Audio
While in the past delivering high quality audio
from your web site would have been considered a
monumental challenge, things have changed. Today,
increased bandwidth and improved delivery methods
have made it possible to provide AM radio quality
sound to visitors with even very slow Internet
connections (such as one would achieve with a 14.4
modem). Furthermore, faster computers and improved
data compression technologies have also lead to
enhanced audio quality availability.
If you are interested in adding audio to your
site, here are a few ideas:
Set a mood for your site
- Greet visitors
- Provide instructions
Video
Because it requires a large amount of storage and bandwidth capacity, video
is not yet widely used on web sites. However, as costs for digital video continue
to decrease, video's popularity as a multimedia element will continue to increase.
In the meantime, it can still be effectively used to strengthen your web presence
through video brochures, training/sales materials, and more.
Currently, the three most common formats for non-streaming
video include:
AVI
- MOV
- MPEG
Of these three, MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group)
takes up the least amount of storage because of
its advanced compression techniques. This format,
which is based on a set of international standards
for the compression and decompression of movies,
video, and music, also provides quality that is
equal to that provided by the other available formats.
RealVideo is another multimedia option. RealVideo
can deliver quality video to your site's visitors
regardless of their connection speeds. Users with
a slower connection (such as delivered by a 28.8
kbps modem) will receive “newscast-” quality
video which treats broadband users to TV-like quality.
In addition to the high quality picture and sound,
RealVideo also offers a number of other features,
such as clickable video regions, buffered play,
and more. However, the best feature of RealVideo
is its scalability which means it can be configured
to meet your specific needs. Plus, it's one of
the most cost-effective solutions for users looking
to add video to their site.
