Bellmultimedia.com

All About Information Technology and Multimedia

Archive for February, 2010

Wireless Networks: How Do They Work?

February 22, 2010

Wireless networks use radio waves instead of wires to transmit data between computers. Here’s how:

The Binary Code: 1s and 0s

It’s well known that computers transmit information digitally, using binary code: ones and zeros.

Morse Code: Dots And Dashes

It works like Morse code, which is a way to transmit the alphabet over radio waves using dots (short beeps) and dashes (long beeps). Wireless networking, then, can be thought of as a Morse code for computers. You plug in a combined radio receiver and transmitter, and the computer is able to send out its equivalent of dots and dashes (bits, in computer-speak) to get your data from here to there.

Wavelengths And Frequencies

You might wonder how the computer can send and receive data at high speed without becoming garbled nonsense. The key to wireless networking is how it gets around this problem.

First, wireless transmissions are sent at very high frequencies, which allows more data to be sent per second. Most wireless connections use a frequency of 2.4 gigahertz (2.4 billion cycles per second) — a frequency similar to mobile phones and microwave ovens. However, this high frequency produces a wavelength that is very short, which is why wireless networking is effective only over short distances.

Wireless networks also use a technique called “frequency hopping.” This makes wireless networks more immune to interference from other radio signals than if they transmitted on a single frequency

Internet Access Points

The final step for a wireless network is to provide internet access for every computer on the network. This is done by a special piece of wireless equipment called an access point. An access point is more expensive than a wireless card for 1 computer, because it contains radios capable of communicating with around 100 computers, sharing internet access among them. Dedicated access points are necessary only for larger networks.

Industry Standards

Wireless equipment from different manufacturers can work together to handle these complex communications because there are standards which guide the production of all wireless devices. Because of industry compliance with these standards, wireless networking is both easy to use and affordable today.

What To Look For In A Web Video Hosting Company

February 15, 2010

This is why doing your homework, and knowing what to look for in a web video host is extremely important.  But, what exact qualities should you look for in a web video hosting company?

Since there is thousands of hosting services that you can choose from, you are able to be picky about which one you want to host your site with.  However, you must be very careful and read all of the information about a web hosting service before you sign a contract with them.  Perhaps the most important thing you must research is understanding all of the technical features that your potential web host is offering you.

In order to have a web host that will properly host your website; you must first understand what type of technical features your site will require.  After doing so, you will be able to narrow your search to only hosting companies that provide the services you require.

No matter what type of technical features you need, there are some features that remain the same for any type of web hosting service.  Since you desire to host a web video site, than you will need to have a hosting service that gives you higher file size limits.  In most cases, you have to compress your web video before you can upload it onto a host’s server.

However, if the hosting company has very small file size limits, you may have to compress your video to an extremely small size, which will ruin the quality of your video.  If you are concerned about this, and know that you have larger sized video files, than you will want to choose a web hosting service that has no limit on file sizes.

Another feature that you must look for in a web video hosting service is how much storage space are you getting?  Some website hosting companies actually have a limit on how many videos you can have live on your site at one time.  Other companies will have a limit on how much storage space you have for your files.  There are some website hosting companies that allow you to upload as many videos as you desire, however, some of these companies do have strict storage limits.  The best bet is to find a hosting company that has a larger storage capacity, as well as a higher limit to videos you can upload.

A worse case scenario would be you found a hosting company that allows you to have unlimited videos, but limited storage space.  What you would want to do is then purchase more storage space as needed.  This may become expensive, however, for some websites it is the only answer.

Web Conferencing Software – Choosing Your Application

February 8, 2010

By identifying what is most important to you, you can narrow down your field of selection to those vendors who are supplying a product that most closely matches your requirements.  By immediately discarding those that do not match your criteria, you will find yourself considering a far more manageable number of applications.

Communication: Meetings, Webcast and Webinar

For example, if the key function you want your web conferencing application to perform is that of communication then you require an application that will allow you to exchange with others.  An application that has the capability to host meetings, transmit webcasts and hold training seminars will be required.

Different web conferencing applications have different capabilities, some allowing you to invite hundreds of delegates to your seminar, others allowing a maximum of say, ten.  Levels of interaction vary too so be very clear about what functions you will need your application to be able to perform

Before investing in your new system you should thoroughly review exactly what each provider is offering to ensure it meets with your requirements.

Vendors:

Vendors of this type of application include:

* Centra

* Netbriefings

* Placeware

* Smiletiger

* Spartacom

Online Collaboration and Project Management

Online collaboration software is particularly effective for project management.  These applications allow users to share files and documents, to view files at the same time and update documents in real time.  Previously, this level of collaboration could only be achieved by being physically present in the same location but online collaboration applications are extremely effective.

Vendors:

Vendors of this type of application include:

* Genesys

* Interwise

* Viditel

* WebEx

You need to consider too, whether or not your chosen application will be compatible with your existing software and operating platform.  This information will be readily available from the application vendor.  Also, do you have sufficient broadband capability to run your chosen application?

The cost, of course, is a major consideration when deciding upon your web conferencing application and will undoubtedly influence your ultimate decision.  Applications range from the elementary (some can even be set up with a plug-in the likes of Yahoo Messenger) to the most sophisticated systems that will allow broadcasting to hundreds of delegates.

Video conferencing guide- Learn about Video Conferencing

February 1, 2010

Videoconferencing is very useful way of communication because it saves money as well as time.  People can do several business activities or meetings with two or more persons while sitting at office table. They don’t need to go anywhere to meet someone. Basic requirements for video conferencing are guaranteed latency, synchronization and broadcast. It enables people to have face-to-face meetings from a wide distance. Prices of teleconferencing are generally less than costs of travel. It’s an easy way to hold meetings, conduct interviews, give lectures and address employees.

Video conferencing is the best way of communication in medical, legal and educational fields. Normally there are three ways such as computer-based system, desktop system and studio-based system to set up a videoconference. There is a limited field of vision in Computer-based system that is why it is the cheapest way of video conferencing. Desktop system improves the quality of audio and video transmission due to dedicated hardware installed on the computer. Most expensive method of video conferencing is studio-based system that offers best quality conferencing. It is mostly used in large-scale companies and universities. Studio-based system is just like a room that is fully equipped with control systems, document viewers, overhead cameras, vision switchers and slide viewers.

An organization, company, educational facility or individual requires some basic components to take complete advantages of video conferencing. Necessary equipment for videoconferencing is camera that lets user to capture video information at his or her site and transmit to someone on the other site.  Video display is used to display video at their site and a microphone to hear the audio material.

Videoconferencing terminals require a compressor/decompressor interface that helps in compressing the information while passing from audio to video to make transmission of materials sufficient over net.  It is useful in sending the large files from one computer to another. Codec machine also works for decoding and encoding the useful information. A computer and high-speed Internet connection are essential for a successful video conferencing. High-speed Internet connection makes your video conferencing effective and interesting.

Video conferencing is reliable and an excellent method of communication. Videoconference can easily connect you with other companies. You can generate your business from one place and give instructions to your subordinates. It makes bright future for your business and institution. This pioneering technology keeps your company up to date.