Storemedia: Decoding the Mysteries of Multimedia
Solution for uploading, sharing, and distributing multimedia released.
The global demand for online and blended learning is rapidly increasing, as is the demand for multimedia management and hosting. In October 2007, Virtual University Design and Technology, in collaboration with Academic Computing and Network Services, released StoreMedia (http://StoreMedia.vudat.msu.edu), an easy solution for uploading, sharing and distributing multimedia components via the Web.
What is StoreMedia?
StoreMedia is provided to faculty, staff and teaching assistants as a do-it-yourself way to host streaming and/or downloadable media files. Files are saved directly on a streaming media server, which provides a larger amount of space than is available on other campus repositories such as AFS and ANGEL. StoreMedia:
- Provides web feed (RSS) syndication capability
- Offers a web file manager for streaming and downloadable media files
- Generates valid URL and media player HTML to distribute media files
- Makes podcasting easy with integrated RSS manager
What benefits does StoreMedia offer?
With an increase in multimedia use in ANGEL, and a recent surge in the popularity of podcasting, StoreMedia offers an easy integration solution in an easy-to-navigate web format. Among the simplifying features StoreMedia offers: automatic creation of links and embed tags, a Web-based file manager, the ability to re-use and re-purpose content in multiple courses and locations, and syndication. Syndication is relatively new to the higher ed technology scene, and thus may be somewhat new to many faculty and staff.
Downloaded files, when accessed, copy directly onto the user’s machine, and can be viewed multiple times without an Internet connection. These files are stored directly on the user’s hard drive, making space a necessary consideration. Video quality is most consistent with downloaded files, but on slow network connections retrieval may be time consuming.
Streamed files are saved on and accessed directly from the server, allowing users to access the information without the need to download space intensive files. Streaming provides the fastest startup times, but video quality is dependant on the quality of each user’s Internet connection.
Getting Started with Syndication
StoreMedia’s syndication capability allows a convenient way for faculty, staff and TAs to reach their audience and an easy way for their audience to receive newly uploaded content. To begin syndication, follow these steps:
To create an RSS feed:
- From http://StoreMedia.vudat.msu.edu, click RSS feeds
- Click Edit to edit your existing default feed
- Enter meaningful title and description
- Click change
To add media to an existing RSS feed:
- Upload the file
- Click RSS Add
- Enter title and description
- Select the feed you’d like to add the file to
- Click Add
StoreMedia allows users to subscribe to a single link via feed reader, podcatcher or web browser, and see new content automatically, as soon as the owner uploads it. StoreMedia allows for RSS feed creation, and provides an automatically-generated URL.
This URL can be easily added to an RSS reader:
Where can I find help?
Online documentation and detailed information about StoreMedia is available at help.StoreMedia.vudat.msu.edu. A StoreMedia demonstration in RSS syndication is accessible here with support provided by Distance Learning Services, at (517)355-2345 or 1-800-500-1554.
Face-to-face training on podcasting is available through Libraries, Computing, and Technology Training Program (LCTTP). Visit train.msu.edu for course information.
