the behind the scenes technical part for you, such as http://www.presenternet.com/

If you want to make a strictly PowerPoint type web page, you can export your presentation to a web format and upload it to your site. It can be put behind a password protected area.
Examples:
http://www.tsbvi.edu/agenda/NationalWISC_files/frame.htm
http://www.d.umn.edu/~hrallis/guides/PP/SavePPAsWeb.html
http://www.presentersuniversity.com/courses_tutorials_tutorials_web.php

For these examples, the entire presentation lives on the web. You will have to verbally instruct them when to click on each slide. In these examples, the bandwidth goes through your webhosting company and not your fractional DS1/T1

A goodie bag would work, with a certificate of completion. Handouts can also be put up as PDF files, to be downloaded and printed directly.

Polls are possible in the voting forum, or I can set one up here for you if you wish. However, the Grumble as you know it is going away in a few days. The new software will be COMPLETELY different. I would wait until the change, because any polls posted now will likely be lost.

Creating your own DVDs is also very possible. There are plenty of off the shelf programs to convert a video stream or movie into a playable DVD. (WinAVIVideoConverter and CloneDVD) Some programs even let you make chapters and menus. The blank DVDs cost 25 cents each to produce from your PC.

Interraction is important, in my opinion. Getting them involved somehow would be key.

I'm sorry for the messy answer with random thoughts


Mike
 
I would say for myself a series of 30 minute classes would be nice. When on the puter there are many distractions and sometimes servers go out. So it would be upsetting to loose a couple minutes, but a stinker too loose a few hours.

I am by no means a computer person, so I dont even know if I have a set up to do something like this. I think the certificate thing is nice, customers look at those and think...they do framing classes? Neat!


PL


sorry I am no help, but I will participate in the poll-i am very interested, specially since lanta is not an option.
 
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