Streaming Video is a process that allows video content to be delivered in real-time across the Internet to the user's browser without requiring the entire clip to be downloaded before it can be viewed.

Web Sites without this technology in place would require users to wait while they downloaded the material - often a long and laborious process. For instance an uncompressed AVI (Audio Visual Information) file that is only 40 seconds long might take over 20 minutes to download using a 56Kbps modem. Compare this with an AVI file that has been converted to a suitable streaming format and hosted on a streaming server - the clip would begin to play as soon as the downloading process begins (following a brief period where the contents is buffered into memory). A streaming video file can be of virtually unlimited length, and can run over Internet bandwidths from 56Kbps upwards.

Narrowband vs Broadband:

Enormous progress has been made in compression techniques that enable content to be streamed at modem speeds of 56K (i.e. Narrowband). However a Broadband connection is necessary to experience streaming video at a quality comparable to VHS video and even DVD. Fortunately Broadband access technologies such as DSL, ADSL, Cable Modem and Satellite are now becoming widespread. According to Dataquest, 6 million U.S. customers will have signed up for high-speed access in the year 2000, with that number expected to grow to over 28 million by 2004. And by 2005, 46.7 million U.S. citizens will be Broadband enabled (and 27 million Europeans - source: Forrester Research).

Applications:

Streaming Video can be applied in a variety of situations, bringing commercial benefits to companies that are able to provide it. For instance it can be utilised for sales demonstrations, training presentations, entertainment, publishing, advertising and news.

Apache's Streaming Video Services:

We are currently in the process of enhancing our hosting facilities to be able to provide our clients with a comprehensive and cost-effective range of streaming solutions. Further information will be added to this section of the Web Site as it becomes available.

In the mean time, we are able to provide video encoding and 'streaming over HTTP', enabling video clips to be embedded directly into web pages. For an example of this, please see the Nigel Mead web site at www.nigelmead.com.