1 / 3

Streaming Media on the Go: A Portable, Affordable, "Mini" Mobile Videobroadcasting Unit for Live Broadcasts an

Streaming Media on the Go: A Portable, Affordable, "Mini" Mobile Videobroadcasting Unit for Live Broadcasts and Archiving Events. Why Mobile Videobroadcasting?

xanthe
Download Presentation

Streaming Media on the Go: A Portable, Affordable, "Mini" Mobile Videobroadcasting Unit for Live Broadcasts an

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Streaming Media on the Go: A Portable, Affordable, "Mini" Mobile Videobroadcasting Unit for Live Broadcasts and Archiving Events Why Mobile Videobroadcasting? The MidContinental Region (MCR) of the National Networks of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) sought to offer its members live and archived video streaming events and classes so that member librarians could view the events regardless of location and time constraints. A mobile videobroadcasting unit was designed so that it could be shipped to resource libraries. The original unit weighed 200 pounds and was more difficult to assemble. A new “mini” unit weighs less than 50 pounds and can be assembled in 15 minutes. Training sessions with both types of units were held to allow resource libraries to broadcast events from their location. • What Is Streaming Video? • Streaming video allows anyone with a computer, Internet connection, and streaming video client to view remote events “live” in real-time, or to view archived events at a later date. Popular freely available streaming video clients include: • RealPlayer • Windows Media • QuickTime • Users may watch the video using either a low- or high-bandwidth connection. The video streaming servers optimize the stream to match the available bandwidth. • What types of Events Can Be Broadcast with Streaming Video? • Educational workshops for distance education and continuing education • Educational works • Seminars and Grand Rounds • Special Events • The broadcast can include both the video and audio of the presenter and participants, as well as the computer output from the presenter’s computer. Wayne Peay, Director, Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, at InfoFair 2004, as seen from the RealPlayer client • Advantages of the Mobile Unit • It is light and portable. • It is self-contained and can be hooked up within 15 minutes. • Limitations of the Mobile Unit • Streaming video resolution is limited to 320 x 240, limiting the types of computer output that can be broadcast.

  2. Sharon E. Dennis, MS, Technology Coordinator, MidContinental Region, National Networks of Libraries of Medicine, Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah • The Mobile Unit The mobile video broadcasting unit consists of a these components: • laptop computer with high-end video capture card • scan converter • video switcher • audio equipment • camera and tripod The equipment is bolted to a rack encased in a hard-sided mobile cart. Once at the broadcasting site, the equipment can be assembled for a live broadcast within 15 minutes. Components of mobile unit before assembly in the case Cables, cables, everywhere! Camera and tripod Wireless microphone, audio mixer Broadcasting Streaming Media The computer includes software for encoding live video in both Real Media and Windows Media format. The live stream is sent to a server at Eccles Library for broadcast over the Internet. Anyone with a RealPlayer or Windows Media client can view the video from any location. The video can be archived for later viewing. In many cases libraries may prefer not to offer a live broadcast, but to simply “tape” the event for later viewing. Live broadcasts require coordination with the Information Technology department at an institution to open the correct ports and ensure that enough bandwidth is present for the broadcast.

  3. National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) MidContinental Region http://nnlm.gov/mcr/ • The Training In 2004-2005, training sessions were held at three different resource libraries: • Fifteen librarians trained in two all-day sessions • Each librarian gained “hands-on” experience assembling the unit and conducting a practice broadcast • Resource libraries have conducted three events posted on the MCR web site The resource librarians can broadcast future events by requesting that the MCR ship the mobile videobroadcasting unit back to them for the event. The remote library can broadcast from the Eccles Library video streaming server, or choose to use their own streaming server, if available. Training was more difficult with the large unit. The new mini-mobile unit is much simpler to use. The most difficult part of the training is learning how to troubleshoot problems as they arise. Training at Creighton using the “large” unit. Left to right: Sharon Dennis, Diana Boone, Jeanne Burke, Siobhan Champ-Blackwell, Marty Magee Jeanne Burke practices camera set-up with Marty Magee looking on. Siobhan Champ-Blackwell sets up the audio. • Impact and Future • Librarians can be trained to offer this technology • It facilitates them being seen as “technology leaders” in their institutions • It fosters collaborations with other groups (telehealth, Information Systems, etc.) • Additional training sessions at MCR member libraries • Additional events from the MCR libraries • For more information, contact Sharon Dennis at sdennis@lib.med.utah.edu The new “mini” mobile unit ready to go anytime, anywhere: Light, small, easy to set up and ship!

More Related