BioInteractive and Holiday Lectures — Technical Tips and Troubleshooting
Viewing streaming video on demand (VOD)
What’s required to watch the lectures or short films on demand?
To take full advantage of the features provided in the Holiday Lectures VOD player, you’ll need Flash installed in your browser. Instructions for installing Flash are found below. Also, see below for mobile device support.
What features are available when watching using the Flash-based VOD player?
Using the Flash-based VOD player you can use the chapter list to jump to specific areas of a video, enter a search term to find and play it in context within the video, turn on and off subtitles, and display the video full-screen in 720p HD resolution. You can also specify custom start and end points via the URL field of your browser. More information on how to use the player can be found in the “player features” link within the VOD player.
Can I watch the on-demand videos from a mobile device such as the iPhone, iPad, or Android?
Yes! The Holiday Lectures VOD player will prompt you to use the mobile player when using an iPhone, iPad, or android mobile device. From here you can watch the lectures either in a cellular-friendly size, or in full 720p HD resolution. Although some features in the Flash-based player are not available in the mobile player, like chapters and text search, subtitles can be turned on via the device’s video player.
I’m trying to stream a video and I get a “Server not found” error.
It’s possible that a firewall is blocking access to our server, specifically port 1935 which handles RTMP streaming. If you can contact someone in your IT department, ask whether that port is currently blocked, and whether it can be opened up to allow you to stream the video.
Viewing a Live Webcast
I'd like to present the webcast to a classroom. What is the best way to view it?
(Internet2 users see below) Use the selector to choose "HD Broadband." Click the “Save Settings and Watch Live” button. To view full screen in Flash Player, click the icon to the right of the volume controller in the player control bar. You can exit full screen mode by pressing the escape button on your keyboard. If you experience poor playback quality, try the "Medium Broadband" selection.
I’m on the Internet2 network. What is the best way to view the webcast?
Internet2 users can click the “Internet2 Users” link from www.holidaylectures.org during the live webcast. To view full screen, click the icon to the right of the volume controller in the player controller bar.
Can I watch the lectures live on my iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch?
Yes! Just click the Watch Live button from your iOS device to start the video.
How do I view captions during playback?
Captions can be viewed by choosing the "Captions On" selection when you select your video preferences. Captions show the text of what is spoken over the bottom portion of the video window. Captions are not available for iOS live streaming.
I have a 56k modem for my Internet connection. What is the best way to watch the webcast?
We are no longer offering a 56k modem version of the live Holiday Lectures. You can try viewing the "Low Broadband" connection.
I am experiencing choppy video and "buffering." Is there anything I can do?
The most common cause to poor video playback is Internet congestion. Try selecting the "Low Broadband" if you are experiencing poor performance using the "HD Broadband" or "Medium Broadband" selections. Otherwise, disconnecting from the webcast and reconnecting after a few minutes might help.
I am having problems viewing the webcast with my selected set of options.
If you are having problems with video or audio, try switching to a different set of options, for instance, change from "HD Broadband" to "Medium Broadband" or "Low Broadband" or switching slides on or off. Also, make sure you have the latest version of Flash Player. Additionally, try another web browser like Firefox or Chrome.
Downloading Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash Player lets you experience animation and entertainment in your Web browser. All versions of the Holiday Lectures are viewable with Flash (including closed captions), and certain Holiday Lectures on Science exhibits have been created with Flash. It is available for both Windows and Macintosh computers and works with the world's leading Web browsers.
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Download the installer from the download page.
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Click on the "Agree and Install Now" graphic.
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When prompted, choose to install the program.
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Once it has finished downloading, close all programs. In the Windows Explorer, double-click the installer file to begin the installation. Follow the instructions in each of the screens.
If you encounter problems installing Flash, please check with the Flash Installation Support Center, or check with the Shockwave and Flash Frequently Asked Questions guide.
Downloading QuickTime
You can download the latest version of QuickTime free of charge from Apple at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/.
They ask that you fill out your e-mail address (required) and your name (optional) in a form. Then click on "Download."
When prompted, choose Save to Disk and specify the directory to which you wish to download the file. In Windows Explorer, double-click the installer file to begin the installation. Follow the instructions in each of the screens
Downloading Adobe Acrobat Reader
You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader free of charge at http://get.adobe.com/reader .
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First select a version of Acrobat Reader according to language, platform (Windows, Mac, etc.), and the location nearest you (for a faster download time). You can also include the option for searching PDF files, but that generates a longer download time.
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Then, click the download button. When prompted, choose the "Save to disk" option, and select the location within your hard drive.
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Last, locate and launch the file you downloaded by exploring your hard drive or choosing the Run option in the Start menu. (The file is where your Web browser saved it.) This will begin the Adobe Acrobat setup process. When you've successfully installed the program, an icon will appear on your desktop.
If you have trouble downloading Adobe Acrobat, consult their troubleshooting guide.
Downloading Adobe Shockwave
Adobe Shockwave gives you fully interactive multimedia, clickable and dynamic animations, graphics, text, and audio from directly within your Web browser. The Holiday Lectures on Science demos are most readily viewed with Shockwave. It is available for both Windows and Macintosh computers and works with the world's leading Web browsers.
To use the virtual labs, the "full" version of the Adobe Shockwave plug-in is required.
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Go to the installer download page and select the "Full" installer type.
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Click on the "Agree and Install Now" graphic.
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When prompted, choose to install the program.
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Once it has finished downloading, close all programs. In Windows Explorer, double-click the installer file to begin the installation. Follow the instructions in each of the screens.
If you encounter problems installing Shockwave, please check with the Shockwave Installation Support Center, or check with the Shockwave Frequently Asked Questions guide.