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What is Door?
The Door server (door.it.northwestern.edu) provides a single
front end to multiple sources of archived streaming media at
Northwestern University.
Door eases the use of streaming media
by allowing you to write links using a consistent syntax
regardless of the type of streaming media or the specific
streaming server. Door also provides for
authenticated access to media using the
Northwestern University NetID and password.
You may even restrict access to subsets of
authenticated users such as students in a class.
What is Streaming Media?
Usually if you want to view a digital video file or
listen to a digital audio file, you need to download
the whole media file before viewing any of it.
Since a media file can be very large, it might take
hours to download.
With streaming media you download only a small
fragment of the media file to start. The remainder is
"streamed" or delivered to you as you are watching
or listening. There is no need to download or store
huge files on your computer.
Streaming media can be either live
or archived. A live media stream
broadcasts an event occurring as it happens.
An archived media stream, sometimes called
video on demand, broadcasts a prerecorded
event that you can be view or hear at any time.
The Door server principally supports archived media.
How Do You Get Started?
Several groups located in Main Library 2East
can help faculty and staff get started with
setting up streaming media.
The
Digital Collections group in
the Northwestern Library
supports Northwestern University faculty,
graduate students, and staff wishing to create and
deliver images, sound, video and text in digital
formats. The drop-in lab and training area offer
support to users with a range of experience,
from novice to expert. Hardware and software in
the area is available for image and video
digitizing, cd-rom and dvd creation, and document
conversion and markup. Professional staff are
available for consultation by appointment.
In addition, Digital Collections provides selected
drop-off digitizing services free of charge for
non-textmaterials, in support of classroom teaching.
As a unit of the Marjorie I. Mitchell Multimedia
Center, Digital Collections patrons have priority
access to the Media Center's 12,000+ title video
collection for digitizing.
The
Distributed Learning Group in Academic
Technologies offers assistance
in creating course content in
Northwestern's
Course Management System.
The
Advanced Media Production Services (NUAMPS) group
in Academic Technologies
partners with faculty on media-intensive applications
for teaching and research, bringing particular expertise
to the development of new media applications that exploit
high-bandwidth networks. NUAMPS works collaboratively
with colleagues at Northwestern University and beyond
to position these new applications within emerging systems ---
such as digital libraries, diffserv networking developments,
and advanced application server systems --- that promise
increased benefit for the university community.
The
MediaWorks lab offers students digital
tools for capturing and editing video and audio,
scanning and manipulating photos, and developing
web content and animation. This lab is exclusively
for student use. Students can work and create
without being interrupted by scheduled classes.
Students wishing to make streaming video available
for class or project use should contact the
Digital Collections group or the
Advanced Media Production Services group.
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