February 22, 2012

It’s Live and It’s Streaming: The New Media

The Internet is constantly evolving, giving us access to newer technologies. These technologies have changed every aspect of our lives. Today, it is possible to have an online phone conversation with someone from China, while watching the latest episode of your favorite television show online, while shopping for a new pair of shoes, also online. Live streaming is one such technology that is being used in new and innovative ways to change the way we view media.

The obvious question is, of course, what is live streaming. Simply put, live streaming is a method of viewing media in which the media stream is being constantly received and presented at the same time. This technology utilizes a provider who specializes in streaming technology. This is in stark contrast to the traditional methods of viewing media on line, in which large files were downloaded and then viewed.

Live streaming is a more efficient way of broadcasting media on the Internet. Its practical applications include news broadcasts which are immediately available for viewing online, viewing of television episodes and perhaps, more importantly, the viewing of popular and viral Internet videos.

Live streaming has taken the concept of a viral video to a whole new level. Sites like YouTube allow users to instantaneously access video files and view them. Instead of a long and painful wait while the file downloads, users can view the file at the click of a button. This has led to the phenomenon of viral videos and has created an entirely new trend in marketing.

Live streaming technology has advanced to such a degree that even exceptionally long videos can be quickly viewed by users with a moderate speed Internet connection. It is likely that, as more companies strive to take advantage of the phenomenon of viral videos, live streaming technology will continue to develop. It may be that eventually all media utilizes the technology of live streaming – giving us access to an even greater amount of media at an even greater speed.