Streaming Media Applications at Pace

By Kevin Wynne
Associate Professor of Finance and Economics
Lubin School of Business

The term streaming media refers to a combination of video and audio inputs that are streamed to the end user via the internet. This article will focus on video on demand (VOD) products, but the majority of these products also have more sophisticated versions that would allow for live streaming applications. Once the inputs are converted to a digital format, they can be streamed from the Real media server at Pace University. It should be noted, that any of the applications mentioned in this article can also be burned to a CD or DVD. Windows media and RealNetworks are the two main competing products in this particular area. Presently, the university has adopted the RealNetworks products for streaming media applications. Pace University has been using such products as RealProducer and RealPresenter. RealProducer is the most basic format and is simply the digitalization of a video with audio inputs. Once the video is converted to a digital format, it can be viewed using RealPlayer providing the user has access to high bandwidth. RealPresenter allows for the capture of both video and audio inputs as well as embedding PowerPoint slides into a presentation. An example of this format is provided in Illustration I.

The latest evolution of streaming media at the university is a product called ScreenWatch. The Center for Instructional Technologies (CIT) at Pace University has been very instrumental in making this application accessible to faculty, administrators, and staff. ScreenWatch is superior to RealPresenter in that it does not have the limitation of embedding only PowerPoint slides. ScreenWatch will capture any input that can be viewed on a computer screen. This means that Powerpoint slides, Excel spreadsheets, websites, etc. can be captured and later streamed from the media server. In addition, ScreenWatch has a multiple bit format that suppresses the video portion of the presentation for use by conventional 56k modems. Examples of this particular application are provided in Illustration II and Illustration III. ScreenWatch can also be used in conjunction with a Mimio device or Wacom tablet. This allows the presenter to write equations, graphs, texts, etc. on a white board or tablet and capture the presentation in ScreenWatch.

It should be noted, that most of us presently using these products viewed it as a form of hybrid learning. These products and innovations are not viewed as a replacement for class lectures, but more as an enhancement to the classroom. So far this technology has been used to capture Nobel Prize winner Robert Mundell through the Henry George lecture series, training videos on databases, Executive MBA student presentations, and classroom lectures. The encouraging news is that the Center for Instructional Technologies (CIT) is in the process of developing a lab that will greatly facilitate the use of these technologies. The links provided below illustrate some of the applications mentioned in this article. To view the presentations you will need high bandwidth and the Real media player. For additional information, please contact Joe Seijo from CIT at jseijo@pace.edu.

Screenwatch File:
http://realserv.pace.edu:8080/ramgen/distanceed/cit/smil/whartonb.smi
(please note- RealOne Player is required to view this file - free download at www.real.com)

Illustration I
PowerPoint Presentation created with RealPresenter

Illustration II
Screenshot of Screenwatch Software

Illustration III
Screenshot of Screenwatch Software

"The latest evolution of streaming media at the university is a product called ScreenWatch."

"These products and innovations are not viewed as a replacement for class lectures, but more as an enhancement to the classroom."