Multimedia Discussion & Archives

Discussion groups do not need to be restricted to text and static images. The ability to effortlessly link images and multimedia to a text discussion is a fundamental advantage of web based discussion groups over print and even over informal face-to-face discussion groups.The potential for Web based video interaction is progressing steadily. Web based orthopedic multimedia can include video footage of arthroscopy, clinical examination, anatomy dissections, computer-generated imagery and intraoperative demonstrations. This type of media can be archived in a digital format and either

• downloaded
  
  
• viewed on-line as an animated GIF file (http://www.e-hand.com/handbase/cwf051999.htm#gif),
  
  
• viewed on-line as interactive computer generated 3-D graphics (http://www.e-hand.com/3d/3dindex.htm)
  
  
• or as a streaming media presentation (http://www.e-hand.com/vid/schenck.htm).
  
  
• PowerPoint slide lectures with video and audio can be archived and played as a streaming web based presentation, and PowerPoint slide lectures with live audio narration and may be similarly given and archived for late for viewing on demand.
  
  
• Live web-cams are currently used to provide continuously updated pictures on a web site. Similarly, video chat, such as CUseeme, allows small groups of people to chat on-line while sharing low resolution video images obtained at the location of each computer. 

Interesting and constantly improving, these video resources have not yet found a strong footing in the developing scene of orthopedic discussion groups. It is easy to see the attraction of having a live video interaction with another physician using the technology to share directly from their office, operating room, emergency room or view box in their home study. This is the future. It is simply a matter of time, technology, and interest.