Odd & Ends

Internet & WWW

Two segments of the Internet have changed the way many of us communicate and learn. These are the Email infrastructure and the inter-linked documents that make up the World Wide Web (WWW).

The WWW has not simply revolutionized the world of publishing it has rewritten the rules for who and what can be published. Hamlet's soliloquies, your grandmother's fudge sauce recipe, and a YouTube video of "Sarah's First Steps" all have their place. At the user interface level the web's basic toolkit employs two rather simple "languages" that enable individuals to reach out to literally millions of people around the globe. HTML provides the container for text and a variety of media and CSS applies the desired style. The third basic component of contemporary websites is JavaScript, short pieces of code that make web pages dynamic and interactive.

To those growing up in the YouTube generation all this seems rather obvious. But to a writer/naturalist born in the middle of the last century it is truly amazing! Thanks to Fletcher Boland and Ben MacAdam who have both made substantial contributions to this site.

Website Development Resources

Video Acquisition & Online Technologies

One of the more significant changes in the World Wide Web (WWW) over the last several years has been the ever increasing presence of online video. Many factors play a part in media rich websites. Below is a partial list of the tools and technology that I use to acquire and deliver video content to the WWW. All of the major components are readily available and over time, in general, the quality of each of these techologies has improved at the same time that costs have decreased. It is also true that each component presents one or more significant learning challenges.

- Canon EOS 60D DSLR Camera / Canon XLH1 24P HDV 3CCD Camcorder
- MacPro 2.66 Quad-Core / 8 GB DDR3 /NVIDIA GeForce GT 120
- Final Cut Pro Suite 6 includes video and audio editing software as well as Soundtrack Pro
- Telestream Episode 5.3.1 compression software
- Other software: Adobe Photoshop Elements, BBEdit, LiveType, Microsoft Office, QuickTime, Snapz Pro X, SWFObject
- Hosts and Servers: HostMonster, Vimeo, YouTube, Internet Archive, Encyclopedia of Life

Video For Others - Video For You

Online video files, like text and image files, need to reside on a server that others can access. Some individuals and many businesses have their own server. Another choice is to put them in "your" directory at a hosting service. In addition, companies like YouTube and Vimeo will host your videos with various restrictions and conditions based on the type of agreement you have with that service.

You can access video on the www as downloadable files or streaming video. In many cases users are interested in viewing the specific video content only once; they have no need for the files themselves. With other content the user might want to have their own copy of the files. Often you can download a file and then view it on your own computer using QuickTime Player or RealPlayer without the necessity of an internet connection. Another popular way to share the media itself is with Podcasts. Below are examples of several video podcasts I developed and that are available at iTunes.

Guidelines and Estimates

If you feel that your organization may qualify for no fee footage please send me a short description of your organization, the audience you serve, and the video content you require. Please be aware that this program applies only to footage presently in my library. While fees will be minimal for organizations willing to use the footage "as is," additional charges are explained below. A credit line and/or a Natural History Services logo is required.

Associated costs are invoiced at an hourly rate of $75.00 per hour for special editing, formatting, titling, and other audio and video tasks. Client is responsible for material costs including disks and tapes as well as for all shipping charges. We can use your FedEx shipping number. Delivery times for any given project will be affected by my schedule and in particular by any work in progress.

Some of my footage is presently included on sites such as the Tree of Life, the Encyclopedia of Life, and Internet Archive. This material is available for immediate downloading and is licensed under a Creative Commons agreement. Please note uses and restrictions.

Nonprofits Using Our No Fee & Royalty Free Video

Retail
Henry David Thoreau - Speaking for Nature
DVD - $19.95 - 50 min. - UPC 852208001033
Cape May - Fall Flight
DVD - $19.95 - 50 min. - UPC 852208001033
The New World Tropics - An Introduction For Naturalists
DVD - $19.95 - 50 min. - UPC 852208001033
Shorebirds - A Guide to Shorebirds of Eastern North America
DVD - $19.95 - 60 min. - ISBN #1-888814-08-X
Common Butterflies and Skippers of Eastern North America
DVD - $19.95 - 60 min. - ISBN #1-888814-10-1
Dragonflies and Damselflies of E. North America
DVD - $19.95 - 60 min. - ISBN #1-888814-11-X Wholesale
Natural History Services dwalton [at] comcast [dot] net
(minimum 10 dvds, mixed title orders accepted, $10.00/dvd + shipping)