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July 24, 2006

Comments

David Rothman

Hi Brian.

I really like the "Channel" concept and one has to alike the free video hosting.

Are there any concerns about the fact that YouTube retains some rights to the video files you upload?

Also, you mentioned that you don't want to bury video clips on the library web site, and I see your point there. However, since you're pointing out the location of the video tutorials anyway, how does this make the videos less "buried?"

Since YouTube videos can be embedded anywhere, why not embed them in channels you design as a part of the library's site, and just enjoy the benefits of YouTube's free video hosting?

Really cool innovating, Brian. Kudos.

Paul R. Pival

Neat idea, as usual, Brian. I notice that the videos in your collection are even a little smaller than the stuff I find on the main sections of YouTube, and I'm unable to resize them, as I am videos on other sections - any idea why that is?

brian

David,

Librarians are always so good about reading the fine print!

I don’t really have concerns about video rights. If I were making a profit, then perhaps, but the worst they can do is publicize the videos more. Right now I feel the videos are second-rate. I’d like to improve the visual and narrative quality a bit—but on the Microsoft philosophy, they’re good enough to go to market. I’ll just tweak them later.

As for location. I’m not opposed to having them on the library site. That’s the great thing about videos is that once you create the master product you can distribute widely.

The problem I have with most library tutorials is that they have be generalized for the masses. I wanted to create unique content for a specific audience and have the ability to swap, change, edit, and update material whenever I can or need to. I wanted to make it customized. At GT we’re on the subject liaison model and have to be very entrepreneurial toward our disciplines. Therefore, there is not a lot of centralization in our instructional efforts.

So sure, I’ll work them into the Mechanical Engineering subject guide. But my real goal is to create a collection of videos that are of interest to the ME community, which just so happen to include a few research tutorials. I really hope to expand the offering to include lots of non-library content. Secondly, my objective is to get links or embedded vids into the course management systems. And also use them to supplement my email/im/phone reference assistance.

So to sum it: sure, videos can go a library website, but don’t just stop there, aim for mass distribution!

Now for something a little less serious but a lot more fun: Storm Large
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjLNQAjWi8s

brian

Paul,

I know, I feel like I am missing a step. The master vids are super high quality. I just need to figure out how to make them clearer on youtube. I might give the Camtasia folks a call.

David Rothman

You're the man, Brian. :)

A couple thoughts:

First, placing the YouTube video player on your own site would allow you to control the diminsions of the playback vieo to your own preferences, and that would do a bit for the viewability, regardless of the low resolution provided by any YouTube video.

Second, I doubt Camtasia's software is the problem. As you noted, the .mov produced by their software looked loads better than did the YouTube video- this is because the YouTube ISN'T serving up a Quicktime video, but a lower-res, transcoded version of it.

I think the only likely solution for that is the growth of the technology and/or YouTube enhacing its services. (My own prediction is that YouTube may offer "premium" services for paying customers that deliver higher resolution.)Remember, though, that the lower resolution is part of what makes it possible for YouTube to do the hosting.

Still, a great idea to expand and improve services for your users using the free service.

(Also, IS Storm related to Sebastian Bach of Skid Row?)

Pascal Van Hecke

Hi,

Youtube is imho not the best choice for screencasting.
Have a look at the comparison of services I made:

http://pascal.vanhecke.info/2006/10/31/screencasting-online-video-sharing-sites-compared-1/
http://pascal.vanhecke.info/2006/10/31/screencasting-online-video-sharing-sites-compared-2/

max johnson

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