American and International Info Resources

Travelcasting is the commercial application of podcasting for the travel industry. Travelcasting is the distribution and publishing of audio and video feeds, that offer travel information delivered over the Internet, for on demand listening.

“This is a new step in the evolution of on-demand travel information delivery, making it accessible, informative, useful and appealing” says Ryan Hoback, CEO of What I Want POdcasting. This mix presents the travel industry with a very unique opportunity to reach its audience through this new medium. Those individuals, who are already seeking travel information actively, will use RSS subscription technology built into each podcast feed, to receive information immediately as it is updated by each organization. With one click of a button, a user can subscribe to a feed that may be interesting, and any related information that is ever updated to that feed will be automatically processed to their personal aggregator. An aggregator is able to subscribe to a feed, check for new content at user-determined intervals, and retrieve the content.

To take this process one step further, podcasting publishes each feed with the capability to be transferred to any portable audio or video device. So with the growth of the ipod and all the other portable media devices, you have the ability to grab travelcasts and place them on your portable player for listening or viewing. Most users attach their portable players to their computers daily or weekly, and once the player is attached they automatically receive the new travelcast updates.

The flexibility of this medium is what will drive the growth of Travelcasting tremendously over the next few years. There are a numerous formats that can be used in developing a travelcast. Virtual audio and video tours, give the power to the listener or viewer to receive on-demand travel tours for their destinations. In addition, podcasts are being placed on portable video devices to offer high-end guests tours of the property when they check-in.

The best thing about travelcasting is that the marketing opportunities are endless. With normal media, once a program is developed it only lives for a certain amount of time, and then it goes dormant and no longer exists in society. With podcasting, these feeds can be published to the web so that they will live forever, or until the organization request for them to be removed.

Here are some examples of how podcasting will affect the travel industry. The best sales associates for most resorts are travel agents and agencies. Travel agents and agencies rely on each resort to constantly update them with new deals and promotions, as well as supply them with the tools they need to promote the resorts, in order to keep clients satisfied. With podcasting, and its subscription based technology, you can put out audio or video updates of information that you would like the travel agencies to use, and they will receive as soon as it is posted on your server.

Another example of its use could be in coordination with existing web pages. Most resorts have numerous web pages which deliver travel information in text format. By providing an audio or video link on that page it gives the user a different and potentially more effective format for receiving the information. So not only can these audio and video feeds be placed on web pages where “one-click” lets you listen or view a travelcast, it can be sent to portable devices as well. This is also a great way to teach your existing users how to start utilizing travelcasting services by easing them into it, fusing your current website with new technology.

The options are wide open for the development of travelcast programs that are cutting edge, and highly opportunistic in terms of converting listeners into consumers.

The popularity of portable on demand information will grow even greater as wireless internet services continue to flourish across the country. These portable devices will no longer have to be connected to the internet; they will receive information wirelessly as it is updated. In addition, as cell phones and portable devices continue to merge together, the market grows larger.

For organizations that have members worldwide, the distribution of company information is very important, and once again this offers each institution a method of on-demand delivery which is convenient to all. Travelcasting can also be used as a direct line of communication, by recording video-casts of company messages from executives for company wide distribution.

There are numerous uses for travelcasting, and over the next few years it will explode in popularity. It is beneficial to organizations as well as the consumer, and it will be seen as a great tool in any travel organizations’ operations.

Slideshows for wedding receptions are becoming very popular. It is most definitely the “In” thing to do, and before long wedding slideshows will become so common that the thought of not having a slideshow at the wedding reception will be equal to the thought of not having a photographer at the wedding reception! However, some brides and grooms are a little reluctant at the prospect of showing a slideshow at their wedding reception. Here are some of the top 5 reasons that we have been exposed to, and our solutions to them.

1. We don’t want to bore our guests. - This is a very legitimate concern. Afterall, how many of us really want to sit down and watch picture after picture of the same two people and their friends - whom you may not even know - over and over and over again? You can see the audience yawning without even being there. It can make you tired just thinking about such a slideshow. However, this is not the case with creative video slideshows. With creative elements added into the slideshow, the audience sits amazed in the midst of laughter and tears while enjoying being entertained and having no idea how much time has actually passed by. In addition to the creative elements included in the creative slideshows, clients are counseled in how to create a slideshow that will involve the audience, not bore them.

2. We feel like we’re showing off or being prideful by displaying picture after picture of just us. - Another legitimate concern, but totally obsolete. This is your day - it is about you! Enjoy your day that’s all about you and your new love - celebrate! This is a once in a lifetime event! And a good slideshow consultant can help you create a slideshow that is entertaining and extremely enjoyable to all your guests.

3. It’s too time consuming. - Yes, gathering up photographs, and videos does take time. So ask mom and dad, brother and sister, grandmom and grandpop, aunt and uncle, and very close friends to help. Think of the wonderful memories you’ll be creating as you sit down together to go through old photos and to watch videos that haven’t been viewed since they were taped. Make some fresh cookies and hot cocoa, or some other delicious snack to serve as you spend the afternoon together reminiscing. This will be time well spent as you share these tender and intimate moments with those you love the most.

4. It’s too expensive. - How can you put a price on memories? Photos will yellow, crack, and fade. And even VHS tapes lose their quality over time. However, once you place your favorite photos and video clips on DVD’s or CD’s, they will last forever. Never cracking, yellowing, fading or degrading. Another big bonus is that they make wonderful gifts for you to give to family and close friends after the wedding reception ceremony. Think of the joy on your mother’s, father’s, and grandparents face when you hand them, their own copy of the DVD!

5. I just don’t know where to begin. - We realize that this project can seem overwhelming amongst all the other wedding planning that must be done, so we created the “12 Steps to a Successful Slideshow Production” checklist for you to follow. No need to stress out on what to do next, just follow the steps. You can also call or email your professional slideshow consultant at Sands of Time Multimedia Creations and she or he will be glad to help you with any questions or concerns you may have.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started creating a creative video slideshow presentation for your wedding reception that will add to your day’s events and keep your guests talking about your wedding day for years to come! View some samples and experience the difference!

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Film Scanning has become a necessary piece of equipment for the digital darkroom that enables the photographer to continue to shoot pictures the traditional way with film and slides. The scanner allows you to convert the film to digital files and take advantage of the use of software editing, enhnancing and publishing. There are some clear advantages to using a dedicated film Scanner over a flatbed scanner when scanning film or slide negative transparencies. Both a film scanner and flatbed scanner operate using a light source and sensors that scan through the transparency. A dedicated film scanner utilizes a transmissive light source while a flatbed scanner uses a reflective light source. A transmissive light source is a direct linear light source that reflects through the transparency. A reflective light also shines through the transparency, however it is contained or diffused under the glass bed of the scanner and relected off another surface. This is the lid or top surface of the flatbed scanner. The result is greater density and clarity scanned from the transmissive light from a dedicated film scanner. Current higher quality flatbed scanners offer transparency and negative holders and often include an additional light source on the lid to mimic the transmissive light. However, the ultimate operation of a flatbed scanner is still very similar to that of a copy machine. Although some may see an advantage in the flatbed scanner to scan batch negatives or slides quickly, the disadvantge becomes the ability to customize each individual slide or negative that may have different densities or exposure. With a dedicated film scanner, you have the ability to expose or scan each frame at varying degrees of resolutions and corrections. Most dedicated film scanners also offer the batch feature as well. Two main components are essential for a quality scan: resolution and dynamic range. Resolution is the mesurement of pixels the scanner can capture within the scan. Dynamic range is the degree of tonality that is captured within the scan. Most dedicated film scanners offer dynamic ranges greater than 3.6 with 0, the purest white and 4.0, the deepest black. While flatbed scanners have improved greatly in the past few years with higher resolutions, you must be careful on those claiming very high resolutions. This is often interpolated resolution or in simple terms, the scanner guesses on the number of pixels rather than contain the true optical pickup of pixels in the film scanning process. Author: Kimberly Renter Copyright, 2005 Owner of a Film, Photo and Slde Scanning Service at http://filmnfile.com This site also offers more scanning information and a forum to discuss photography. email at inquiries@filmnfile.com

Let’s recap. In part 1 of this article, we touched on the three ways to increase your profits; through your marketing, your products and your back-end. We also explained how audio could be used effectively to increase all of them.

So what’s the bottom line here? Well, Jay Abraham teaches that if you can increase each of the three components we discussed by a small amount (even just 10%), you will see an exponential increase in your profit.

To really get your attention, let me ask you this. Do you think adding an entirely new dimension to your marketing, your products and your back-end has a 10% limit? What if you could really master the art of incorporating effective audio (and don’t forget, once you’ve mastered that, there’s video too) into your products and your marketing strategies?

Here, let’s break it down into numbers. Suppose you have 50 new customers purchase your $47 ebook every month. That’s $2,350 in average monthly sales. Not bad. You only have the one product (for now) and haven’t yet implemented any back-end strategies so you know things can only get better.

Next, you learn how to make your own audio. You create an audio marketing message and see a 10% increase in sales conversion (remember that people have claimed to actually see a 300% increase so 10% is um, well, a little low). Now you sell to 55 customers every month. You also record your ebook and add in an audio interview, which you distribute along with your original ebook file for $97 (that’s a very reasonable mark-up). So that’s 55 x $97 = $5,335. You are now selling $5,335 of products every month. You’ve more than doubled your income.

Like I’ve mentioned before, the best part is that once you get the audio recorded and set-up on your site, there is no extra work. As you can see, the time and cost of learning how to create audio files can more than pay for itself.

In our imaginary scenario, you’re selling $64,020 worth of your ebook/audio set yearly. Imagine if you got really smart and added in a back-end marketing system? Now imagine what would happen if you used an audio sales message to help market these additional products? In all likelihood, you could expect an exponential explosion of profits.

For those of you just starting out, mastering audio (even just the marketing aspect of it) could very well be the difference between failure and success.

Just imagine how you can incorporate audio into your marketing, your products and your back-end. What will that mean for your profits?

…I’d guess that your profits will only go up!

The world of animation is ever expanding. With innovations in computer animation, illustration has grown far beyond Saturday morning cartoons. Animation has evolved into a complex component of web-design and nearly every element of mass media. With the help of personal computers and powerful design software, the power to become an animator has never been more accessible to the general public. Computer design software may be accessible to the public, but the skill required to operate these programs can take months or years to develop. This may lead those interested in animation to turn to a professional animator for instruction. Interested parties may simply hire an animator to create the perfect animation for the need of the client. Today animation is becoming a more versatile tool rather than just a form of entertainment. Artist Illustration can be an integral part of a website or a multimedia tool used to enhance a corporate presentation. Many companies are turning to animation to improve brand image. Animation can also revitalize the image of a company and assist in market penetration. Illustrators now have the ability to tailor their services to the specific needs of its clients. A client may need a banner advertisement placed on a certain website to increase more traffic and gain more buyers of a product. Animators also use sophisticated software to create attractive animated websites that attract buyers and traffic. These tools can add a new level of professionalism to an otherwise bland site.

Client Involvement

Many artist illustration services involve the customer from start to finish. The illustrators keep the client involved in the creation of the product to insure a final product the client will approve. This direct line of communication with the client is vital in maintaining a successful business. Illustrators know that whether a client wants a sophisticated flash animated website or a simpler corporate logo must keep the vision of the client first and foremost. This attention to detail can make or break the illustrator-client relationship.

Roles of the Artist

Today’s animator is more than just an artist. The animator must manage all aspects of the cutting-edge industry of design. Today’s artist must keep current on the technology and industry trends. This allows the artist to provide the highest level of service to his/her client base. The animator must also perform an editorial role. This role allows the artist to interpret the needs of client and turn them into a finished product. The illustrator can then create a product that reflects his/her own personal style while giving the client satisfactory results. Work, for the artist, is not all about bottom lines and client approvals, however. The artist has many other outlets that allow true expression of ideas. These side projects are the true passion of the artist. These animations give the artist the latitude to push the limits of his/her ability. These projects are the pride and joy of the artist and the passion shines through in these works. Many of these projects go on to win awards. Others develop a cult following. Whether the artist is working for the corporate world or working an elaborate side project, the creativity comes through in all aspects of the artist’s work. Although the roles of the artist have changed with the evolution of technology, the drive and passion of creation remain intact with artists of all genres.

You may already have recognized the need for web conferencing within your organization. You have heard all about the many benefits and have decided it is the way forward for your company. Now all you have to do is decide which type of web conferencing would best suit your company’s needs.

A quick investigation into the types of web conferencing available will result in a myriad of information. For the uninitiated, unraveling what is available can be confusing and time-consuming.

Below you will find a quick guide to the types of web conferencing currently out there. Each organization will have its own individual requirements and it is important to be clear about what you hope to gain from web conferencing. For example, is it a fully interactive virtual meeting place that your organization needs, or do you require a document sharing system that will allow employees in different geographical locations to work together on projects? Once you understand how you want web conferencing to work for you, analyzing the types of web conferencing and how they could work for your organization will become much easier.

Web Meeting

With growths in international business and a growing trend towards home working, the need for a virtual meeting place is increasing. A web meeting is just what it says - a meeting that takes place over the Internet. This facility has the capabilities to hold real-time conversations and share documents. Web meetings can be fully interactive, allowing participants to converse in real time and for information to be exchanged between delegates.

Web meeting set-ups vary in terms of sophistication and a very rudimentary system can be set up using just a digital camera and a broadband connection.

The Webcast

As the name would suggest, a webcast is a type of broadcast similar in nature to a television broadcast except, of course, a webcast takes place over the Internet. The broadcasting nature of this facility means that there is little opportunity for the presenter and delegates to interact with each other and therefore its function is primarily as a presenting tool. The other main feature of a webcast is that it can be broadcast simultaneously to hundreds of recipients.

If your requirement is for a presenting tool that also offers the interactive features of a web meeting, then you should consider a webinar.

The Webinar

As the name suggests, the webinar is a facility that allows you to conduct a seminar over the web. Allowing a greater level of interaction than the webcast, a webinar enables the presenter to conduct question and answer-type sessions with delegates. However, you should remember that a webinar does not afford the same degree of interaction as a web meeting.

Other Uses For Web Conferencing

Online Presenting

Web conferencing can also be used for conduction online presentations. Online presenting is ideal for sales pitches, performance reporting or providing training for other members of your organization. Add on features include slide shows, web based conversing and audio/video streaming.

Online Collaboration

This is by far the most commonly used type of web conferencing and is the ideal solution for organizations who have multi-location sites yet require collaboration between their employees on projects and documents. Online collaboration has file sharing capabilities that updates changes and alterations to documents in real-time to avoid errors.

Diane Parker is a web content writer who specializes in internet related topics. Her conferencing articles include: web conferencing software, choosing a web conferencing tool and internet conferencing.