What Is Streaming Media?

Streaming media is a method of making audio, video and other multimedia available in real-time, with no download wait, over the Internet. Streaming media systems consist of the following five elements:

• Encoders & Tools, used to create or capture and edit multimedia...
• Data Types, which are transmitted by centrally located...
• Servers over...
• Networks to individual client...
• Players, on a live or on-demand basis.

A Streaming Media System

A typical implementation of a streaming media system might involve two networked computers (one equipped with a video capture card), a video camera and/or microphone, and an audience viewing the content on their PCs.

• In the implementation above, a content creator photographs the event using a standard video camera.
• The computer's video capture card digitizes the audio and video signals, and the Encoder software compresses the digital signal into either a streamable digital file, to be edited later, or a live stream for immediate broadcast/"webcast".
• This file or live stream is transmitted over a network to a computer with Server software installed.
• The digitized video of the event is then accessed on a live or on-demand basis by multiple end-users with Player software on their personal computers or other personal electronic devices.