Digital Media Lab Action Plan: 2003 - 2006

The UM Digital Library Strategic Plan identifies the following objective: Strengthen support for streaming media at UM through focusing the services offered by the Digital Media Lab on aiding faculty and students with the development of digital audio and video content. The following action plan outlines how this goal is to be obtained.

Objective 1: Promote centralization of streaming resources in the Digital Media Lab of the Richter Library

Centralization of information technology equipment and personnel is an effective way to save costs and enhance developer support. This is particularly true for streaming video because this technology is capital intensive. It is likely that streaming developers in UM administrative and academic units would encode or webcast clips from their own workstations, but we recommend that the Digital Media Lab become the clearinghouse for streaming media on campus with regard to server equipment, developer support, testing, and complex productions. The Digital Media Lab has one librarian, two staff members, and nine student assistants involved in the streaming video project.

Objective 2: Secure long-term funding commitment for the UM streaming video project

It is important that UM streaming activities be funded appropriately and for the long term. The Richter Library has established a recurring budget for support of streaming media through funding the Digital Media Lab, which includes staffing, equipment, software, and annual maintenance agreements with streaming media vendors. Plans are being developed to expand the level of services, particularly support for webcasting, starting in June 2004 (FY 2005).

Objective 3: Continue and expand support to faculty, staff, and students for developing and creating streaming media through the Digital Media Lab

It is imperative that faculty, staff, and students who develop and create streaming clips be able to receive assistance in the Digital Media Lab. A program of services, equipment, and staffing is being developed to meet this responsibility.

Objective 4: Accommodate faculty and staff who seek to use multiple streaming formats

Although RealMedia is the primary streaming format used on campus, the new RealNetworks Helix Universal Server will enable faculty and staff to use other streaming formats, such as Windows Media and QuickTime.

Objective 5: Continue testing and evaluation of streaming technology

Since the mid-1990s, the quality of streaming technology has evolved exponentially and will eventually rival the quality of broadcast television. New software is being launched every year. It is important that the Digital Media Lab and other units remain committed to testing and evaluating advances in streaming technology in order to offer the best level of service to the UM community.

Objective 6: Coordinate teaching-oriented streaming activities with the Instructional Advancement Center

The Digital Media Lab is a resource that the Instructional Advancement Center may refer faculty to for assistance in developing streaming media content. Likewise, the Digital Media Lab will provide regular reports to the Instructional Advancement Center on the faculty’s use of streaming media, as well as collaborate with the Center to promote awareness of streaming media among UM faculty.

Objective 7: Encourage interested faculty and staff to use streaming technology

Faculty and staff must be made aware that this technology is available and that the Digital Media Lab offers assistance to potential users. In October 2002, messages were posted on the e-Veritas and BlackBoard Listservs to encourage UM faculty and staff to subscribe to the UM Streaming Listserv. It is also essential to promote awareness and understanding of copyright and intellectual property issues related to streaming media.

Objective 8: Establish support for meeting an increased demand for webcasting (i.e., live streaming) events at UM

Streaming video is also a new technology that should be used to capture the intellectual life of the University. Many events on campus – from commencement to lectures by distinguished guest speakers to scholarly symposia – offer the potential for being made more accessible and preserved through streaming video. However, administrators and faculty wanting to record live events must be aware of the complex operational logistics required for webcasting. Live streaming is significantly more challenging than non-live streaming. In the same vein, there is a dramatic difference between single-camera and multi-camera streaming productions, the latter requiring in-depth preparation and testing for a successful outcome. A detailed plan for meeting the webcasting needs at UM will be developed in 2003 with implementation starting in the summer of 2004.

Objective 9: Establish a directory of on-demand videos created at UM

As more events at UM are available through streaming media, the University community will need a centralized listing of archived videos that can be viewed on demand. The Richter Library will create and maintain a Web-based listing of on-demand videos created at UM that is available for viewing by the entire University community.

Objective 10: Coordinate planning and development of streaming media with associated technologies at UM such as videoconferencing, digital assets management, and digital video production services

Several initiatives related to digital video are already underway at UM, such as a growing interest in videoconferencing, recording course lectures directly to DVD, and the long-term storage and management of digital video files. These are all complementary, rather than competing, technologies. In order to increase the dialogue across the University about these technologies, a coordinated approach to planning support for future digital video services will be developed in collaboration with appropriate stakeholder groups at UM.