Value vs. Annoyance
Before you add video to your site make sure it is appropriate to your topic and adds value to the presentation. Otherwise it may distract or annoy your visitor.

Your users will pay a big penalty in download time if you do not evaluate the use of video properly. Video files are HUGE.

Types:
Like in audio, there are two basic types of audio:

• non-streaming (or static)
• streaming (more about streaming later)

Non-streaming video requires that the entire sound file be downloaded to your user's desktop before the video begins.

Helper Apps
When a browser detects a file that it cannot handle it calls a "helper" or "plug-in" application. That application deals with translating the file for the browser. There are two conditions for successful use of a helper app.

1. The user must already have the helper app on his/her desktop.
2. The file to be translated must have the proper file extension so that the correct helper app will be called.

The standardized list of file extensions is known as MIME - Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension. The standard extensions for video are:

• .qt (or .mov) - QuickTime file format
  • Most flexible format -- allows for the selection of different codecs (compression/decompression software)
  • Supported on Windows and Mac
  • Explorer & Netscape come with QuickTime helper apps.
• .mpg (or .mpeg or .mpe) - a standard format by the Moving Picture Experts Group
  • Extremely high quality
• .avi - Audio/Video Interleaved format
  • Developed for Windows; remains the standard on Windows
  • Mac users must install a special utility to view .avi files.

Optimizing Video Files
Video files are HUGE. You will be asking the user to download an entire video file in order to view it, so keep it small. You can do this by:

• Reducing the length of the clip
• Reducing the frame size
• Reducing the frame rate

Copyright Issues
People (and organizations) are particularly sensitive to piracy because of the high cost of production.

Sources of Video Info
Here are some sources for info on video:

• QuickTime
• WebMonkey's Video Toolbox
• MPEG Info