At 8:47 AM -0500 2/27/03, Jim Lewis wrote:
I have an idea on how IBC can improve the skills of
bonsai beginners. I'm suggesting that people like Jim
or Brent should record sessions of when they are doing
anything with bonsai. We can then upload the video on
to the IBC site and there members can download it. The
sessions could be root pruning, propagation, or
anything that beginners need to know. We can ask for
donation from members to buy the camera if we need
one.
This is a very good idea, however, and I'm forwarding this
message to John Jarrett, our webmaster, for his comments.
Jim/Fellow list members
However there are quite severe limitations with the technology
at the moment and things that would have to be addressed are as
follows :-
We would need a standardised video format to be used.
snip
A more difficult problem to overcome is the problem of file
size. Video files are VERY LARGE.
snip
Yes. That (file size) was a concern of webmaster John Jarrett,
both (I think) in terms of web space and managing it on his
machine, if necessary.
snip
Colin indicates he is willing. Maybe, rather than someone just
filming him working away, he could script an on-line class; we
could load teaser (but useful) 30-second clips onto the website,
then, if sufficiently teased, folks could download compressed
files that contain the video -- perhaps for a small fee (for
Colin and for the IBC's time and web page). They'd uncompress
and store on their own machines -- with all the legal caveats
about resale, for private use only, etc. etc. etc.
By scripting something, the dead time would be more easily edited
away. We could actually break a class into downloadable
segments; if someone wanted the section on soils and potting, get
that. If they want wiring, get that. Or pruning and pinching,
get that. Want it all? That would be available, too.
Approaching this from the perspective of a relative newbie, short
close up videos of pruning, pinching, wiring and root pruning would
be more useful than long videos taken from a long shot. This small
work can be hard to see at a class or demo, and still images in books
are useful, but the video would be even more illustrative.
Plus at well under thirty seconds each they would be relatively small files.
I really like the idea of integrating small short videos as
illustrations into a series of online short courses. Use the video
only where it is needed, viewing a tree in 3d can be done with gif89
or quicktime3d images.
--
Philip S, Diamond
(508) 740-0382
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