Category - Internet
Topic - Streaming Media
Issue - What is streaming media and how does it work?
Tiptoid -
Streaming is a recently developed technology that opens a new window to the internet. Streaming works with both live and prerecorded media. You can stream everything from video clips to slideshow presentations in a matter of seconds. Audio files and slideshows require very little technical skill, however video clips and animations are harder and normally require a high bandwidth.
Streaming is actually a very simple concept. More and more sites such as Google Video and YouTube are running on streaming media. The whole idea is to play the media files while they are downloading, instead of downloading the entire file to your computer before it plays. Streaming files come from a remote server and are decoded on your computer using a normally preinstalled codec. The files then play as they are being decoded and downloaded. There are many different technologies that allow you to use streaming media; such as, QuickTime, Real Media, and Windows Media. The streaming is supposed to play with a smooth, continuous flow, but sometimes there are pauses, or the file breaks up as a result of connectivity problems with the internet.
That's basically it. So…hop on the bandwagon!
Glossary -
Bandwidth - a measure of the capacity of a communications channel; the higher a channel's bandwidth, the more information it can carry
Codec - computer software that allows you to decode and play media files
Connectivity - the level or pace that you are receiving information from the internet
Find Out More -
http://streaming.wisconsin.edu/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streaming_media
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Submitted by - Tyler Townsend
Site Manager - Chris Ricci
June 2007