Glossery of terms

Video Formats

It is a form in which the computer can store a video file in. To decrease the size of a file, the video can often be compressed. For example, .mov is a video format created by Apple in order to play their multimedia content- it can also be viewed on Windows computers using Apple's program call QuickTime. Likewise, the file extension .avi was created by Microsoft which enables WIndows to play multimedia files.

Streaming

Streaming lets the presenting of a file in real-time without having the user download it. The application receiving the data must be able to amass the data the streamer is sending quickly enough in order for the data to appear smoothly. If it is received quicker than needed, then that excess data will be saved to the buffer - this will prevent lag by loading when the transmission slows or stops. YouTube would be an example as you are viewing a multimedia file. Spotify would be an example too, as audio is being transmitted to your device. Gamers often stream on a platform called Twitch and hitbox which is a streaming media service. They are able to broadcast themselves playing to a big audience through these platforms.

File Compression

File compression is when a file is made smaller than its original size in order to allow quicker and easier file transmission, as well as the primary purpose of taking up less space on a disk. For example, some files can be zipped (this can be done to one, or multiple files). This zipped file will be of lesser size than the original files that are being zipped up. However, to use them, they would need to be 'unzipped'. Programs such as WinZip allow you to do this. Also some programs like handbrake compress the video files so it takes up less memory.

Aspect Ratios: 4:3, 16:9

Aspect ratio describes the relationship between the height and width of an image/video/frame in proportion to one another. For example, in aspect ratio 16:9, the width is almost double the height. In 4:3, the height and width are almost the same. The 16:9 ration is often used for movies as consumers like bigger, greater screens. The aspect ratio 4:3 was used however, to make older movies and makes the film more square with black bars on the side.

Frame Rates

A moving image is made up of many still images. The frame rate is the frequency these frames appear at. It is measured in FPS (Frames per Second) so the lower the frames the lower the quality of the video and becomes more choppy after 24 fps, after 60fps it becomes more life like and higher quality.