The Possibilities of Streaming

---

In the last 5 years or so, we have seen a massive boom in online-streaming content - music, videos, software and much more. As technology advances, computers become more powerful and our Internet connections get faster, the possibilities of streaming are becoming more and more apparent.

What is streaming?

Streaming is simply allowing a user to view, watch and listen to content without having to save/download a file before viewing or listening to it from start to finish. One of the most common streaming mediums we use today is videos, e.g. YouTube. Streaming means that we no longer have to wait to watch a video clip or listen to our favourite song, or even control other computers from the one you're on now.

What is streaming used for?

As we've seen, streaming is used for many different types of multi media purposes, but now we are beginning to see the potential of streaming technologies for more complex uses. We are now able to remotely control computer desktops from a computer on the other side of the world. The future of streaming also looks promising, with the advances in both physical and software technologies. OnLive is a good example of the things to come that we are likely to see in the future of streaming. It will basically allow users to stream popular gaming software directly to their PC, Mac or TV via a broadband connection. Although, at first, this will be limited to those with high speed broadband connections, it looks very promising as it begins to put less emphasis on the specifications of a user's computer, and focuses more on the power of their Internet connection. As broadband infrastructure continues to advance around the world, this also means that software compatibility will potentially become a minor issue, as all you will need is your connection, a screen and a keyboard/controller.

Although online gaming may not appeal to everyone, this technology opens up the possibility for many other applications in the future. We will undoubtedly begin to see various types of other software in a streaming format, eliminating the need for physical copies of software and games; it will also likely result in more compatibility amongst various computers and operating systems in the future.