So what is streaming media?
Let's start at the beginning. What is streaming media?

To understand the role of streaming media, you need to understand the functioning of the World Wide Web. Web servers are often described as "stateless." What that basically means is that the Web server takes a request for information, pushes that information out the door as fast as it can, completes the transaction, disconnects, and goes on to other requests by other users. On the client side, your Web browser takes the information it receives, assembles it on the screen, and then ignores the the Web server until you click on a link. In all, Web transactions between the server and client are pretty much like the end of the evening in a singles bar. A quick exchange and a rapid parting in the morning.

This stateless approach works very well for media like graphics and text. Feed them into the browser and simply slap them on the screen. But moving images and sound are problematic. Unlike a graphic, video, animation, and sound have a time element to them. With that time dimension, often comes a larger file size. Under the stateless approach, a Web user would need to download the entire video clip before it can be viewed. But with the large file size that comes with even a short video clip, the wait becomes unbearable. Another solution is needed.

Enter streaming media. With streaming media the goal is to bypass the limitations of the World Wide Web. Using Internet based technologies that are mostly proprietary, media data is fed to the user as the media is viewed. So rather than a stateless data connection, streaming media is more of a continuous connection. There is a commitment there. Much like TV or listening to the radio, you receive the images or audio just before you see or hear them.

Paced out over time, the file size of the clip becomes less of an issue. But that is not to say that it is not still an issue. The reality is that raw file sizes for digital audio and video are absolutely huge. So to get them down to a size that works for a modem or LAN, compression is used. The goal of streaming compression is to throw away data that you don't need. That makes the file size much smaller. But it also begins to degrade the image and sound.

So much like other Internet based forms of delivery, working with streaming media is all about compromises. How much data can you throw away and still find the media streaming cleanly to a modem or LAN user? Who does the best job of throwing away that data and maintaining the integrity of the clip? How can you get more out of the compression? If you're asking these questions, I know I have you hooked for the next several weeks.