Web Radio, Web TV, Rich Media, New Media, Conferencing...

What’s the hype? Is it possible today? Who has access to the technology? Can you afford it?

To answer these questions, let’s look at the situation.

The Internet is:
1) interactivity – you pick and choose where you want to go;
2) “when I want it” usability – you decide when you will go on the Net; and
3) “if it’s not fast enough, I’m out of here” concentration span. Take too long to load a page and – “Poof!”
– see ’ya later!
 
Although many Web sites have found a combination of graphics, text, forms and links that allow them a good flow of visitors within these conditions, there is an element missing: Nobody is listening! That’s right, there is very little sound heard on the Internet.

Some think, “Why bother?” Many believe the bandwidth is not there. For others, the fidelity of audio is still not up to snuff.

Why bother? Well, let’s look at memory retention.

We all want our visitors to remember what we have to say and we want them to come back. Did you know that visitors who come to your site read 25% slower from a monitor than from printed text?

Also, about 1/3 of the people on the planet learn and retain information through auditory means. That is, you tell them and they listen. They understand through hearing; give them a text to read and they don’t seem to get it.

Another interesting fact is that when you combine visual and audio information, typical memory retention increases by almost 50%. And we’re talking about most people here!

So, how can you take advantage of these facts?

The challenge now is combining audio with your Web site so that it will:

1) load quickly enough;
2) be usable by most visitors; and
3) be affordable enough for the many Web sites that have something important to say.

You may already be aware of some of the brand-name software available on the market: Real Audio, Windows Media Player, Quick Time and FLASH are some of the most popular.

These solutions require that you use the appropriate plug-in. Each one has its respective plug-in and some of them will even play the files of another. Although these solutions are great, you’ll need to learn a little more than just some HTML to make them work for you.

Another way to make your site audio-enabled is to use a Java Applet audio player. One of the benefits is the visitor doesn’t have to have a specific plug-in. The Java code plugs the player in on its own. The visitor doesn’t need to do anything to get the player.

To create this Java player you can:
1) Use a software, such as Emblaze or IBM HotMedia,
2) go to a Java site like the Java Boutique, to get the source code (look up audio effects under categories) or
3) if you’re not into Java, hire someone who can do it for you.

Here’s how it works...

Let’s say you have already prepared your recorded information and saved it as .wav files on your web site.

When your visitors go to the page where the sound file will stream to (in laymen’s terms, “play”), a little Java Applet (we’ll call it the “player”) downloads onto their browser.

The sound file is played through this player either automatically or by the visitor pressing play on the site page (if you included a VCR-type control panel in the player).

The player stays on the browser as long as the visitor navigates through the Web site. The advantage here is that the visitor can go from page to page, within the site, and the audio will play without having to wait for the player to load each time.

Once the visitor leaves the site altogether, the Java player is no longer on the browser.

Here are some tips for using Java-enabled audio on your site:

1) Do not enable audio on the first page. The extra delay for the player to load may be too slow for a new visitor to wait, especially if he is on a 28.8K modem speed.

2) Show the visitor, using a text message on the first page, that your site is audio-enabled and that the speakers on the computer should be turned on. In some cases you may want to give him the choice of using the audio portion of your site or a non-audio version.

3) If he chooses the audio-enabled section, he will link to a new page. This is where the player will load for the first time. Using text, notify the viewer that a Java audio player is loading and that it will take about 5 to 10 seconds to load. The faster the hook-up speed, the shorter the delay.

4) On the same page it is recommended that you put some text for the visitor to read while he waits for the player to load. Avoid graphics on this page if at all possible. It will only slow down the player loading.

5) If the audio on this page has more than 5 seconds of text, make sure the text is what the audio file is saying. After all, have you ever tried to read while someone is talking to you?

The audio that streams through a Java player is not stereo CD quality. It is more like mono AM radio. It is suitable, however, for spoken information and, if recorded properly, can even be mixed with some background music, but that’s a topic for another time.

Remember, the goal of your Web site is to convey information, sell a product or service, maybe just entertain. Using audio on your site makes it more personal, leaves a longer lasting impression and gives you an edge on the competition. The world is waiting to hear from you.
 
 

Bernie Landry (bernie@productionblc.com) is an Audio and New Media designer for BLC Productions, which creates soundtracks for Web sites, using Real Audio, Java and FLASH. As a sound designer/musician he has also done soundtracks for TV, CD-ROM, corporate videos and multimedia presentations... “The spoken word carries the tone, inflection and mood that is missing in print. Therefore it is a more expressive medium and communicates your message more accurately.” http://www.richmediasound.com  ©Bernie Landry BLC Productions 03/2000

Auditory means - People communicate by Visual (sight), Audio (sound) and Kinesthetic (touch) means. The comprehension of a message is understood in one or a combination of these senses. For the most part,  people are more receptive to one of these methods over the others. This is explained in greater detail with the study of Neuro-Linguistic Programming or NLP.

Bandwidth - The speed at which data can be sent over a transmission line or modem, i.e.) a telephone line, fiber optic cable, satellite, etc. Techie's often refer to the bandwidth with an analogy like "the size of the pipe" or "coming down the pipe." The bigger the pipe, the more data can be moved in a measured unit of time.

Interactivity - The user can choose an option and the medium will respond dynamically to the user's control. Examples are hyperlinks, control buttons, a menu window, etc...

Java Applet audio player - A small program written in Java programming language that works like an audio player. Unlike other plug ins, your viewer need not go to another site to download it.

Plug-in - A program application that is added to or "plugged" into your browser, so you can play the files that are associated with the program. Examples are Real Audio, Quick Time, FLASH, etc...

Rich Media - The combination of several media (audio, graphics, video, animation, etc...) that enrich or enhances the user's experience . The publicity and advertising world have been using this concept with interactive Banner ads.

Stream -   For the audio to play, the data first goes into a buffer or a temporary holding area in the player. Once a small portion of the audio data is there, it starts to stream or play in a continuous flow. While it plays, audio data keeps refilling the buffer. Downloaded audio waits for the whole file to download before it plays.

VCR-type control panel - This is a graphic image that resembles a VCR or Video machine's control panel. Click on Play to play and Stop to stop. Well, you get the idea.