hi nifl-technology people -

    
 i'm testing out a neat new web video distribution service that distributes
video via bittorrent (which means that everyone downloading the video is also
uploading it to others.)

    this service, prodigem.com, allows you to distribute your video for free or
for a fee.  i'm testing out the fee-based distribution.

     here's a 26 minute quicktime video (220 megabytes in file size) i created
abou the life of the wright brothers. this quicktime file can be downloaded from

    http://www.prodigem.com/torrents/torrent_988.html

     i should explain that you first need to download bittorrent (free) to
your computer from http://www.bittorrent.com

     i'm expecting the prodigem download might be slower than a typical
web download. you might want to do this download overnight.

      after the file has downloaded, if you leave the bittorrent software
running, then other people who purchase this quicktime will be able
to download part of the file from you (using some of your upstream
bandwidth.)  this process is called "seeding" a file.

      think of it in the same way as giving blood to the red cross.

      what could be some uses of prodigem? someone could create a
community videocast for their neighborhood or county and have paid
subscribers (or free subscribers) to that videocast.  the videocast
could also be participatory, with people submitting short video
clips (in DV format) using the free service http://yousendit.com

  literacy organizations could also created a videocast for their
friends and supporters. i imagine there might be a few other uses, too.

             - phil shapiro
               washington dc

just give a holler if you'd like to download this video file from another
location -- without the $3 fee.  i can get the web site address for that
to any interested member of  NIFL-Technology list.



-- 
Phil Shapiro  pshapiro at his.com
http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/pshapiro
http://www.digitaldivide.net/blog/pshapiro
http://www.his.com/pshapiro/stories.menu.html

"Wisdom starts with wonder." - Socrates