About
What exactly is DeCCast, and why is it being broadcast?
During 2005, staff of Media Services realized that is was necessary to format-shift precious video recordings from 20 year old plus analog video-tapes to digital video-tape so this material would be preserved. As these recordings (over 200 hours) were transferred during 2006, staff found themselves engrossed in the material being presented. The recordings were too interesting and important to lock away for another 20 years, and as USQ celebrates its 40th Anniversary we thought it appropriate to make this material available.
Using internet video-streaming and subscription technologies this material (Distance and e-Learning Centre Web Cast – DeCCast) can now be viewed via a URL.
How does it work?
DeCCast is served from the University’s windows media streaming server. By clicking the link on the DeCCast page, your computer connects to the server and after a few seconds begins playing the video. You can also subscribe to DeCCast by clicking on the subscribe to DeCCast link. Information is provided by following the link.
At the start of each program, a program guide will inform you of the videos in the broadcast and approximate running time. Use the Windows Media Player progress bar (at the bottom of the player) to slide to any particular program you wish.
You will find that after calculating running times (and a little trial-and-error) you will get to the program you wish to view.
How often is it broadcast?
The service is “on-demand”; ie it is there all the time. A new episode is uploaded every second Wednesday lunchtime (commencing 9 May 2007) and is available immediately. You also have access to the previous episode for two weeks. If you are dialing in from outside the campus intranet, you will need a broadband connection. It will be slower loading and buffering, and may stop if it overruns the loading – please be patient and wait until the stream loads.
What will I see?
Many different productions - all shot by DeC Media Services since the early eighties – Arts Theatre performances, concerts, faculty/department promotional videos, graduations, television advertising, events, and new recordings like the 40th Anniversary Founders' Dinner, the construction of the Springfield Campus and the Fraser Coast name change. Media Services will cover other USQ 40th Anniversary events and “DeCCast” them.
Why does the screen size change sometimes?
It is all about aspect ratios. All of the footage shot by USQ up to about 2004 was shot in standard TV ratio (4:3). The newer material is shot in widescreen (16:9), so when we mix old and new footage, the screen size will pop in and out.
Finally, why a story about chicken-farming in Episode 1?
Staff of Media Services have produced hard news stories for Faculty of Arts final-year Journalism students over many years to test their skill in a “real-world” situation. We have, in the archive, many of these stories over the years - researched, written and produced by the student themselves with Media Services staff providing advice and production facilities.
In fact, two students won national awards in student production – and their showreels will be featured in forthcoming episodes of DeCCast. You will even see a showreel from Marita Ramia – currently reading the news for the WIN Television network – from her student days.