Online Video On Demand Bridges Gap From Living Room To Boardroom

Cost conscious businesses are discovering an affordable low-tech way to add streaming video to their web sites and corporate Intranets. The challenge has been to identify a video on demand solution which didn’t require the usual mega-dose of techno-wizardry and a large capital investment to boot.

Responding to the need for affordable plug-in video for web sites and corporate Intranets, CyberTech Information Group is using an integrated approach to help bring online video production to the masses. Using the streaming video platform released by Vivo Software, CyberTech believes their approach will enable any size business to immediately integrate video content into their web sites and corporate Intranets.

CyberTech says that for less than $100, they can take video from any standard VHS tape and have it digitized, compressed and ready to include on any web site or corporate Intranet without the need for any additional software, hardware, programming or licensing fees. Practical applications of this technology include video clips of product demonstrations, training material, corporate information and sales presentations.

According to Larry Spiegel, CyberTech’s founder, the VivoActive technology allows the user to add video content which can be hosted on any server. The VivoActive software which is required to view online video is available as a free self-installing plug-in for both Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Explorer.

In the few short months since VivoActive’s introduction in late 1996, their plug-in has already been downloaded for use on over two million browsers. Additionally, another five million copies are in distribution through bundling arrangements with Microsoft and others. According to Vivo, prominent VivoActivated Web sites already include CNN, C/NET, MSNBC, CourtTV, HBO, BBC, Hewlett-Packard, Intel and NCR.

Companies are finding the VivoActive platform ideal for a number of reasons. Most importantly is that video begins streaming almost immediately to the user upon demand rather than taking several minutes to download before viewing can begin. And because the video is compressed to as little as 1/200^th of its original size, it requires very little bandwidth to achieve uninterrupted viewing. Usually a good connection with a 28.8 modem will produce satisfactory results.

The VivoActive platform uses standard HTTP and thereby eliminates the need for special software or hardware on the server. By using this protocol, it is also firewall friendly on networked connections. VivoActive can be used to stream video from any in-house web server or company Intranet, and from any rented space or virtual domain made available through an independent Internet service provider. CyberTech was recently responsible for requesting that CompuServe join AOL in allowing streaming video to be played over their servers as well.

According to CyberTech, most companies have similar objectives when adding video to their web sites. Foremost is the goal of delivering interesting content to visitors in a way which will increase the likelihood that they will return again in the future. Additionally, companies are seeking methods which will yield greater impact than plain text when communicating information on their web sites.

CyberTech believes they’ve been able to translate Vivo’s technology into an affordable and practical solution that will allow sound business applications to make financial sense as well. Although there’s no shortage of new technological advancements which are available to enhance web sites and corporate Intranets, CyberTech believes this overwhelming amount of new technology is part of the problem. Spiegel went on to say that "there’s so much new technology which not only costs too much, but which also takes too long to learn before it can be integrated into most web sites. This is a common problem faced by companies and independent web site developers alike."

CyberTech’s approach is to handle all of the video digitizing and HTML programming necessary to include streaming video on a web site or Intranet within days and to make it affordable for everyone. Their selling point is not only a very attractive price, but also the fact that the customer doesn’t need any technical expertise in video and audio production. Spiegel said "most companies don’t like to invest thousands of dollars into software and hardware and go through an extremely long learning curve for a relatively small application like streaming video." For this reason, CyberTech believes their approach will be particularly appealing to cost conscious companies who don’t want to be buying new software and hardware every 18 months as audio and video technology continues to evolve.

CyberTech Information Group entered the online marketing and web site development business in 1991. They’re located in the Chicago suburban area, and do online video production for both corporate end users and other web site developers nationwide. Full information about their company and video conversion service can be found at http://www.web-ads.com/cbertech/video.html.

###