Elliot Masie talks "videoification"

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Jan 9, 2006.
#375- Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
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TV via Internet - Learning Implications: CES Report from The MASIE Center.

The primary discussion at the just ended Consumer Electronics Show in Las
Vegas was Television over the Internet. Announcements from Google,
Microsoft, Apple, Cisco, Verizon, Yahoo and others all focused on the
expanding capability (and market) for delivering television content over
the internet. Terms like IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) are being
used to describe a rapidly expanding capacity to deliver video content to
your desktop, mobile phone or other devices, via broadband internet
connections, on-demand and to your specifications.

The MASIE Center is exploring how these trends and market investments may
impact organizational learning approaches. Here are some Learning TRENDS
and emerging examples for our readers to ponder:

* "Videoification" of the Web: Apple has cut the way with the release of
their video iPod and the sale of TV shows for $1.99 a piece. New services
from Microsoft, Yahoo and others are rapidly expanding this marketplace.
Video PodCasting is starting to emerge as an additional vehicle for
content distribution. We believe that this may be an early "tipping point"
for the "Videoification" of the web.

Currently, most internet usage is text based with a mild level of graphics
and a sprinkling of audio/video. If the growth of video content continues,
the user may increasingly come to accept and expect video content from
their web experience. This raises serious development hurdles for content
producers and also requires new models for tagging and search processes.
However, we believe that there will be a steady increase in the demand for
video for learning activities.

* Personalized Control Rooms: Check out the recent announcement from CNN
of their CNN Pipeline product. The user is given a video control room that
contains four live feeds from CNN sources as well as access to a huge
level of stored images. They can switch the "feeds" the same way the
control room at CNN is doing, selecting images, stories and perspectives
as desired. Imagine providing this same offering to learners. Rather than
a single storyline or instructional path, they are given multiple sources,
including some live peer interaction and they can choose which one to
select. Imagine being in a webcast with 5 windows, including a live feed
from the instructor, application sharing, remedial content and the ability
to search archives. The learner may increase their expectation of
switching and choosing the scene or shot or perspective of their choice.
For example, there may be a "nay sayer" feed from someone who disagrees
with the perspective of the presenter. Check out the CNN Pipeline and get
a glimpse of the future. http://www.cnn.pipeline/ Their video quality is
amazing and a sense of how far streaming over the internet has advanced.

* Video to Devices: On my belt is a new cell phone, the Viper from
Motorola with service from Verizon. There is a new service called V Cast,
which brings broadcast quality video to my phone from a variety of
sources. Right now, I can access news and entertainment highlights. But,
in a short while, there will be access to a broad range of content,
including corporate specific or learning focused content. The ability to
distribute just in time video content to the hands of our workforce is
intriguing. Imagine retailers, banks or other customer facing
organizations using this technology to provide short blasts of content to
the entire workforce or on-demand access.

There is an interesting story by a USA Reporter who used this service to
"kill time" while waiting for a flight as they were leaving CES this week:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2005-01-12-baig_x.htm

* Digital Cameras at Work: Learning organizations should take a fresh look
at the use of digital cameras (video and still) as tools for corporate
learning. I could not find a single company that is currently teaching
their employees to utilize digital cameras as knowledge/learning tools.
While we whip out these cameras, along with our cell phone cameras, at any
family event or outing, they are not really recognized as assets for
organizational knowledge capture. It is time to take a fresh look. When
someone comes back from an event, why not do a short video interview with
them, rapidly edit and tag it and share it back out? Think of other times
where we might be able to leverage "citizen capture" as part of our
learning efforts. Many will point to the "poor quality" or "lack of
editing" as a reason to avoid their use. Let's see how we might use these
tools as part of the knowledge feed of our organizations.

Upcoming MASIE Center Events and Services:
* Learning Management Systems 2006 - Las Vegas - April 6 and 7.
* Extreme Learning LAB & Seminar - Saratoga Springs - Jan 25-27.
* Learning 2006 - Orlando - Nov 5 - 8.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com