Faculty questions on webcasting

How do I get started?

Visit the webcasting consulting page to find the contacts for colleges on campus.

What legal matters should I take into consideration?

Visit the webcasting legal considerations page to learn more about things to be mindful about.

What does a webcast look like?

A presentation can be recorded and broadcast with any combination of video, audio, and graphics, depending on the nature of the presentation.

Typical lecture webcasts at UT can feature:

a dual display window showing the video of the lecturer, synchronized with his or her presentation materials. See an example: Dinosaurs in the Digital Age: Facts, Fictions, and Forgeries
a single display window showing presentation materials synchronized with lecturer’s audio. See an example: Under the Hood of Ongoing Course Assessment - A Technical Perspective
a single display window that switches between video of lecturer and presentation materials, or that shows a video of lecturer. See an example: Canonical Bases For Representations

What is the difference between webcasting and podcasting?

Streaming webcast content is transient and not saved onto the viewing device, while podcasts are downloaded and saved. Since webcasts are streamed, an internet connection is necessary for the duration of the broadcast. After podcast content is downloaded from the internet, the playback device does not need an internet connection to play the content. Since podcasts are saved, users can automatically select and download or subscribe to new content through RSS syndication.

The difference between streaming and downloading impacts copyright, intellectual property and privacy issues. Streaming affords more protection because the content is not saved to the viewing device and therefore more easily copied and redistributed.

What is the difference between webcasting and videoconferencing?

Webcasting is typically a live or recorded one-way transmission, not interactive, and scalable to large number of viewers via the internet. Videoconferencing uses direct telecommunications links, as well as the internet, and connects participants in a live two-way or multiple-way interaction.