CLI Webstreaming pilots

1
CLI Webstreaming pilots

• Update February 2007

V.104 20.02.2006
John Wilson, Manager, Multimedia Production
Services Liz Paddison, Senior Producer
2
CLIs webstreaming trials - background

• Live and interactive video content over
  Department WAN
• Live, high-quality content
• One to many
• Interactive content
• Archived/library content

3
CLIs webstreaming trials - background

• Live and interactive video content over
  Department WAN
• Take advantage of CLI studios high quality video
  and audio sources
• Multicamera environment
• Excellent sound stage
• Make best use of existing production expertise
• Fill in gap in delivery
• Archive at broadcast quality for multiple channel
  delivery DVD, webcasts, digital television

4
CLIs webstreaming trials - background

• Make best use of the medium
• Investigate means of delivering interactive
  content along with video
• Trials of Flash Communications Server to enable
  interactivity
• Embed Windows Media video stream in a Flash
  Communications interface

5
CLIs webstreaming trials - background

• Make best use of the medium
• Web video is here and not going away
• 44 under 24yr-olds prefer watching video on web
  to video on tv
• 60 of web traffic is now made up of web video
• Disney Channel now streams its videos before they
  are played on tv
• (source AIMIA seminar The Future of Video on
  the Web Nov 06)

6
CLIs webstreaming trials logistics

• The reality check
• Working to DET Network bandwidth constraints
• Advised to keep stream lt 400kb/s second (ie low
  to moderate bandwidth)
• Network unable to deliver large-scale unicast
  streams
• However, network is theoretically multicast
  enabled
• Trials currently focusing on multicast video
  content served in interactive web pages

7
CLIs webstreaming trials logistics

• The reality check
• Significant logistics involved
• Working to ensure sites can receive video streams
  liaison with ITD
• Broadcast studio to streaming server
  links/hardware (Digital Rapids encoding board and
  streaming hardware/software purchase/setup)
• Coordinating schools for trials
• Ensuring minimal disruption to services during
  trials
• Building interfaces
• Organising appropriate content and production

8
CLI internal technical trials

• Trial 1 - _at_CLI
• Multicasting archived content
• Successful multicast of archived content across
  CLI LAN
• Broadcast quality input encoded on the fly
• Live interactivity - chat, poll, slide show
• Pleasing results audio, video quality higher
  than expected

9
CLI internal technical trials

• Trial 2 - _at_CLI
• Multicasting live, multicamera studio events
• Successful multicast of live studio productions
  across CLI LAN
• Multicamera studio output encoded to Windows
  Media stream on the fly
• Live interactivity via Flash Communications
  Server - chat, poll, slide show
• Pleasing results audio, video quality higher
  than expected
• Some technical issues (eg lag between machines)
  requiring further investigation
• Also trialed a studio panel discussion.

10
External technical and content trial

• Trial 3 interactive HSC Physics content to
  schools
• Multicast live, interactive, multicamera studio
  event
• Pre-recorded HSC Physics experiments (morning)
• Live discussion of experiments by panel of
  Physics experts (afternoon)

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External technical and content trial

• Trial 3 interactive HSC Physics content to
  schools
• Multicast live, interactive, multicamera studio
  event
• Two school groups involved in pilot Strathfield
  Girls High and Hurlstone Agricultural College
• Included interactivity via Flash Communications
  Server live chat, link to existing Shockwave
  interactive

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External technical and content trial

• Trial 3 interactive HSC Physics content to
  schools
• Multicast live, interactive, multicamera studio
  event
• Highly successful event from content point of
  view
• Excellent student feedback
• Excellent picture quality from broadcast standard
  equipment
• Some audio sync problems
• Continuing issues with multicasting

13
External technical and content trial

• Trials 4, 5, 6 and beyond
• Further live, interactive, multicamera studio
  events undertaken through 2006
• Physics Explorer - professional development
  session on HSC physics content
• Interactive whiteboards a session on effective
  use of interactive whiteboards in the classroom
• Science at the Lakes a live and interactive
  problem-solving event for students concerning the
  ecology of a local lake system.
• Introduction to the Teaching and Learning
  exchange (TaLe)
• More live and interactive sessions proposed
  including sessions on Mathematics and student
  assessment.

14
CLI internal technical trials

• What weve learnt so far
• Multicasting live, multicamera studio events
• Confirmed our expectation higher quality audio
  and video sources in higher quality out
• Enormous potential for delivery of high quality,
  live, interactive, video-based teaching and
  learning content

15
CLI internal technical trials

• What weve learnt so far
• Multicasting live, multicamera studio events
• Challenges remain infrastructure support,
  particularly within schools
• Developing appropriate pedagogical models
• Developing and funding appropriate content

16
CLI external trials

• Rich potential for multiple channel delivery
• Studio content archived at broadcast quality
• This means it may be repackaged and delivered in
  other formats
• eg future scheduled multicasts, DVD, digital
  television (Channel NSW)
• Getting best mileage out of our content
• The beginnings of our own Teachers TV, but
  with web delivery first, digital television as
  the value-add

17
CLI external trials

• Feedback
• Generating valuable user feedback through online
  surveys
• Very positive response to the medium already
• Fantastic! Congratulations on one of the most
  innovative programs I have seen in quite some
  time. (regional Education Director)
• The web streaming was awesome. You all were
  great! Well done. (teacher)
• Physics rocks!! (Yr 12 student)