Share MCS Video Link

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March 11, 2010, 01:12:08 PM

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573 Posts in 277 Topics by 204 Members
Latest Member: Charles Engrem

What is MCS Selector?
It is a system capability that allows you to cut-and-paste or email an encrypted web link that points to any stored video that that MCS knows about. Upon receipt of the link, you are presented with a MCS login page. When you log in, the MCS authenticates you (via the MCS database or via LDAP) and you are presented with the video that was selected. The MCS Selector was created by VBrick Innovations Lab, and is available via VBrick field engineers.

Does it support MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and WM?
Yes.

Where does the web link show up in the MCS?
All stored videos have an "info" link that opens a new web page that displays information about that video. The cut-and-paste web link appears on the bottom of this page.

Where can I see an example where I can send someone a link?
www.ethernetv.com

How does this relate to "Blackboard", "Moodle" or other course management systems (CMS)?
Teachers commonly use these system to insert web links, and this new capability follows their most common behavior with no complexity. This is not "integration" where the CMS knows about the video in some automatic way. But for the most part, this is what many institutions really want to do. An educator commonly uses Google to find a web page they want their students to look at and they paste it into their CMS. With this new capability, they use MCS to find the video they want their students to view then they paste the link to that video in their CMS.

Note that with true Blackboard integration, other popular CMS's such as Moodle may have been left out of the formula. The MCS selector is a good, simple solution, but is not offered as the ultimate answer for full integration with Blackboard or any CMS.

How does this relate to non-educational applications?
Today, it is common practice to send links to videos via email or to post them on your blog. I'm sure you receive such links to YouTube from your friends on a regular basis. With this project, corporate and government EtherneTV users now have this ability. This is much easier than saying "Log into the MCS, navigate to the video library, open the folder called 'training', then scroll down until you see 'my training' and play it". Just send them a link.

Does the system support links to live video?
No. The reason is because the MCS interface does not have a "info" link for live video, hence we could not find a good place to add this capability. If you need this for live video via MCS, it can be done using a different selection procedure and a different project.

Does the viewer require the installation of VBrick components?
For systems that are Windows Media only, no. Unlike the core MCS, the viewing page uses standard Windows Media Player (the MCS uses a VBrick player in all cases, which requires a component download). For MPEG video, the viewer does require component download, which occurs automatically. Note that for WM type only, it would be easy for use to make a Silverlight version of the viewer, thus supporting PC/MAC, IE, Firefox, Safari without requiring installation of Flip4Mac or VBrick components.

What happens if I send you a link to a video that you don't have permission to see?
When you open the web link, you are presented with a login screen that is almost identical to the standard MCS login screen. Your credentials must be correct for the video that was sent to you or you cannot log in. Here is a link to an old video posted on ethernetv.com:

http://64.251.63.250/MCSLogin/Login5.aspx?gid=4d43535365617263684c6f6769632e566f44436f6e74656e744275636b6574102f56427269636b204e6577732f434e455420496e74657276696577

You can only access it if you enter the correct username/password (demo/demo).

How difficult is the installation?
It is pretty easy. You just make a new web site on the MCS and copy the files. In some cases, there may be "tweaks" necessary to deal with licenses for MPEG playback.

Is it supported by VBrick?
It is built using the MCS SDK, which is a supported product. It is a free add-on created by VBrick Innovations. Like all such projects, it "is what it is" and you either like it and use it as-is, or you pay for the work to change it to more fit your needs.

Rich,

Where can I get the files to install this? I've sent email to VBrick and they really didn't know much about this and mentioned that this was a purchased product. I think this is a really good add in to the portal and can't believe it's not standard item with portal app. I'm trying to use the VB portal as a you tube type portal for our corp training and information; a one stop shop for anything video.

The problem I was having with moving everything to the portal and then directing users to specific training videos. This will enable me to place all videos in the portal, then pass the link on to our training folks and they can place the link into our training management system.

Questions???

Will this work if I have my Portal is setup for using LDAP and have enabled single sign on?
Will users be able to go directly to the video if they have the access without entering username and password?

Thanks -- Stan

Quote from: presnars on July 02, 2009, 11:56:39 AM

The MCS Selector was developed by my team, when I ran VBrick's Custom Development. It is deployed with many customers and became very popular. It solved the problem for integration withr "Backboard" , "Moodle" and other systems, and allows easy email of a video link.

It is still available, but VBrick never made it starnard product. Rather, you have to ask for it as a "custom product" -- which will refer you to VBrick engineering. Contact your direct VBrick sales associate and ask for "Custom MCS Selector" and they will eventually figure it out :)