Fit for Multimedia?

Modern, multimedia applications have certain minimum requirements concerning the hard and software facilities of viewing stations. The quality of e-learning content online transmissions depends on various parameters, which influence image and sound quality as well as uninterrupted streaming. The following check-list helps to check and update important parameters for enjoying the multimedia contents without facing problems.

Speed of Online Connection

Our contents and especially the video clips are generally available via an ISDN-connection. However, A DSL or cable connection with transfer speeds of more than 150kBit/s is is significantly faster. The actual and current transfer speed of your internet connection can be tested via relevant test-websites, as for example www.speedtest.net. If your bandwidth is too low, then the image and sound transmission requires longer lead times, respectively will be frequently interrupted for downloading the slowly flowing data stream.

Latest Versions of Internet and Multimedia Programmes

To avoid compatibility problems and achieve optimum results, it should be ascertained that the latest program versions have been installed on your computer. Those are:

  • Firefox – The latest version can be downloaded from the following address: www.mozilla-europe.org/en/
  • Internet Explorer - The latest version can be downloaded from the following address: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-explorer/products/ie/home
  • Safari - The latest version can be downloaded from the following address: www.apple.com/
  • Silverlight – This Microsoft browser add-on is required when you want to view “Presentation" type contents. The latest version can be downloaded from the following address: www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight/get-started/install/default.aspx . Currently, the “Presentation" type contents are not viewable on iPhone or iPad, because that equipment does not support Flash or Silverlight. The supplier of our multi media software works on a solution.
  • Codecs – In some presentations, video clips are directly displayed from a software screen (Screenshots) those images are usually created and encoded with a special software. For playing such video clips a so-called 'codec' has to be installed on your computer. A very frequently used codec is the (TSCC“-Codec (Techsmith Screen Capture Codec), which can be downloaded from: www.getafile.com/cgi-bin/merlot/get/techsmith/TSCC.exe