Digital Collections News

Real Player and Streamed Media

Many people have been having problems streaming media in the past few weeks. The most common problem as of late is a lack of necessary software on the viewer's computer.

If you are on campus, and connected to the Internet via a campus connection, you can watch streamed video through Video Furnace. These streamed videos are indicated by the "On-campus Buildings" parenthetical label on the title's streaming page. In this case, all you need is a web browser and an Internet connection of at least 2mbps.

If you are off campus, or have a slower internet connection, you can watch streamed video and listen to streamed audio with Real Player. These streamed videos are indicated by the "On or Off Campus" parenthetical label on the title's streaming page. In this case, you will need an internet connection of at least 400kbps AND Real Player software. While watching Real files is more convenient in terms of connection speed and connection location, it does require that you download and install the Real Player software yourself. You can download Real Player 10 for free. If you are still having trouble, make sure you have your VPN turned OFF, as the VPN connection can interfere with the streaming process.

For more troubleshooting information regarding streamed media, check out our troubleshooting page.