Adaptive video streaming for Technology-Enhanced Learning in workplaces

In recent years, the interest has been growing in video communication for training. Video clips have become an important learning resource, both within B2B distance training service offerings and the most popular social networking portals, such as YouTube™. In this scenario, however, the technical issue of how to proficiently deliver multimedia contents over heterogeneous wired or wireless networks remains a challenging aspect. This is mostly related to the varying characteristics of the underlying network technologies, as well as the requirement to comply with multiple platforms and end-user devices(such as desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones). To provide a stable and uniform quality of experience to e-learners, the issue of monitoring the end-user and network context should be addressed and, leveraging on this information, the multimedia content should be dynamically adapted to match the device and network characteristics. This paper describes the Smart Multi-Channel Streaming Platform, a MPEG-DASH-based component enabling the delivery of full multichannel streaming services for media contents with a unified common standard, including on demand video clips based on the reference context. In this way, desired video quality adapts to the different Internet bandwidth and device capabilities, in order to keep a video playing. Next steps will include sensing the viewers and their surrounding environment to optimize streaming.