Amb:IT:ion - Video equipment on a budget

Posted on 12 Oct 2009 at 10:56am

One of the online networks I act as custodian for is Amb:IT:ion. Recently the 9 regional networks have been filtered in to one UK online social and business support network. Amb:IT:ion is a change programme for the arts and cultural sector – helping organisations achieve their 21st century sustainability ambitions through implementing integrated IT and digital developments. As I am currently preparing a Social Media course for Axis I thought I\'d start sharing some relevant articles with the Axis forums. Anyone interested in Amb:IT:ion can visit me on the network www.getambition.ning.com.

This is from out new Digital Doctor forum.

QUESTION to the Digital Doctor forum.
We\'re on a tight budget. Everything we need to buy needs to count, be multi-pupose, be easy to use etc etc. We have good cameras, now we need tech to help us document our work dynamically. I\'m thinking mobile phones that upload to the web, any ideas?

ANSWER from Caron Lyon
There are 2 tech solutions for uploading user generated content to the web and helping you document your work dynamically to consider.

1. A ‘smart’ 3G web enabled mobile phone like the Nokia N86 or iPhone 3GS
2. A pocket HD camcorder with a Kodak Zi8 or Flip video ultra HD

With option 1 you have the advantage of streaming interviews and video footage directly to the web and by embedding a player on your web site or blog directly to your website or web presence. The disadvantage of this being the quality of the footage, as there is no editing opportunity. However, the footage can be downloaded and edited at a later date for inclusion in a show reel and the small embedded players produce suitable quality playback considering the pay off of instant online content. For audio podcasts quality is excellent with an appropriately selected media mobile. Mobile phones have many other functions for you to dynamically document work and increase productivity away from the office environment, providing you with a portable wi-fi connection for example.

Services providing FREE live video streaming opportunities
Qik
Bambuser
Flixwagon

These services all have a dialogue box or page link where you to enter the make and model of your phone to see the service supports your mobile.

Service providing portable wi-fi connection
Joikuspot

I personally use Qik ( I find it the easiest to use) and Bambuser, Qik for point and shoot live capture and Bambuser for mobile live streaming from my mobile or a web cam. Mostly I favour Qik as I can group my captured videos and embed them with the production or event they are relevant to when archiving and distributing to social networking sites. Video captured and stored on a mobile phone’s SD or internal memory can be transferred on to a PC or Mac retaining the recording quality setting of the phone. Streamed video is compressed and optimised for streaming and stored online by the service you decide to use. With Qik I can also notify my Twitter followers that I am streaming live at the touch of a button.

I also use Joikuspot as a portable wi-fi connection when away from the office making me less dependant on venue wi-fi especially when staying in hotels.

With option 2, footage has to be transferred to a PC or Mac via a built in flip out USB before being uploaded to the web storage platform such as Vimeo, Viddler, Blip.tv or YouTube.
These custom pocket HD camcorders produce higher quality visuals and with the Kodak Zi8 the option of an external microphone. The disadvantages over a media mobile are that they perform only one task and can’t stream live for immediate engagement.

Which ever option to choose audio quality is a key consideration and the distance at which you want to capture footage from. For interviews, rehearsal room clips and short context production footage mobile and pocket video camera are ideal. For filming a production for archiving full size video equipment and the production values they provide is still the best quality option.

Live Twitter at the Albert Hall

Posted on 24 Mar 2009 at 12:55am

Tomorrow - 24 March 2009 - pcmcreative will be Blogger in Residence for the day at Nottingham\'s Community Broadband Network NextGen Road Show.

This is the days agenda

I will be Twittering live throughout the day on http://twitter.com/pcmcreative and on behalf of NextGenAccess on http://twitter.com/NextGenAccess

Log on and join in. If you decide to take the plunge and make this you first Tweet make sure you let me know. New Tweeter are always welcome in my Twitter stream.

I will also be streaming live to Qik which will be announced on Twitter but you can drop by any time to http://qik.com/pcmcreative to see if there is anything new.

What on Earth is CBN?
The Community Broadband Network (CBN) has a track record of delivering innovative, community-based broadband solutions for challenging projects that are perhaps geographically hard to reach (remote, rural areas) or that suffer from urban deprivation and social exclusion.

And the NextGen RoadShows?
Each event is designed as a one day workshop aiming to inform participants about the latest state of play with next generation broadband nationally and regionally. These will be ‘can-do’ affairs, highlighting local action and opportunities for new project development.

The URL to find out more is http://www.broadband.coop/

I am delighted to be invited to live blog the Nottingham event.

Hope some of you can stop by on Twitter.

Cheers
CJ

The Future of Social Media in 2009

Posted on 27 Jan 2009 at 2:32pm

Amb:IT:ion and PCM creative.

I recently landed a contract that is so perfectly aligned to the direction I have been taking my business that the beginning of 2009 feels like a dream I might  wake from. I\'ve been appointed as Social Network creator and workshop leader for a series of 10 roadshow events around the UK for an arts initiative called Amb:IT:ion working with A.C.E (Arts Council England).

AmbITion is a change programme for the arts and cultural sector – helping organisations achieve their 21st century sustainability ambitions through implementing integrated IT and digital developments.

In the spirit of social media, its collaborative power and accessibility I always try to combine my networks and share what I can. Axis Centre and Axis Community form the fundamental foundation for my real world networks that PCM creative thrives on. No matter how successful business or social interactions are online its benefits and value are measured in how you bring that success in to your offline world.

I will be reporting here as well as on my blog with aspects of Social Media that over the coming years will see the face of business change and evolve in ways I can only imagine. The whole point of my blogging is to share those findings and follow the developments and the uses.

One Amb:IT:ion team member Chi-chi Ekweozor  from Real Fresh TV is the new digital content producer. I am no writer my talents lay in resourcing, collaboration, team building and facilitation of Social Media within business. Everyone has there strengths and I am looking forward to working with Chi-chi. I want to share this with you. A short posting from her. Credit where credit is due!

A new year, a new set of predictions.

Here is a link to some fascinating predictions on where the web and social media is headed in 2009.
http://delicious.com/ICT_Hub/2009

It’s a useful list of articles with headlines like the following:

• A sea change online in 2009?
• Explainers to Watch in 2009
• 2009 Web Predictions
• 5 Trends: Where Social Media Marketing is Heading, in 2009 and Beyond
• Social media gurus offer their predictions for 2009

So how do you begin tapping in to Social Media? Now that\'s what Axis Centre\'s new Social Media course is all about. You didn\'t think I\'d give all my secrets away did you? Not just yet! Courses will be available to book soon.

Why Second Life exists.

Posted on 10 Dec 2008 at 10:38am

I wish I could be this eloquent. Phillip Rosendale, creator of Second Life presents at TED. Its a 30min video but worth the time. Second Life is an environment to explore boundaries and create in. Thats why it is so much more than a game. As a social and business user of Second Life I am fascinated by its evolution and application.

Ever trying to put stuff in to action, on Saturday 13  from 4pm - 5pm I'll be doing a Second Life presentation with a friend at MediaCampLondon. My friend being in Chicago and me in London. I'll be doing a brief tour of Pilot Theatre's Second Life hub which is a 3D web space bring in some of the company's online media. Its a space. And the second half is me facilitating across the divide with a real life audience in London and a Second Life audience to listen to my friend Nazz Lane talk about his jounalism writing and story telling with his reading excerpts from his work.

So if you want to take part http://tinyurl.com/2pqddb

More about MediaCampLondon You can all follow the activities on Twitter.

There will be a MediaCampNotingham in the late Spring.

A glimpse in to Second Life - a guided tour.

Posted on 7 Jul 2008 at 2:53pm

Back from the Shift Happens event hosted at York Theatre Royal by Pilot Theatre, the company I develop and maintain a Second Life presence for, I now have the task of reflection and blogging. Before I post my first blog post telling you about the inspirational speakers I listened to during the weekend and link to some brilliant new Social Media applications for you to try out here is the YouTube video of the Walkthrough of the Second Life venue.

Enjoy.

Great content for my website you will agree!

Shift Happens - convergong technology conference - Free over the Internet this Thursday

Posted on 30 Jun 2008 at 6:14pm

On Thursday 3 July from 12 noon Pilot Theatre's Shift Happens conference takes place in York.  Its being shown live over the Internet. You don't even have to leave the office to take part or tune in. Watch it from home even. And it's free!

Yes I'm repeating my earlier post but...In a nutshell it's the Theatre Industry meets Web 2, Social Media and social networking...grills it, dissects it and watches it run from the building screaming as creative minds take it a part. There is an impressive speakers list. It asks the question "What can all this technology do for us?" With speakers talking about how their companies are using it to great effect.

Julie Borchard Young will give an overview of The Met: Live in HD Programme and other digital cinema programs.

Kit Monkman, who's mission is to apply leading digital innovation to large-scale live environments in order to expand the audience's experience of theatrical work.

Dave Moutrey who has been Director of Cornerhouse since April 1998. Cornerhouse is Greater Manchester's international centre for cinema and contemporary visual art where audiences, artists and filmmakers are brought together to experience and debate cultural practice and ideas through a unique programme that aims to stimulate, entertain and inform.

Tom Fleming is director of Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy. Tom is a consultant and academic specialising in research, strategy and policy for the cultural and creative economy at all levels. His focus lies on establishing the climate for creativity, innovation, collaboration, and business growth. And many more.

Bill Thompson a New media pioneer,  journalist, commentator and technology critic.

And others.

I can't wait. Take a look for yourself.

http://www.pilot-theatre.com/shifthappens/

Tune in on Thursday. There will be instant message live text chat too.

Broadcast live on Pilot's web site http://www.pilot-theatre.net/redesign/?idno=17206

or

Embedded in the PCM IA community hub http://pcmcreative.ning.com/?xgi=PWndJN


Follow Pilot on Twitter and get the hi lights throughout the day
http://twitter.com/pilot_theatre

What's Twitter? - here is an excellent video called Twitter in Plain English.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/55socm

You can get Twitter on your mobile too. Is the web starting to work for working theatricals not tied to a PC on our desks? Could the Internet be useful after all? If anyone needs help tuning in don't hesitate in contacting me in Facebook.

Thank you for your time. I wanted to share this with you. And Thank you for continuing to be a member of the group.

Caron - Jane Lyon
Virtual SM at Pilot Theatre's Second Life home and Axis Community member.