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Streaming online content

 

Introduction

This page demonstrates access to online video using the techniques of streaming and progressive download.

The source file is a video of a Koori Centre lecture given by Mr Neparr?a Gumbula and Dr Aaron Corn. The lecture was delivered at the Old Teachers College on April 5, 2007. The original media files were supplied by Russell Emerson and are openly accessible within the Library's eScholarship repository.

The streamed files are in Quicktime format and hosted on the META Centre Quicktime Streaming Server. Progressive download files are in Flash format and hosted by this website's webserver.

 

Differences between streaming and progressive download

In progressive download, a file is hosted by a web server. When a user clicks on the file's hyperlink, the web server sends the file as quickly as possible to the browser (as it would with any other file). The progressive download feature of the client media player enables it to begin playing the file as soon as enough data has been downloaded. At the end, the user has a copy of the file on their local computer which they can play again without needing to initiate another download.

Whereas a web server simply transfers as much data as possible, a streaming server manages a 'conversation' with a client media player which enables it to send data only as it is needed and at the rate needed. It makes more efficient use of bandwidth, it doesn't leave a copy of the file on the client computer and it enables greater monitoring of media use. more

 

Koori Centre lecture : Quicktime video streaming

Streaming video files are held on the META Centre Quicktime streaming server.  If your computer has the Quicktime player installed, you will be able to view the complete presentation within your browser.

 

Koori Centre Lecture : Flash video progressive download

Progressive download video files are held in this website's webserver directory. If your computer has the Flash player installed, you will be able to view an extract from the complete presentation within your browser.

Due to storage constraints on the webserver, filesizes are limited to coverage of the first 2 minutes of the presentation.

 

Koori Centre lecture : Quicktime audio streaming

Streaming audio files are held on the META Centre Quicktime streaming server.  If your computer has the Quicktime player installed, you will be able to listen to the complete presentation within your browser.

 

Koori Centre lecture : Access through the Library Catalogue

Catalogue links to streaming media files are managed through the Library system's Innopac Media Manager Module. The module cannot directly import RTSP URLs and the current trial did not discover a way for the module to mange links to pages containing embedded RTSP URLs.

The following META Centre streaming files are accessed using HTTP. The HTTP protocol is less efficient for streaming than RTSP. A more comprehensive examination of streaming options would consider other avenues for use of RTSP URLs. more

 

Download versions tailored to portable devices

The following versions have been formatted for use on particular portable devices. Right-click on a link and choose to save locally.

Due to storage constraints on the webserver, filesizes are limited to coverage of the first 2 minutes of the presentation.

 

Download files in Quicktime, Flash, Windows Media and Real Media formats

Files may be downloaded for offline use. Right-click on a link and choose to save locally.

Due to storage constraints on the webserver, filesizes are limited to coverage of the first 2 minutes of the presentation.

 

Technology notes : media file production

Files were converted using personal computer software such as Sorensen Squeeze, FLIX and Adobe Premiere. All proved suitable for the task. Video conversion is a resource-intensive activity and any large-scale conversion project would require greater resources than those provided by an average business desktop computer.