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Streaming

Streaming is a technology that enables you to include audio, video and other multimedia elements into your websites or course materials in a much more seamless and efficient way than was possible in the past.

Visitors to your website will be able to listen to or view media files as they are delivered in real time very similar to Google's YouTube.

Real-time streaming differs slightly from YouTube video however in that users can easily navigate to anywhere within a video or audio clip without the need for waiting for the whole media file to download first.

How does streaming work?

Audio, video and other media files are converted to a format suitable for streaming and placed on a Streaming Server. Links are placed on web pages which, when selected can activate these media files. When users select a media link on a web page the contents of the media file begins to flow across the network in a gradual and continuous stream from the streaming server to the user's browser. Audio and video files begin to play either in a pop up window or embedded into the web page. Users can pause, rewind and fast-forward media clips using a VCR type control panel.

Media typically consist of...

  • Audio only
  • Video with audio
  • Synchronised presentations incorporating graphics, text and/or animation.

ISD Streaming Service

UCL Educational Media, through its R&D activities, introduced streaming to UCL in 2004. The technology has moved on a pace year on year and the demand for streaming content has grown incredibly in that time.

ISD now has an installed streaming server infrastructure the can handle the ever increasing demands for streaming video and audio from students, lecturers, researchers, news and the global community. The expansion of this service is MediaCentral

Enquiries

For any enquiries regarding live streaming of video or audio please...

Email: stream at ucl.ac.uk or Tel ext: 09261