Video and Audio Technology and Its Future

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Introduction

Indeed, the future of video and audio technology looks strong, more than ever before, in virtually all spheres of life. Nowhere is this upward trend for video and audio conferencing more pronounced than in businesses (Dominick 2003). More businesses are increasingly utilizing this technology to save on time and, travel costs. The latter is more of a fear, occasioned by the terrorist attacks at the twin towers in the United States, on September 11, 2001.

Following this greasy attack, most of the businesses dealing in the provision of video and audio conferencing reported an increased business, in the upwards of 20 percent, in the case of Norstan Inc, which saw businesses enquiring for the provision of this service. Sharon, Cohen, the CEO of, SBC Communications Inc, reported that in the fourth same period, the demand for the provision of video conferencing services for his company increased to well over 300 percent (Trewyn 2001).

As a consequence of these attacks, and perhaps in a bid to be prepared in case of similar episodes being witnessed, most companies have established call centers, and which are charged with the provision of this vital service. Without a doubt, the use of video and audio technology is poised to grow immensely into the future, buoyed by the need for companies to cut down on their operation costs, such as the travel expenses by company officials, to attend conferences. This is seen as a ramification of the attitudes hitherto held by business owners.

It should however be noted that the use of video and audio conferencing technology has been on an upward trend, even before the terrorist attacks; they only served to heighten the need for an embracing. Thanks to rapid advancement in technology, there has also been a rapid reduction in the overall cost of installing a video conferencing facility for the last four years (Pohlmann 1992). Today, more companies are in a better position to afford this technology. Some experts in the usage of the technology have pegged the cost of using the facility to be around 50 cents for every minute.

This has been a double benefit for business owners, and those who are engaged in the use of this technology, as prices have been reduced drastically, while the technology in use has increased immensely. Broadcasters have also not been left behind, and it is now common to find radio and television stations with an online posting of the feature stories and videos of the topic news. Indeed, broadband is a blessing to all, as it has helped open up opportunities, such as video programmers on a niche basis. At the same time, there has emerged a group of media companies that, even though they are not directly related to the video technology industry, nevertheless have aided in the upward trend movement of the sector (Dominick 2003).

These include the print media, as well as online publishing houses. These companies are also out to extend their individual brand, thus given them a competitive and better positioning edge, over their competitors. What better way then to achieve such a brand extension, than to get involved in video as well? In fact, more consumer-based products companies are laying a claim to the video segment, as a way of achieving a unique selling proposition for their products.

The emergence of audio technology

Wouldnt it be mind-boggling to hear the sound of a given wavelength, at exactly the same time that you see it? It would also be fun to scroll on a text and locate it in real-time, while also being able to say, magnify the sound of a text. Over the years and ever since its inception, the audio recording of music has been a source of consumer access to the sound of music, regardless of the consumers social standings, economic status, and geographical positions (Trewyn 2001). At the same time, it is through audio recording that has been witnessed over the years, that we are now able to experience the diversity and

Level of quality of the audio industry today

This is a concept that is now well established in this day and age of digital audio technology, whose foundation rests on a material whose formatting and editing can be manipulated to the wishes of an individual. As can be imagined, digital audio has greatly assisted in sound production, from a technical point of view, and in real-time (Pohlmann 1992). For this reason, it can be seen that the audio industry is growing from strength to strength, and one can only hope that the consumer will continue benefiting from this emerging trend of quality of sound production.

The emergence of video and audio files on the internet

Since its inception, the internet has found increased use as a primary source of information, as well as a tool for the dissemination of the same. In the initial stages, most of the information that was being disseminated over the internet was largely text-based, or graphical in form. It was only later that the use of video and audio files over the internet has emerged (Dominick 2003). In order for a client to store such files, they need first to download the same, courtesy of a server.

The trend now is that one can be able to access streaming videos and audios on the web, be they in the stored form or even live. Owing to this emerging trend, a lot of time and research has been dedicated to this area. This is how, then that the internet radio has emerged. In this case, the broadcasting is not done via airwaves, but rather, through the use of a streaming technology. At the same time, it is the internet that acts as a carrier for these radio frequencies and data signals. This way, it is possible for the transmission of sound to occur, as if it were happening on the airwaves (LeMair, Kumar & Snible 1998).

Unlike the use of packets, there is a need for synchronism with streaming. Prior to the 1990s, it was mandatory that one first downloaded sound files that normally, were large, before they could have a chance to play music. With the coming of streaming technology, however, it has now become possible to efficiently compress video and audio, as well as play these. Following this discovery, such media players as apple Quicktime, the media player for windows, and the real player, came into being. Through streaming technology, it is possible to compress the otherwise large audio files digitally and in real-time.

This means that rather than compressing a whole file all at once, one is now able to do the same in what a re-known as streams, or one byte after another. The implication is that one can be able to listen to, say music playing on a DVD, as it gets downloaded (Trewyn 2001). Given the versatility with which the internet radio is packaged, it would be possible to install; one at home, in your car, or office. At the same time, the advent of the age of wireless technology makes it even possible now for broadcasting by radio station possible, on the internet.

Indeed, the internet has personalized information, so that it is now possible to manipulate data to suit the needs of an individual online, thus making the consumer in this case to be in control of what they desire to get. At the same time, the timeline of video production has been altered altogether, making it possible for one to view a video or film online as soon as it is released, unlike in the past where one had to wait for its release into a cinema theater nearby

The emergence of video on the internet

Broadband internet connectivity is seen as a dream come true by many video enthusiasts. For starters, the information technology sector is not only the fastest growing industry but is also one with the shortest memory. Only in 1995, text was the big thing on the internet (Dominick 2003). It has been replaced over the years by other emerging technologies and today, one can presume that the use of video on the internet has gone a notch higher.

Not only is there an increased use in the usage of broadband towards this end, but there is also a rise in the number of video servers, as well as the emergence of more data centers. This is a confirmation of the level to which the video-internet connectivity hype has been embraced by a wide range of users (LeMair et al 1998). The trend is such that the usage of internet video ids more pronounced as the usage of broadband becomes more available. The mobile phone companies have also not been left behind and the presence of such features as a video camera and recording devices being seen as a tool to provide an edge over rival companies.

Perhaps the reason behind the rapid growth in the field of video is the ease with which a user can be able to generate the desired content unaided. This has been made possible by the emergence of customized software that enables a person to generate the desired content on their own. Little wonder, then, that such sites as YouTube are gaining such rapid popularity. At the same time, the leading search engines in the internet industry; Yahoo and Goggle have not also been left behind, in the quest to establish and launch video initiatives (Trewyn 2001).

It is also worth mentioning here that the video iPod that has been especially been popularized by Apple computers, has since turned into a revolutionary tool. At the same time, the watching of movies, as well as documentaries and videos are now shifting focus, from the traditional home and theater environment to the World Wide Web. The consumption of such entertainment segments as sports has only risen sharply in recent years, thanks to the ease of their availability cheaply on the internet. Indeed, one need not be physically at a favorite premiering of a game like say, soccer, if there is a chance that someone with a digital camera is able to film the whole game, and then post it on the internet for the consumption of the unlucky fans.

Consequently, the online video consumption populace is in the million and seems to only increase with time. What is more, advertising companies have also invaded the internet, and it is not unusual now to watch videos online that features several advertisements by companies (LeMair et al 1998). Clearly, the inventors of the Videonet are leaving nothing to chance.

The future of video

With the increasing use of the internet, the world of today has now turned into one global village. In light of this, there is an increasing need to transmit and receive information, whose presentation is increasingly calling for the use of multimedia facilities. In this regard, it is now possible to broadcast information that is either in the form of audio or visual (Dominick 2003). As such, this has only heightened the reality of being able to utilize a variety of media options to disseminate and receive information.

However, the transmission of video and audio information calls for a bandwidth connection, and the services providers the world over have not been left behind in the finding of a lasting solution to this problem. Consequently, such technologies as Bamba have been utilized by other global technology companies like IBM, in a bid to ensure that the users of audio and video services are able to achieve an affordable and high-quality service (Trewyn 2001). Given the hype with which the introduction of the video was received, it is not surprising now to hear many a customer asking where the video may be headed. Not even the introduction of Blue-ray, which has led to picture quality improvement relative to the DVD.

However, this has not been able to keep customers quiet about the issue, especially in this day and age of the internet connection (Trewyn 2001). It is for this reason that researchers and service providers have ensured that any new version, for example, a DVD release surprises its predecessor in terms of higher bits rates. As it is now, the DVD player is with us for keeps, if at all we have to keep on relying on this device to supply us with the latest productions from the studios.

However, even the emergence of Blue-ray technology may not be the key to the future of video technology (LeMair et al 1998). The internet availability has made people demand information at the click of a button. In this regard, it would be safe then to suppose that as more bandwidth is made available, the next big thing in video technology might as well be video content streaming.

Given the multimedia connectivity that has been made possible, thanks again to the internet, we can only safely assume that the future of video lies in its adaptability to conform to the applications of the internet. This will ensure that video is provided on demand, given the level of mobility that is a characteristic of todays generations, and the need to have information and video content even while on the move.

Works cited

Dominick, Joseph. The internet, broadcasting, cable, and beyond (sixth edition): introducing the modern electronic media. New York: Prentice Hall, 2003.

LeMair, Willebeek, Kumar, George, and Snible, Eric. (1998). Bamba: video and audio streaming, and the internet. IBM research and development journal. Web.

Pohlmann, Ken. Digital audio principles. Indiana: SAMS, 1992.

Trewyn, Phill. (2001). Audio and video conferencing gaining stronghold. Milwaukee business journal. Web.

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