The art of webcasting, part 2

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[A longer version of this article by Hannah Rudman was first published in Arts Professional magazine, issue 222, 19.07.10]

@bbcbillt keynotes via webcast & live for AmbITion Scotland

A webcast is a media file distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single linear content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live, or on demand. Webcasting used to be defined as “broadcasting” over the internet, but that no longer quite fits: many webcasting platforms now offer tools that encourage online audience interaction – with the live event and with other onliners.

Webcasting is not web or videoconferencing, which is designed for many-to-many interaction. Nor is webcasting the technology that delivers NTLive! or the Met Opera into cinemas around the country – this is simulcast technology, which uses satellite systems to deliver a live broadcast to digital data projection screens. Simulcasting produces an exquisite aesthetic (millions of colours, 5:1 surround sound) but requires a completely different level of production and delivery for this quality to be guaranteed. It is therefore extremely costly and out of range for many cultural organizations. Neither is webcasting the technology behind the BBC’s £125m iPlayer, so its important not expect the same result.

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Shift Happened 2010

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At Shift Happens 2009

Shift Happens was again a great mix of case studies and stories of new and exciting digital technologies and projects for the arts and learning sectors. Produced by Pilot Theatre, with keynotes from Sir Ken Robinson, artist Jonathan Harris and Alice Greenwald (9/11 Museum & Memorial); lots of great immersive and participative digital experiences in the foyer; and tons of networking, the event in York on 5th & 6th July sold out.

 

John Popham summed it up on the Shift Happens network thus:
“It was another great event, as we all knew it would be. It seemed to me that the debate on technology, social media and the arts has moved on from where it was at Shift Happens 2009, there was much less dissent about the role it has to play, and, as more that one speaker said, it is no longer “what technology?”, it is now “why are we using it?”

John McGrath Skypes in to Shift Happens 2010

John McGrath of National Theatre Wales showed off his highly developed green digital skill of presenting to conferences via Skype. He mentioned their work with us and reflected on how NTW’re getting on making theatre with communities and artists who are based online (in the cloud).

 

I spoke on the subject of “The Digital Planet”, thinking about the next iterations of the internet as finally being appropriate for live, digitised core content which gives cultural organisations a greener way of increasing reach, scale, impact and accessibility. Slides and links to the videos available here. The videos of all the speeches will be released over the year, so I won’t spoil the content of them.

UK businesses are Europe’s dirtiest: what about digital and creative business?

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Along with the VAT rise, I was hoping that we’d see the introduction of a carbon tax: where polluting offenders (individual or companies) would have to pay for the damage they do to the environment. Although its not money that will solve the issue, raising awareness of what is considered “bad” business behaviour in relation to the environment would have been a useful exercise. Britain is officially the “dirty man of Europe”, after a review of Europe’s top 300 companies by ethical investment consultant Eiris found that the largest group causing a “a very high impact” on global warming were UK based. This is not a surprise, as a good number of FTSE 100 companies are mining or oil focused, and the UK has not yet succeeded in building up a low-carbon business sector.

The BP oil spill has also highlighted for the world the notion of “bad” business, and the idea that the polluter should pay, not all the rest of us, is something that the general public have latched onto. After a long period of “green hush”, post-a-failed-Copenhagen, climate impact is suddenly back on the agenda, but not in the same way as before. Then, we were looking to change our own individual understandings and lifestyles, now we’re being given the lazy opportunity to point the finger away from ourselves. Its easier to blame the big bully boy companies This week, the FTSE Group is launching new indices to help investors track the ability of companies to manage climate risks. This is a fine idea, as it helps us easily spot “good” companies (or those that pay for their pollution) in which to invest.

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Scotland wake up! Your CO2 footprint will soon be counted!

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hannahrudman northuist

North Uist: lets not let the climate affect it

Here at Envirodigital, we’ve been working to help businesses think of digital solutions that reduce their carbon emissions and spend on energy and travel and increase their sustainable ability. Most cultural and heritage sector businesses don’t fall under under the government’s current legislation (covering around 5000 of Scotland’s biggest public venues) around reducing carbon emissions. But we’ve been encouraging you to make small voluntary changes because we knew the legislation was coming. And some of you have been taking green footsteps on a journey towards smaller carbon/waste and water footprints.

The Scottish Government announced last month regulations which will build further on its Climate Change Act and its target of reducing carbon emissions by 42 per cent by 2020. The (International) Committee on Climate Change has confirmed that the 42 per cent target represents an appropriate contribution to global emissions reductions in 2020 and would put Scotland on the path to meeting the target of an 80 per cent reduction by 2050. Progress on the target will be mapped by a series of annual targets, with the first batch, covering the period 2010-2022, having to be set by June 1 this year.

Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Climate Change in Scotland said:

“We know that legislation alone won’t deliver the targets. It needs to be translated into real changes in everyday actions: by businesses; the public sector; voluntary and community groups and individuals. Better public understanding is essential if people are to be motivated to act. The Scottish Government, its agencies and its non-government partners will need to work together to explain what’s needed and to incentivise action”.

{Source http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/04/21150827]

So the funders and bodies that run our sector are now being brought into the Holyrood fold to help the government achieve its targets. And that means they will need to set their own targets and that targets will be passed on to you [probably fairly soon]! So the driver for your business to change becomes less about corporate social responsibility (which we think is GREAT btw – well done everyone who’s made positive changes anyway), and more about lining up with legislation.

What does your organisation know about its current output levels, and do you have ideas for how you could reduce your business’ outputs? We’ve got some great ideas for services you can use at Envirodigital, and they all use digital technologies, which means you can count the benefits they’re bringing in.

Check out the services we can offer, and think about what might be your first green footstep:

  • could webcasting help you reduce travel to a training event? See our Envirodigital webcasting examples.
  • could cloud computing help you use less energy in the office? Or, if you can’t afford a new set-up, could a tiny device like Eco-button help? Lucy Conway of Island Going Green, Eigg says, “since I started using it last September I’ve saved £13 in electricity and 27kg of CO2″.
  • could you use websites like freecycle to ensure that things you are throwing out (old office equipment, theatre or exhibition sets) could get reused?
  • could you recycle more computer consumables like ink cartridges and paper?

    • These tiny green steps are all that’s needed to start the journey towards a lower carbon footprint. We can also give you really handy advice of how to find more help and assistance! Contact Envirodigital for more information.

    The art of webcasting

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    Envirodigital has been webcasting clients’ events for six months now.
    Our clients want to:

  • increase the scale, access, reach, impact and legacy of their events; and
    create a good quality experience for those who chose not to travel to attend the live event.

    • At Envirodigital, we’re thrilled to work with our clients in the cultural (AmbITion Scotland) and government (SEPA) sectors to achieve this – we believe we’re introducing a new technology to markets that could (and should!) use it effectively. Webcasting is a good technology, and it’s here to stay. I believe this, because it achieves all the good things that my clients want to do: see above bullet point!

    But webcasting is still an emerging technology, and the marketplace for it is nascent. At Envirodigital, we are dealing with systems that are improving iteratively (the quality and service we’re seeing from webcasting platform providers is better than a year ago, it will be better next year). We believe that people and the planet are better off with the new technology of webcasting, but there is a still a chance it will not work perfectly and the outcome could be poor. Repeated trials are necessary to ascertain true quality, and people have to remain optimistic & willing to try it out!

    This is an interesting notion to ask clients to work with, as many expect the end result to be as dependable as Google Search, and as high-quality as BBC’s i-Player. But of course the webcasting industry as a whole hasn’t yet spent as much money developing itself, as either of these two products have seen spent on them individually! In reality, this means actually, systems might still crash; some users might find the usability tricky; others might still wish for better functionality or better aesthetics. So clients are currently early adopters, helping us work out glitches in the technologies and processes for achieving good webcasts.

    What we now want to offer our clients and their markets is the chance to understand the features, benefits, and the different options available around webcasting, suitable for different needs. We want to share our learnings of the last six months, so that the whole market place begins to understand the technology and its benefits a little better.

    So, over the next few weeks, we’re going to focus on helping you get under the bonnet of webcasting. I’d also like to know what YOU want to know about webcasting! Please ask questions in the comments section of this blog. Alternatively, this is also the beginning of a forum thread in AmbITion Scotland’s Digital Doctors’ Forum.

    New theatre show webcasts to your home – and you get to party!

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    Black Country Touring, Kali Theatre Company and Birmingham Rep Theatre are using webcasting to realise their latest play – set in homes across the Black Country! Behna is a play based in a Punjabi household set the day before a family wedding. As the guests are busy eating, singing and dancing, tension is brewing in the kitchen. Truths are told and secrets unfold between two generations of sisters. Fast-paced, funny and moving, Behna looks through the keyhole of a family home to reveal secrets and lies.

    Six homes are hosting the play across the Black Country for their own private guests: of friends, family, neighbours and colleagues. Audiences will cram into the kitchens and hallways of the homes. A great blog reveals the rehearsal process – for the actors and those who have offered their homes up as sets.

    A live webcast will be broadcast from a kitchen in Wolverhampton at 7pm on Saturday 20 March 2010. But its being made even more participative than just the different viewing opportunity offered by webcasting – you can watch it in your own kitchen, do henna tattooing and munch Asian delights with friends and family – get party ideas from a downloadable party pack.

    I think this is a great way of increasing the scale of this event, which would otherwise be restricted to the amount of audience you could fit into six homes! Its also a really interesting way of achieving greater access and reach with the show: as the research around the impact of NTLive! has proven – there is new audience out there for new forms of artistic work that blend digital and traditional methods of production. And this method improves reach with very little carbon impact!

    If you’re interested in using webcasting in your work creatively, then do get in touch with me at Envirodigital.

    Envirodigital’s new eventcasts and case studies

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    Erin doing camerawork for the webinar

    Envirodigital is thrilled to announce a new case study video, explaining our consultancy work with National Theatre Wales – view it here on this site in the videos section, or via this link.

    More successful live eventcasting was underway yesterday – watch the results of AmbITion Scotland‘s first webinar here on demand.

    The next AmbITion Scotland webinar on March 25th is currently booking – click here for live and webcast tickets.
    The AmbITion Scotlad Roadshow North (Inverness) will also be live and webcast online on March 18th – book here!

    CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme mandatory for UK’s largest cultural venues

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    Some of the UK’s largest cultural venues may have to join the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. Says their website:

    “Starting in April 2010, the Carbon Reduction Commitment (recently renamed the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme) is the UK’s first mandatory carbon trading scheme. The initial phase of the Carbon Reduction Commitment will be compulsory for organisations that consume over 6,000 MWh (6,000,000 kWh) of half-hourly metered electricity during the period from January 2008 to December 2008. At today’s prices, this is roughly equivalent to total half hourly electricity bills of approximately £500,000 per year.
    The aim of the Carbon Reduction Commitment is to reduce the level of carbon emissions currently produced by the larger ‘low energy-intensive’ organisations by approximately 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2020. As a Climate Change Bill committment, the scheme is aiming for a 60% redution in CO2 emissions by 2050.
    The Carbon Reduction Commitment will cover both public and private sector organisations. At present, the carbon reduction scheme is expected to affect approximately 5,000 organisations in the UK. In doing so, it is anticipated that the scheme will affect 25% of total business sector emissions within the UK.
    The scheme will work in tandem with the existing European Union Emissions Trading Scheme and Climate Change Agreements. As a result, where emissions have been captured by the EU ETS and CCA, these emissions will not be captured by the CRC. In essence, the CRC is targeted at low energy-intensive users. The Climate Change Bill also sets the enabling powers for the Carbon Reduction Commitment and sets out the role of the Climate Change Committee that will oversee much of the CRC scheme. While the scheme doesn’t officially start until April 2010, many organisations will need to make preparations before that date to ensure that they comply with all legal requirements and fully participate in the scheme.”

    If you think you may be required to join this scheme, get in touch.

    AmbITion Scotland launch eventcast by Envirodigital

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    The AmbITion Scotland eventcast of the first Getting Digital event, live in Edinburgh on 28th January 2010 and live online, is also available on demand. You can watch the event at your leisure here! Scottish Arts Council simultaneously released their press release about the AmbITion Scotland programme – read that here.

    AmbITionEnvirodigitalwebcastAs well as participating with the day through Twitter – #getambition – online audiences also participated with the event through online chat.

    Talks by Hannah Rudman Lead Consultant on AmbITion Scotland, (and Envirodigital director!) and keynote Kyle McRae of Blether Media are both available.

    To get easy access to the eventcast on demand – signup and follow the onscreen instructions, you’ll receive a link via email from us to activate your account. Login to watch.

    Smart metering: a precursor to the smart grid?

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    Forecasting for the year ahead, I’m gazing into Envirodigital’s crystal ball enhanced laptop to suggest what the enviro digital developments will be over 2010…

  • Installing a smart meter will be a trend for 2010. If you’ve got the data about what energy you’re using, then it’ll encourage better energy saving behaviour – smarter human behaviour.
  • We may begin to see more organisational smart grids emerging too. IPv6 means that trillions of IP addresses have become available: enough for devices to have one each. This means that you’ll be able to collect and analyse data about the energy usage of individual devices/elements in your organisation, and send them instructions to turn off/charge now/etc.
  • We might begin to see the emergence of a national smart grid: energy will be costed according to demand levels as well as for usage, so with our organisational smart grids telling us when we’re using the most power, we might be able to buy it at a cheaper time. Scheduling technical rehearsals to coincide with a low cost time zone could achieve great cost savings, for example.
  • Installing self-sufficient energy creating technologies would then mean that organisations might be able to sell back to the grid excess energy generated.
  • Mobile phone numbers are still on the rise, and people will start to do more with them. How is this good for the environment? Surfing the web for an hour on a mobile phone generates c. 0.5g carbon. The same activity on a laptop will generate c. 400g carbon. Due to the potential number of them being in the world, Mobile phone manufacturers are working far harder than computer manufacturers to ensure that the casing and components are more recyclable and biodegradeable too.