Glossaries and Resources

The digital tools in the Media Technology Glossary & Resource section are:

• RSS
  
• Podcasting
• Mobile Media
• Streaming Video
  

RSS

Really Simple Syndication is a brief text description of web content together with an actual link to that content. This information is sent or received as an XML file called RSS feed, RSS stream, RSS channel or webfeed.

Value to websites: RSS facilitates syndication and allows a website to notify its readers of updates and new filings. RSS is a free and easy way to promote a site and its content without the need to advertise or create complicated content sharing partnerships.

Value to Content Seekers: Instead of relying solely on web searches to find content, content seekers subscribe to RSS feeds from sites they like with an RSS Reader or RSS Aggregator. (See more on aggregators at the end of this section.) Content seekers can automatically receive the most topical information or updates.

For a further review of the value of RSS to nonprofits and links to resources, see the following "RSS for Nonprofits: Web content on your terms" http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/page4781.cfm?cg=searchterms&sg=rss

Podcasting

Podcasting is a method of using RSS to have audio programs automatically download into a subscriber’s computer. You can find links to more information on podcasting in the Technology Resources section.

 

Mobile (Telephone) Media: Definitions and Resources

Mobile Media or portable media is the 21st Century phenomenon of viewing multimedia on a portable device at any location or when on the move. The medium could be a mobile phone, a PDA or a portable media player which increasingly have become essential requirements for the modern day business traveller.

Media can be downloaded onto the device or can be streamed over the web. Digital applications include gaming, video, audio, downloadable ring tones and mobizines.

http://www.urbanworldwireless.com/glossary.php

 

Streaming Video

Streaming video is usually sent from prerecorded video files, but can be distributed as part of a live broadcast "feed." In a live broadcast, the video signal is converted into a compressed digital signal and transmitted from a special Web server that is able to do multicast, sending the same file to multiple users at the same time.

Major streaming video and streaming media technologies include RealSystem G2 from RealNetwork, Microsoft Windows Media Technologies (including its NetShow Services and Theater Server), and VDO.