Eventually, most NCSA and Alliance video and multimedia presentations will be accessible from the archive. Users can view the videos using RealNetworks' free software, RealPlayer. The archive uses streamed video to make Alliance and NCSA materials available without downloading. Using streamed video, a user simply clicks on the video clip icon. If it is a small clip, the video begins playing immediately.
Longer videos begin playing in a matter of seconds.
Every video is available in a wide range of bandwidth connections so every user with Internet access, from a 28k modem to a T1 connection, can receive the video in the appropriate bandwidth. Larry Smarr, Director of NCSA and the Alliance, said the video archive gives Alliance partners another way to work with each other. It's a great tool for us, and its another way to make the work of the Alliance and NCSA available to all. The archive will be a great asset to the media, researchers, Alliance partners, and other interested parties because it gives them an opportunity to easily learn more about NCSA and the Alliance. Suppose someone at MIT wants to know what researchers at NCSA are doing.