What Does “Online Media” Mean?

Many Buzzwords for Online Media Podcasts Webcasts Streaming video mp3 Vlogs … more

Podcasts

Webcasts

Streaming video

mp3

Vlogs

… more

Media Files Can Be VERY Large People want the same quality online that they experience at home Better quality requires: more information large files

People want the same quality online that they experience at home

Better quality requires:

more information

large files

Online Media is “Compressed” Data is removed to make the file smaller Quality can be affected

Data is removed to make the file smaller

Quality can be affected

Online Media uses a “Player”. Players take a minute or two to install Some are standard Windows Media QuickTime Flash Apple iTunes Sometimes custom player software is created

Players take a minute or two to install

Some are standard

Windows Media

QuickTime

Flash

Apple iTunes

Sometimes custom player software is created

Three Flavors of Online Media Downloading Streaming Webcasting

Downloading

Streaming

Webcasting

Downloading: Media file is downloaded to a person’s computer Like a Word document or image file Cannot be played until downloaded

Media file is downloaded to a person’s computer

Like a Word document or image file

Cannot be played until downloaded

Downloading: Advantages Can play the media anytime you want. Media files may be sent as attachments with an email Disadvantages Media files can be very large. Can take a long time to download, even with a broadband Cannot be watched or listened to until it has completely finished downloading Can limit the impact of using a media file to communicate something..

Advantages

Can play the media anytime you want.

Media files may be sent as attachments with an email

Disadvantages

Media files can be very large.

Can take a long time to download, even with a broadband

Cannot be watched or listened to until it has completely finished downloading

Can limit the impact of using a media file to communicate something..

Streaming: Instant gratification for your audience File may or may not be downloaded File is large Example

Instant gratification for your audience

File may or may not be downloaded

File is large

Example

Streaming: Advantages File begins to play as soon as enough of it is downloaded. Experience the media a little bit at a time. Disadvantages File can pause for a second or two while the download catches up with the playing.

Advantages

File begins to play as soon as enough of it is downloaded.

Experience the media a little bit at a time.

Disadvantages

File can pause for a second or two while the download catches up with the playing.

Webcasting: Like streaming, but… Media file is never downloaded to the computer Stored on the website, or a special computer called a media server. Live or scheduled. Radio station simulcasting their programs on the internet. Webcasts can use special website software, a standard media player or a custom media player. Example

Like streaming, but…

Media file is never downloaded to the computer

Stored on the website, or a special computer called a media server.

Live or scheduled.

Radio station simulcasting their programs on the internet.

Webcasts can use special website software, a standard media player or a custom media player.

Example

Webcasting: Advantages Audience can see a media program or event as it happens Webcast can be converted to a downloaded or streaming file for viewing later. Disadvantages Depends on a high bandwidth connection

Advantages

Audience can see a media program or event as it happens

Webcast can be converted to a downloaded or streaming file for viewing later.

Disadvantages

Depends on a high bandwidth connection

Online Media Examples

YouTube Free video sharing site. Converts file to a streaming format Posts it to the YouTube site. File can be public or private. Standard length is 10 minutes Longer/larger files can be uploaded for an additional fee. Example

Free video sharing site.

Converts file to a streaming format

Posts it to the YouTube site.

File can be public or private.

Standard length is 10 minutes

Longer/larger files can be uploaded for an additional fee.

Example

Podcasts Usually audio files (but they can be video files called vodcasts) Like radio or TV shows Example

Usually audio files (but they can be video files called vodcasts)

Like radio or TV shows

Example

Podcasts Advantage Can “subscribe” to the show and get a notice that a new show is available Latest show is automatically downloaded to your iPod (using iTunes) or other mp3 media player. Sometimes the podcast program is streamed from the creator’s website.

Advantage

Can “subscribe” to the show and get a notice that a new show is available

Latest show is automatically downloaded to your iPod (using iTunes) or other mp3 media player.

Sometimes the podcast program is streamed from the creator’s website.

Vlog, or Video Blog A streamed video file Takes the place of written text on a blog. Can be subscribed to People can leave comments about it Program may also be made into a vodcast for downloading

A streamed video file

Takes the place of written text on a blog.

Can be subscribed to

People can leave comments about it

Program may also be made into a vodcast for downloading