Live Streaming
Streaming is a method of viewing video and/or audio material on your PC from a remote server. It is unique in that the audio/video is being transmitted from the server in real time. Most of the video clips people view on the web come to them via a streamed file. Whereas a normal file takes a while to download before you can view it, a streamed file is sent to you bit by bit or 'streamed.'
We can either stream live events such as Congregations, lectures etc. or we can archive a clip eg. Press and Public Relations news clips, and 'Operating Theatre'.
At the moment we use Realproducer software to encode and this gives out a multi-platform streamed file (eg. 56k modem and 256k LAN - the quality depends on the individual's connection). These clips can then be viewed using Real Player. The finished clips are kept on a dedicated streaming server in ISS and a link is placed in the appropriate web page to these clips.
Both live television or recorded video/audio may be streamed. The BBC stream live programmes and recorded material from its own website.
Streamed video clips are ideal for illustrating points within a lecture as the material can also be accessed later by the students. Several students can access the information simultaneously and are able to start/stop and rewind material completely independently.
To view and hear streaming material you will need appropriate "player" software on your PC and a network connection. Provided you are connected to the university network or the internet you can then access the material when and where you want.
If you wish to transmit your own video/audio clips over the web or University network, Television Services can handle this for you.
Newcastle University supports Real Player, Windows Media Player and Apple Quicktime formats.