Appendix B: Webcast FAQ s Terminology

Transcription

1 Appendix B: Webcast FAQ s Terminology

2 SN Glossary of Terms Live Event Live web casts capture the presentation as it happens, weather it is from a boardroom in Toronto or a Hotel half way around the world. Broadcasting an event live enables the client to reach a larger audience; allowing those who were not able to attend the live event to attend virtually. The IAPA looked to extend the audience for their annual meeting from their GTA region to all of Ontario and successfully broadcast the event to remote sites marking the first time all IAPA sites and employees were able to view their annual address on the same day experiencing the same presentation with full interaction with the speakers. To view please click here: Password: iapa2007 Archived Event The archived event is recorded and then made available to participants on-demand 24/7. All of our live event packages have an archive life of 12 months. The archive allows clients to promote the event after it has finished to those participants who were not available at the time of the live event. When Retirement Residences REIT looked to train all their staff on Pandemic Planning in the form of Hand Washing and Viral Outbreak protection they turned to SN to develop a video that contained live actions demos as well as presentation to the staff. Each staff member then watched the video with their manager and we captured all viewers info and assisted them in training all staff in under a month.

3 To view click here: Audio Web Cast The audio web cast broadcasts audio over the internet and participants listen to the event over their desktops. Like all web casts there is no back and forth audio communication between participants and presenters When KPMG looked to comment on the federal budget they required a hybrid between a conference call and a webcast. The webcast enabled them to conserve on costs while the webcast offered a dynamic communications tool with an archive for viewing after the budget release. Moving to a webcast and conference assisted them in raising their audience from 200 to 1200 year over year. To View click here: Video Web Cast Same as the audio web cast but broadcasts video instead of audio. When presenting to PWC Management Services LP a live video webcast demo was required to show proof of concept. We conducted this event live from the PWC offices. SN would perform similar services when engaging on our channel partners behalf.

4 To view click here: Synchronized slides The presenter is able to take the audience through a power point presentation while giving the presentation (audio or video). Once archived the slides and synched to the presenters voice just as they were in the live event so that the archive simulates being present when the presentation was first given. The synchronized slides webcast was initially developed for the Investor Relations space to be used during AGM season. It has since been turned into a tool to give corporate presentations to large audiences where little interactivity is required. To view Click here: Viewer Controlled Slides The slides are on the web cast interface and the viewer has the ability to move through the slides at their own speed. This option reduces costs. Some clients prefer this model as a way to offer their audience information, in the form of slides, but do not necessarily need to take them through a presentation.

5 Lobby Page When a client first clicks on a URL to visit a web cast they land on the Lobby Page. The lobby page tells them what they are about to see, Date, time and title of the event are listed along with information on the speakers, topic and or company. Imagine the lobby page like the posters at a movie theatre, you walk into the theatre and the posters give you an idea of what each movie is like. If the poster does interest you, most likely you will not pay to see that movie. Custom Branded Registration Page Once the viewer visits the lobby and wants to continue on to view the web cast they will either enter the web cast or be asked to complete a short registration page. You client is able to determine what information is requested during registration and that information is tracked in a registration database. Registration is live for both the live and archived version of each event; the client is then able to accurately track all attendees. Posting a web cast with registration on your corporate web site can be a source of lead generation as parties interested in your company or product will have to enter their name to listen to the presentation.

6 Custom Player Participants view the web cast is the player which is actually just a Windows Media Player or Real Player (Flash and QT also used). Enunciate will wrap the player in a design that is custom to the client including logos, title, links to topical information, downloadable resources, speaker photos or bios... etc. This is where web casting separates itself from other web presentation platforms; each client has a different brand and a different message. We will match the look up with that brand and message ensuring that every web cast we do promotes the client to the participant who views it. Question Manager This tool allows those viewing a live event to be able to ask a question of the speaker(s). Participants have will see a button on the player, upon clicking that button they will be able to submit a text question. This question can either go directly to the presenter s laptop or to a question screener. The question screener will read through all the questions and post those he feels relevant to the presenter s laptop. This process provides the client with greater control over their communication and ensures that no participant is able to derail the presentation with questions meant to damage the message or the presenter.

7 Interactive Polling During the live event the presenter can launch polls (multiple choice in nature) the participants will be asked to respond to before the presentation continues. The presenter is provided with real time stats as to how the audience has voted. Often this is used to gauge how the audience is receiving the message but can be used to gain feedback on any message. Survey The survey generally pops up at the completion of the live or archive web cast. The survey results are linked to the participant s registration information so you are able to know who the respondents were. The exit survey is a power full tool to gain demographic information on your audience or to better qualify sales opportunities. Testing The survey can take the form of a test with right and wrong answers for every question. Participants will be asked to complete the test at the conclusion of the web cast and will be awarded a passing or failing grade. This is of great benefit in the training and development space as they can record a training session once and then offer it on demand for months without having to designate a human resource to facilitate the training.

8 FAQ 1. How Webcasting Works Webcasting is the exciting but complex world of network multimedia. The professionals on SN s production teams make it easy for you to use webcasting in reaching your communication goals. Distilled to the basics, this is the anatomy of a Webcast: Record Video or audio content is recorded at the source. Capture Content is compressed, and then transferred to "streaming media" software. Convert Content is encoded and integrated with other project elements (like slide presentations, user log-in and more), then "packaged" for the web. Distribution Once ready, the program is distributed via specialized servers onto the Internet - either live, or stored for later access. Play A program, like RealPlayer or Windows Media Player, converts the data stream from webcast servers to a viewing or listening experience on the user's computer desktop. Voila! Here is your webcast! 2. What is the difference between webcasting and streaming? The terms are used interchangeably. But there is a small difference: "Webcasting" covers the whole process, referring collectively to all the steps in producing a webcast event from capture and encoding of content, to web development to create players and other tools, through to delivery to the audience. "Streaming" refers specifically to the technical process of delivering the webcast to the user's desktop player program. The word reflects how the technology works: content is not downloaded and stored on the user's computer. Rather, it just "streams" through in real time, vanishing as it goes. 3. Does the webcast audience log into the client's website or SN s? Truly a frequently asked question! Viewers access the webcast through your website and are automatically linked to our advanced edge servers. So although they are not "on" your website to view the webcast, they'll never know it because SN s identity is completely invisible to your viewers. 4. What is the difference between webcasting and audio or video-conferencing? Webcasting is a "one to many" medium. It enables an unlimited audience, regardless of location, to experience a presenter's message that is broadcast over the internet. Web access is all the online participant needs.

9 Video or audio conferencing, on the other hand, is a "group to group" medium, enabling remotely located groups to interact with each other, generally using telephone lines, from a specially equipped facility at both ends. Yes, a video or audio conference can be webcast simultaneously as well - in fact, we do this often. Our sales representatives can explain in detail. 5. Remote or on-site signal capture - does it matter? It depends on your communication goals, and the quality of the original signal. Some events do not require the best possible sound quality, so the diminished quality that may result from remote capture (depending on quality of the original signal) need not be a problem. Broadcasting from a remotely captured signal can be like listening to a radio interview where the interviewee is on the phone, rather than in the studio. We can capture your signal in a number of ways - but nothing really equals the quality of sound captured live at the source. 6. What is a player? A player enables you to view a webcast. It's the interface between your computer and the webcast content. Think of a webcast player as a machine, such as a VCR or CD player that looks like a computer window. At SN we specialize in designing branded players that look and feel just like your website. Our players may be enhanced in a number of ways for an advanced user experience. (And SN s identity is never visible to your audience on the players we create for you - it's your webcast, so your player ought to communicate your identity.) See our Showcase for player examples. 7. What does "transfer" mean? "Transfer" is webcasting-speak for the process of delivering a webcast to an on-demand viewer from our specialized streaming edge servers. More on Encoding, Hosting & Transfer. 8. What's the difference between "bandwidth" and "bit-rate"? The words are used interchangeably. However, "bandwidth" technically means the size and capacity of your internet connection (dial-up, high-speed, or cable). "Bit-rate" refers to the speed with which data (bits) can pass through the connection (bandwidth). The choices for webcasting are generally 56k, 150k or 300k. Note that "k" means kilobytes of data per second. 9. What do I need to know to plan a successful webcast? Simply apply the rules of good business communication: Plan well in advance, so all the challenges (including technical ones) can be identified and addressed smoothly. Clearly target your audience, understand its characteristics, and focus your communication goals and strategies accordingly. Hone your message presentation to maximum clarity visually and aurally. Measure and evaluate your success. Of course, you must also ensure you choose a webcast supplier whose capabilities match your needs and expectations. 10. What are the major variables affecting cost? Service option: will your event be live or served on-demand after the event, or both? Complexity: will content be captured from one source sequentially or from multiple sources simultaneously, such as several speakers in event break-out rooms? Format: do you want audience to have a choice of viewing in RealPlayer or Windows Real Media? (Our packages offer one format, your choice.)

10 Duration: will your event run 1 hour, 4 hours, or multiple days? Size: how big is the webcast file to be stored and transferred to users? Packaging: how much development is needed to encode and "package" your presentation for the web? Options: do you need Registration & Log In? Question & Answer manager for live interactivity? Ad insertions? E-commerce linkage? See Webcast Options for a complete list of options. 11. How do we measure the success of a webcast? With webcasting, measurement is so easy, and refreshingly precise. Every webcast we produce includes a statistical report: number of visitors and unique visitors, when they visited, duration of viewing/listening, and sources of visitor traffic and, if you elect to have Registration as well, addresses and company names of your visitors. 12. What do I need on my computer to experience a webcast? The vast majority of late-model computers come equipped with everything you need: at least a Pentium processor, a sound card, and a Player program (see above question) downloaded free from the internet.