Video blogging is the new kid on the block in the blogging world. Until this form came along, the only type of blog posts one could create were those of static text, with perhaps some inserted photographs or for some more dynamic variety, a few moving graphics. But video has begun bringing blogs alive in a new, more immediate way, situating the blogger somewhere between the formerly separate worlds of print and film.
With a video blog entry, the primary means of communication is the video itself rather than the written word, although text will label or augment what the viewer sees, and can certainly be used within the video itself. But in many respects, this type of blog works the same as one that is mainly text-based. It is viewable on a regular blog page, will be updated regularly, and still involves the creator choosing what information or opinions to convey. Much of the structure on the website is also the same, with viewers given space for comments and interaction.
The blogging enthusiast may have the equipment they need, such as digital camera or camcorder, but might still be uncertain as to whether or not they have the expertise to try video blogging. They don’t need to worry, because blogging software has been created just for them, in the same way that blog hosting sites created software for text-based blogs. It will allow them to edit their video clips to the recommended length of 1-3 minutes, and they can use it to add whatever text, music, sound and titles they wish.
Creating a video blog still isn’t as easy as a text-based blog however, so people also need to be aware of some potential downsides to setting up a blog for this type of medium. Just capturing and storing the clips requires many resources. The camera equipment needs to be good enough to create video that won’t embarrass the creator (or, for that matter, the viewers). Presumably the blogger will want to retain a copy of anything that is uploaded to the blog, and that will require storage space.
And since video files are not small, they may create a conflict between the blogger and their internet service provider. Just uploading these clips takes a lot of bandwidth, and some ISPs object to this high demand on their networks and subsequently put limits on people’s bandwidth usage. A blogger may be restricted, therefore, by what broadband connections are available and affordable.
The door has now opened, however, and will not be shut again. Video blogging is here to stay. Students use this sort of blog for classroom projects, and many teachers have begun using a blog with video clips in their own teaching. In the personal and business realm, many bloggers have created a video blog as a sort of personal portfolio, even substituting it for a resume. With the immediacy provided by video, blog creators and their viewers are communicating more deeply than was previously possible.
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