Doing it Live

WE HAVE AN OLD DV CAMERA and a trustworthy piece of Webcam DV software that allows us to record with a Canon XM1 instead of a Creative webcam. The difference in quality is amazing. At community events like Podcamp Ireland, the DV cam will offer a "Podcamp Live" dimension to the proceedings. We're testing the deployment of the camera now in various settings, hoping that our creative multimedia students can develop the skill sets required to sling it around with a boom mic and guerilla lighting. Being able to retrofit an old handycam into the role of a webcam is very important when lifestreaming family events. You need high quality screen resolution to ensure your video minutes are good enough for the 42" screen in sitting rooms a generation from now.

The webcam dimension of the DV cam slots nicely into the significant enhancement broadband has enjoyed in Ireland recently. If you believe the propaganda, broadband coverage extends nearly 90% across Ireland. In actual fact, we cannot get suitable broadband coverage more than 60% of the time during our daily work-related meet-ups. In fairness, hundreds of telephone exchanges were upgraded in 2008, meaning you can often commission a 20Mbs connection into many meeting venues with no more than 90 days' notice. However, only a few cities have HSDPA broadband for outdoor or mobile meeting support.

I'm interested in making my old technology work to connect generations together, meaning I want to use high-quality camera moments over Online Meeting Rooms when talking to family and colleagues in the States. I need DV cam broadband on Seesmic and I need quality over the air broadband for Qik.

We are changing the landscape of connected Ireland and digital lifestyles of Irish residents are changing as well. I see these new connections evolving when I see my phone's video captures on my television and when I watch the results of my DV camera provide zooms and pans for an online meeting audience. I wish more industry leaders could see these technologies working--and failing to connect--during our barcamp meetups throughout Ireland. These technologies go well beyond the talking heads at industry events. These technologies, when used by first year students to produce creative multimedia content, actually deliver in real time. I'm looking forward to sharing some of the show reel moments from Podcamp Ireland so readers can see what we're doing.

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We proudly use Webcam DV software from Orangeware when connecting through Online Meeting Rooms.

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