Live broadcasting - from home!
Skype is probably still the obvious software for a simple 2-person video discussion, if only because we’re now all pretty much familiar with it. But there are some new kids on the technology block, that we are experimenting with at the moment. Two in particular are Blab and Periscope, two new pieces of free, downloadable software that allow us in effect to offer ‘live on air’ broadcasting, in real time, and interactive with a participating audience. And all this is available without a studio or other high technology and great expense, but from your office or home, your laptop, or even your smartphone. Please read on as we explain the use, and the potential, of each, and how they could prove useful inthe development of the Cafe Sci here in Falmouth - or anywhere. |
Blab.IMBLAB.IM offers signed up users the ability to host a live video broadcast, known as a Blab, with a live and interacting audience.
Note that all Blab conversations are broadcast; that means they are not private. For a closed group discussion, see the next panel. But anyone in the world can follow the Blab discussion, ask (typed) questions and thus get involved, provided only they have a Blab account (its free) and a webcam. Each Blab conversation has up to 4 'seats' , and the host of the Blab can invite someone in the 'audience' to join the conversation live on screen, and so become part of the broadcast.. Please note: this site software does not allow us to embed video on the page (not the free version, anyway). But you can see demonstrations on many sites that we can link you to. |
PeriscopePeriscope works in similar way to Blab, the main difference being the ability to host a 'narrowcast' - an invitations only broadcast.
So for a managers’ group, or an action learning set, or any discussion where some degree of confidentiality is important, Periscope may be the better option. But unlike Blab, however, Periscope only offers two users the ability to broadcast, with all others merely commenting from the sidelines. Here at the Cafe Sci we intend to use Blab predominantly, though Periscope may be useful for some other kinds of discussions in the future. |
Signing up
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