SL in a Browser
Need in-depth knowledge/opinions from an expert?
As seen in IE:
inDuality – 3d universal client
Or try the PC plug-in developed (in part) by IBM
All of this because of the OpenSim and open source projects surrounding SL. There are good and bad points to how this will change the web experience – how it may or may not be integrated. Whether you want SL to run in a browser or your favorite browser (Firefox) to run in SL… You may eventually get both!
And of course if you haven’t heard, the brilliant teenager Katherine Berry, creator of the AjaxLife browser interface for SL, has now released it as an app on the iPhone.
New Asynchronous Video Conferencing (Mail vs. Threads)
There are many people enamored with Skype or Yahoo IM for video conference calls, but with some new web 2.0 apps we may see some users moving towards browser based services instead. I’ve already mentioned the usefulness of Stickam.com when it comes to video conferencing, broadcasting that event, and even recording it. For a better form of asynchronous video messaging check out Tokbox and Seesmic.
This is as easy as it gets. Login, touch a button and your sending video messages all from your browser. You’re notified by email if your recipient watches your message or sends one back. You can even make public video messages – tokbox’s way of adding a twitteresque feature that can compete with up and coming sites like 12seconds.tv. The video quality at talkbox looks great and if you’re really not into the browser-ball-and-chain then you can download the desktop client which runs on Adobe Air.
Best features:
- URL as contact info (like an email or phone number – anyone with the URL can call you)
- Embedable widget (for places like MySpace, Facebook, Blogger, and more) allows one click calling for other users to call or message you.
- Unlimited number of conference callers (according to the FAQ – untested by me)
- 15 minutes of video message time
- API for devs
Seesmic seems to be drawing an international crowd to publicly discuss virtually anything in a threaded video conversation. Essentially, you can make a public video post recorded using your webcam and mic (flash) – a question perhaps – then, users who speak your language can respond with their own videos – hopefully answers to your question.
Here’s an example… This user says ‘show us your favorite iPhone app‘.
Best Features:
- Your having a conversation with the world!
- Send video messages – converse privately
- Embed videos (not threads) easily
I’m not sure there’s much for me on Seesmic, but there are a lot of people spending a lot of time there. I expect Seesmic to gain popularity for the webcamming crowd. Although it’s been a while since YouTube installed a ‘Reply to this Video’ button, it still doesn’t feel like many folks are using youtube for threaded video conversation like you see here.
I could see this site used in a communications class: Ask a question on Seesmic. How did users respond? Perhaps this could even help in the creation of an ePortfolio by posting a thread of former employers and colleagues who have great things to say about you. The video document resume of the future! Feel like adding your two cents? Respond to this video below here:
In either case, it seems the idea of video calling and public broadcasting is finding a crowd. How far it bleeds into popular culture and what effect it has on education as younger students familiar with the technology enter higher ed remain to be seen.
SL in a Browser
New World Notes reports
As seen in Firefox:
Running on Xenki
More about Xenki
Need in-depth knowledge/opinions from an expert?
As seen in IE:
inDuality – 3d universal client
Or try the PC plug-in developed (in part) by IBM
All of this because of the OpenSim and open source projects surrounding SL. There are good and bad points to how this will change the web experience – how it may or may not be integrated. Whether you want SL to run in a browser or your favorite browser (Firefox) to run in SL… You may eventually get both!
And of course if you haven’t heard, the brilliant teenager Katherine Berry, creator of the AjaxLife browser interface for SL, has now released it as an app on the iPhone.
Internet History
LOL – it’s the attack of the internet
memes
Can’t remember when LOLCATS hit the
interwebs? Can’t remember when “interwebs” became popular? Come and see
the timeline of internet memes, playing in your browser nowhttp://www.dipity.com/user/tatercakes/timeline/Internet_Memes
Live Broadcasting 2.0
There are many new and exciting things on the horizon for technology in education (see post on browser based virtual worlds) and none more exciting than the acceptance of live broadcasting (call it “Web 2.Live”). As you will see demonstrated below, there are several different sites available for live social interaction via webcam or desktop. Some specialize in the production of live content and each allows for recording and distribution of live recordings via embeddable players.
How can these tools be used in education? How is this different than simple video conferencing?
- Faculty, students, and other individuals (visiting lecturers, professionals, etc…) can interact from great distances while still having access to all media and desktop tools needed for dynamic discussions
- Recordings of these interactions can be documented and distributed asynchronously
- Like podcasting and video helped to create a culture of user-generated material so too might live media (there are many “live shows” already gaining popularity on these sites
- As mobile video becomes more mainstream, so too will live feeds of people’s lives: aka. Lifecasting
Below are a few sites I have chosen to feature. Each has a variety of similar or competing features. I have listed the pros and cons of each. Each video will also demonstrate some of the features. Since my interests also lie with Second Life, I was especially keen on the ability to publicly display a live feed of SL on the web. I have provided links to each site and also my profile or channel page. The only added software I am using beside the webservice is CamTwist for my Mac. It can be found here:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/24275/camtwist
http://www.stickam.com/anthonyfontana
Stickam.com Pros:
- Highly social: up to 6 other “live visitors” and unlimited chat/profile page viewers or visitors
- Easy to manage, record, embed recordings
- Autopilot for embedded player when not live (plays video, pictures, etc…) plays media on demand
Stickam.com Cons:
- Site is mostly used by teens at the moment
- Profile page features are limited
- Channel only page must be created elsewhere (see my live page at http://www.anthonyfontana.com/livebroadcast.aspx)
BlogTV demo for my blog - Broadcast your self LIVE
http://www.blogtv.com/People/AnthonyFontana
BlogTV Pros:
- Co-hosting – records/shows up to two people in live video screen
- Profile page modification tools are average (better than Stickam not as good as UStream)
BlogTV Cons:
- Too many ads – show up on profile page AND in embedded player!
- Video quality seems a bit lower than other sites
- Video cuts off bottom of screen (notice the ticker is cut in half!)
UStream.tv
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/anthony-fontana-live
UStream.TV Pros:
- Lots of options and features!
- Profile AND Channel pages that are highly modifiable
- Text overlays (not shown in video)
- Can port videos straight over to YouTube, Google, Vimeo and more
- Better for making a TV-like show
- Allows for co-hosting (I haven’t tested this yet)
UStream.TV Cons:
- Higher learning curve (as is the case whenever there are more features)
- Non-intuitive user interface – I didn’t like this one at first
- Not as social (seemingly)
- The Ustream player is set to auto-play… so hence the reason I posted the YouTube version of the video
http://www.mogulus.com/anthonyfontana
To play demo video:
- Click to turn player on (I have it set to off so that it doesn’t start every time the blog is loaded into a browser window)
- Wait for player to fully initialize (On Demand button will not show up immediately)
- Click on “On Demand” button on bottom of player
- Click on “new VOD Folder”
- Click on “Live Show Aug 1 2008″
Mogulus.com Pros:
- High quality production features built-in (ticker, splash pages, etc…)
- Auto-Pilot playlist for videos, photos, and pre-recorded shows (not enabled in above player)
- Graphical interface (GUI) is very easy to use, very intuitive
- Dynamic player allows for “Video on Demand” for viewers to peruse playlist
- Imports easily from YouTube (player can show other videos I’ve set to play including my machinima and even the UStream.tv piece from above.
Mogulus.com Cons:
- Not social – chat confined to viewers, but not creator (not in studio window at least)
- Ads – will come across bottom of screen (not as bad as BlogTV)
Please feel free to comment on this post. I’m very interested in hearing opinoins about live broadcasting.
Permalink:
http://themultichronicclassroom.blogspot.com/2008/08/live-broadcasting-20.html
Wheelies Radio Interview
Live Broadcasting 2.0
There are many new and exciting things on the horizon for technology in education (see post on browser based virtual worlds) and none more exciting than the acceptance of live broadcasting (call it “Web 2.Live”). As you will see demonstrated below, there are several different sites available for live social interaction via webcam or desktop. Some specialize in the production of live content and each allows for recording and distribution of live recordings via embeddable players.
How can these tools be used in education? How is this different than simple video conferencing?
- Faculty, students, and other individuals (visiting lecturers, professionals, etc…) can interact from great distances while still having access to all media and desktop tools needed for dynamic discussions
- Recordings of these interactions can be documented and distributed asynchronously
- Like podcasting and video helped to create a culture of user-generated material so too might live media (there are many “live shows” already gaining popularity on these sites
- As mobile video becomes more mainstream, so too will live feeds of people’s lives: aka. Lifecasting
Below are a few sites I have chosen to feature. Each has a variety of similar or competing features. I have listed the pros and cons of each. Each video will also demonstrate some of the features. Since my interests also lie with Second Life, I was especially keen on the ability to publicly display a live feed of SL on the web. I have provided links to each site and also my profile or channel page. The only added software I am using beside the webservice is CamTwist for my Mac. It can be found here:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/24275/camtwist
Stickam.com
http://www.stickam.com/anthonyfontana
Stickam.com Pros:
- Highly social: up to 6 other “live visitors” and unlimited chat/profile page viewers or visitors
- Easy to manage, record, embed recordings
- Autopilot for embedded player when not live (plays video, pictures, etc…) plays media on demand
Stickam.com Cons:
- Site is mostly used by teens at the moment
- Profile page features are limited
- Channel only page must be created elsewhere (see my live page at http://www.anthonyfontana.com/livebroadcast.aspx)
BlogTV demo for my blog - Broadcast your self LIVE
http://www.blogtv.com/People/AnthonyFontana
BlogTV Pros:
- Co-hosting – records/shows up to two people in live video screen
- Profile page modification tools are average (better than Stickam not as good as UStream)
BlogTV Cons:
- Too many ads – show up on profile page AND in embedded player!
- Video quality seems a bit lower than other sites
- Video cuts off bottom of screen (notice the ticker is cut in half!)
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/anthony-fontana-live
UStream.TV Pros:
- Lots of options and features!
- Profile AND Channel pages that are highly modifiable
- Text overlays (not shown in video)
- Can port videos straight over to YouTube, Google, Vimeo and more
- Better for making a TV-like show
- Allows for co-hosting (I haven’t tested this yet)
UStream.TV Cons:
- Higher learning curve (as is the case whenever there are more features)
- Non-intuitive user interface – I didn’t like this one at first
- Not as social (seemingly)
http://www.mogulus.com/anthonyfontana
To play demo video:
- Click to turn player on (I have it set to off so that it doesn’t start every time the blog is loaded into a browser window)
- Wait for player to fully initialize (On Demand button will not show up immediately)
- Click on “On Demand” button on bottom of player
- Click on “new VOD Folder”
- Click on “Live Show Aug 1 2008″
Mogulus.com Pros:
- High quality production features built-in (ticker, splash pages, etc…)
- Auto-Pilot playlist for videos, photos, and pre-recorded shows (not enabled in above player)
- Graphical interface (GUI) is very easy to use, very intuitive
- Dynamic player allows for “Video on Demand” for viewers to peruse playlist
- Imports easily from YouTube (player can show other videos I’ve set to play including my machinima and even the UStream.tv piece from above.
Mogulus.com Cons:
- Not social – chat confined to viewers, but not creator (not in studio window at least)
- Ads – will come across bottom of screen (not as bad as BlogTV)
Please feel free to comment on this post. I’m very interested in hearing opinoins about live broadcasting.
Permalink:
http://themultichronicclassroom.blogspot.com/2008/08/live-broadcasting-20.html
Wheelies Radio Interview
Listen here. KPFK.org
KPFK
