Video:
We
will use Real video, Mpeg4 [DivX ;-)], and QuickTime formats
to allow viewers to watch BeyondTV.org over the internet
for free. Converting our videos to MPeg4 files [DivX format]
will enable us to distribute at low cost via inexpensive
CD-roms, and broadband Internet TV.
Undercurrents
has consistenly aimed to let the story of campaigns be told
by those involved on a community level and has been training
people and creating a network of video activists to that
aim for the past 6 years. Beyond TV will offer an outlet
for this huge human resource, which since the cessation
of the alternative news video has been largely inactive
or has moved on to more commercial concerns.
The
format which replaces the alternative news video is the
short internet news feature which can be downloaded and
exported to Video Tape or projected directly. This is a
technological breakthrough that has been eagerly anticipated
at Undercurrents as distribution can now move into the low
cost high outreach electronic area.
Beyond
TV aims to provide indepth information to show regional
resource centre how to download and export video files to
video tape for conventional screenings.
View our help files for video here -
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Audio:
We
have found audio reports in mp3 and realmedia format an
effective and low cost way of networking positive information.
Audio reports are especially useful for groups or individuals
who don't have access to video cameras and editing facilities.
They are also useful in times of crisis. At undercurrents
we found that audio reports made by phone which were then
recorded and placed on the web to be immediate and effective
. especially in testing situations where access to media
facilities was difficult to obtain.
Audio
reports can be downloaded and used as part of other stations
radio and news programs. There have been a number of sites
that have encouraged this form of resource sharing. We envisage
a section of Beyond TV which hosts the best reports of the
week in order for would be environmental radio programmers
to download the best can offer with one visit to a website.
We will use database technology to allow the producers of
audio reports to post their details to the site.
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View
our help files for audio here -
HTML
and database driven Web Pages:
As
previously mentioned database driven websites allow users
to add their own features to the site. We expect our initial
users to be part of international loose knit network of
independent film makers as represented by indymedia.org
and freespeech.org and in fact we can be seen as a new generation
of this idea of internet news and campaign publishing. We
are not aiming to compete with such structures, rather to
work in partnership with existing groups to allow them to
better profit such internet media technology. We will allow
open posting to the site to encourage diverse contributors
especially researchers seeking a wider audience for their
work.
A
typical presentation on BeyondTV would involve an HTML web
page introduction to a campaign subject, followed by a media
feature [video, audio or flash animation] and finally a
database driven page. This page would list resources, research
and other information associated with the campaign together
with other positive projects concerning with the subject
of the feature.
Typically
introductory HTML webpages would be created in association
with campaign groups mirroring their style and linking to
relevant pages. Collaboration may also involve offering
help and training if they are unable to make regular updates
to their site.
Undercurrents
Foundatation recently launched an extensive internet training
program and even though database technology can be seen
as a replacement for HTML pages, we are keen to continue
to use HTML as it creates more attractive, visual pages.
Database
driven pages would be generated from a store of projects,
contacts and resources centres. One of the main tasks in
the setting up of the website is the co-ordination and inputting
of such projects and links into this database. Once in place,
groups will be able to add and edit their own information
and as such maintenance should be minimal.
Database
geek Info:
Server side. We are in a fortunate position to be able to
use free software which is perfectly suited to our needs.
We have been working in partnership with indymedia.org both
on a local and international level and they are able to
provide us with invaluable technical support concerning
database driven websites.
The
combination of MySql and Php scripting will provide the
basis for our database driven webpages and services.
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Other
Formats:
Multi-medis
is going to be an essential tool for those working towards
positive social change. It's great for outreach to a public
that won't read pamphets and it's also a really good laugh
to do.
CDRoms
CD roms are a low cost way of distributing large amounts
of information. The latest undercurrents project - Global
Views, is to be distributed on CDRom internationally. The
web has made the general public comfortable with the multimedia
environment. A Media based CDrom using Web pages as a navigational
system is easy and cheap to produce and distribute.
Flash Animations
The Flash Internet browser plug-in is installed on 5 million
computers. It can be used as an effective way of fusing
text and images, video and animation into a web presentation.
We will be using Flash on the Beyond TV website and encourage
artists who want to use Flash to raise awareness of campaign
issues to enter links to their work into the Beyond TV database.
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