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Streaming media enables users to commence content consumption as data packets arrive continuously, a distinct characteristic from traditional file downloading which necessitates the complete file prior to playback.
Answer: True
Streaming media is defined by its ability to allow real-time consumption of content as data arrives, contrasting with traditional downloading where the entire file must be acquired before playback can begin.
The Théâtrophone, an early precursor to media streaming, operated from 1930 to 1980, providing subscribers with access to recorded music over telephone lines.
Answer: False
The Théâtrophone operated from 1881 to 1932, not 1930 to 1980, and allowed subscribers to listen to live opera and theatre performances, not recorded music.
George Owen Squier's patents in the early 1920s for transmitting signals over electrical lines established the technical foundation for Muzak, which delivered continuous music to commercial clients.
Answer: True
George Owen Squier's patents for signal transmission over electrical lines in the early 1920s indeed formed the technical basis for Muzak's continuous music streaming service for commercial customers.
The Telephone Music Service in Pittsburgh became unsustainable primarily due to a lack of customer interest in its live jukebox offerings.
Answer: False
The Telephone Music Service became unsustainable due to the high costs associated with city permits and establishing the necessary telephone lines, rather than a lack of customer interest.
Which of the following best describes how streaming media differs from traditional file downloading?
Answer: Streaming allows real-time playback as content arrives in data packets, unlike downloading which requires the full file first.
The fundamental distinction is that streaming enables immediate consumption of content as it is received in a continuous data flow, whereas traditional downloading necessitates the complete acquisition of the file before playback can commence.
What was the original use of the term 'streaming' in the early 1990s?
Answer: To describe tape drives manufactured by Data Electronics Inc. that ran for an entire track.
The term 'streaming' was initially applied in the early 1990s to characterize tape drives from Data Electronics Inc. that operated continuously for an entire track, a design choice aimed at reducing manufacturing costs.
Which service operated from 1881 to 1932 and allowed subscribers to listen to live opera and theatre performances over telephone lines?
Answer: The Théâtrophone
The Théâtrophone, active from 1881 to 1932, was an innovative service that enabled subscribers to remotely access live opera and theatre performances via telephone lines.
In the 1970s, how was the term 'streaming' often used in the context of telemetry data?
Answer: To refer to reconstructing distortion-free serial data from blocked or packetized recordings.
In the 1970s, within the context of telemetry data, 'streaming' referred to the process of reconstructing distortion-free serial data from recordings that were blocked or packetized.
What was the primary reason the Telephone Music Service in Pittsburgh eventually became unsustainable?
Answer: High costs associated with city permits and setting up telephone lines.
The Telephone Music Service in Pittsburgh ultimately failed due to the prohibitive costs involved in securing city permits and establishing the extensive telephone line infrastructure required for its operation.
The band Severe Tire Damage performed the first live internet broadcast in 1995, featuring high-definition video and CD-quality audio.
Answer: False
Severe Tire Damage performed the first live internet broadcast in 1993, not 1995, and it featured low-resolution video and audio quality comparable to a 'bad telephone connection,' far from high-definition or CD-quality.
RealNetworks pioneered the broadcast of a baseball game over the Internet in 1995, marking an early milestone in online sports streaming.
Answer: True
RealNetworks indeed pioneered the broadcast of a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners over the Internet in 1995, a significant early achievement in online sports streaming.
The first symphonic concert streamed over the Internet occurred in 1996 and featured the London Symphony Orchestra.
Answer: False
The first symphonic concert streamed over the Internet took place on November 10, 1995, and featured the Seattle Symphony, not the London Symphony Orchestra.
Marc Scarpa was a pioneer in streaming media, producing the first large-scale online live broadcast, the Adam Yauch-led Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1996.
Answer: True
Marc Scarpa is recognized as a pioneer in streaming media, having produced the Adam Yauch-led Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1996, which was the first large-scale online live broadcast.
Microsoft and Apple both introduced their own streaming media formats in 1999, contributing to a challenge for users who often needed multiple applications for compatibility.
Answer: True
Microsoft's Windows Media Player 6.4 (1999) and Apple's QuickTime 4 (1999) both introduced proprietary streaming formats, forcing users to install multiple applications for broad compatibility.
Which band is credited with the first live performance streamed over the Internet?
Answer: Severe Tire Damage
The band Severe Tire Damage holds the distinction of performing the first live internet broadcast on June 24, 1993, from Xerox PARC.
What was a significant challenge for users in the late 1990s due to the existence of multiple competing streaming formats?
Answer: The need to download and install multiple applications for compatibility.
In the late 1990s, the proliferation of proprietary streaming formats from companies like Microsoft, Apple, and RealNetworks compelled users to download and install multiple applications to ensure compatibility with various streamed content.
Which company pioneered video streaming with 'StarWorks' for on-demand MPEG-1 videos and live video streaming before widespread World Wide Web usage?
Answer: Starlight Networks
Starlight Networks was a pioneer in video streaming, offering 'StarWorks' for on-demand MPEG-1 videos and live video streaming even before the widespread adoption of the World Wide Web.
What was the approximate video resolution and update rate for Severe Tire Damage's pioneering live internet broadcast?
Answer: 152x76 pixels, eight to twelve times per second
Severe Tire Damage's groundbreaking live internet broadcast featured a video resolution of 152x76 pixels, with an update rate of eight to twelve times per second.
YouTube was founded in 2005 and initially used HTML5 video for playback, supporting MPEG-4 AVC video and AAC audio.
Answer: False
YouTube was founded in 2005 but initially utilized a Flash-based player, not HTML5 video, for playback.
According to the RIAA's 2015 earnings report, physical album sales remained the largest source of income for the music industry, despite the growth of streaming services.
Answer: False
The RIAA's 2015 report indicated that streaming services had become the largest source of income for the music industry, surpassing physical album sales.
The 'streaming wars' primarily involved platforms differentiating themselves by offering lower subscription prices to attract a broader audience.
Answer: False
During the 'streaming wars,' platforms primarily differentiated themselves by offering exclusive, self-produced content, rather than competing on lower subscription prices.
Netflix launched its streaming service in 2007 with a strong focus on producing original content from day one.
Answer: False
Netflix did not offer original content when its streaming service launched in 2007; it began producing its own shows nearly six years later.
The 'streaming wars' were declared 'over' by some media outlets in late 2022 due to factors such as stalled audience growth and a strategic shift from market share expansion to profitability.
Answer: True
Media outlets declared the 'streaming wars' concluded in late 2022, citing reasons including the end of pandemic-era restrictions, stalled audience growth, and a strategic pivot towards profitability.
The Streaming Innovation Alliance (SIA) was founded in 2023 and included major tech companies like Apple, Amazon, and Roku among its initial members.
Answer: False
While the Streaming Innovation Alliance (SIA) was founded in 2023, major tech and streaming companies such as Apple, Amazon, and Roku were notably absent from its initial membership.
Global music streaming reached 4 trillion streams in 2023, representing a 34% increase from the previous year.
Answer: True
In 2023, global music streaming indeed reached 4 trillion streams, marking a substantial 34% increase compared to the volume recorded in 2022.
The mass popularization of online content streaming significantly boosted the DVD industry's profitability and led to the expansion of rental companies like Blockbuster.
Answer: False
The rise of online content streaming had the opposite effect, causing a drastic decline in the DVD industry's popularity and profitability, and contributing to the downfall of rental companies like Blockbuster.
The music industry initially embraced music streaming as a solution to declining revenues from physical sales.
Answer: False
The music industry initially reacted negatively to music streaming, viewing it as a contributor to declining revenues alongside piracy, before eventually embracing it as a growth driver.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decrease in streaming service subscriptions globally as people reduced their entertainment spending.
Answer: False
The COVID-19 pandemic actually led to a significant surge in streaming service subscriptions globally, as people sought entertainment during lockdowns.
When was YouTube, the first popular video streaming site, founded?
Answer: 2005
YouTube, which became the first widely popular video streaming platform, was founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim.
According to the RIAA's 2015 earnings report, what became the largest source of income for the music industry?
Answer: Streaming services
The RIAA's 2015 earnings report indicated that streaming services had surpassed other revenue streams to become the largest source of income for the music industry.
How did streaming platforms primarily differentiate themselves during the 'streaming wars'?
Answer: By providing exclusive, self-produced content.
During the 'streaming wars,' platforms predominantly distinguished themselves by investing heavily in and offering exclusive, self-produced content to attract and retain subscribers.
What was Netflix's initial strategy regarding original content when its streaming service launched in 2007?
Answer: It did not offer original content for nearly half a dozen years.
Upon its streaming service launch in 2007, Netflix did not initially feature original content; it commenced producing its own shows approximately six years later.
Which of the following was NOT cited as a reason for media outlets declaring the 'streaming wars' to be 'over' in late 2022?
Answer: A significant increase in overall subscriber base.
Media outlets declared the 'streaming wars' concluded in late 2022, citing factors such as stalled audience growth, not a significant increase in subscriber base, alongside a shift towards profitability and the end of pandemic-era restrictions.
Which major tech and streaming companies were notably absent from the Streaming Innovation Alliance (SIA) at its founding in September 2023?
Answer: Apple, Amazon, Roku, and Tubi
At its founding in September 2023, the Streaming Innovation Alliance (SIA) notably lacked major tech and streaming companies such as Apple, Amazon, Roku, and Tubi among its initial members.
What was the global volume of music streams in 2023?
Answer: 4 trillion streams
In 2023, the global volume of music streams reached an impressive 4 trillion, indicating substantial growth in digital music consumption.
What impact did the rise of online content streaming have on the DVD industry?
Answer: It caused a drastic drop in popularity and profitability for the DVD industry.
The proliferation of online content streaming led to a severe decline in the DVD industry's popularity and profitability, contributing to the failure of many DVD rental businesses.
What was the music industry's initial reaction to music streaming?
Answer: It was met with negative reactions, contributing to a significant fall in revenue.
The music industry initially responded negatively to streaming, perceiving it as a factor contributing to a substantial decline in revenue, alongside piracy.
Napster, launched in 1999, was a subscription-based service that allowed users to legally download MP3 files for a monthly fee.
Answer: False
Napster was a peer-to-peer file-sharing network that allowed users to freely upload and download MP3 files, not a subscription-based service for legal downloads.
Shawn Fanning, John Fanning, and Sean Parker were the developers behind Napster.
Answer: True
Shawn Fanning, John Fanning, and Sean Parker are indeed credited as the developers who created Napster.
The 'free-rider problem' on Napster referred to users who paid for premium access but did not receive exclusive content.
Answer: False
The 'free-rider problem' on Napster described users who downloaded music without contributing their own files to the network.
Many college campuses blocked access to Napster because it generated excessive traffic from students sharing music files, leading to network congestion.
Answer: True
College campuses blocked Napster due to the significant network congestion caused by students' extensive music file sharing, which impaired overall network performance.
The *A&M Records, Inc. v. Napster, Inc.* ruling established that P2P file-sharing services were generally protected under 'fair use' principles.
Answer: False
The *A&M Records, Inc. v. Napster, Inc.* ruling found Napster liable for contributory and vicarious copyright infringement, explicitly rejecting its 'fair use' defense and leading to its shutdown.
Modern music streaming platforms like Spotify have transformed music into a 'club-type good' by making it financially excludable but non-rival.
Answer: True
Modern streaming platforms like Spotify indeed classify music as a 'club-type good,' requiring a fee for access (financially excludable) but allowing multiple users to enjoy it simultaneously without diminishing others' access (non-rival).
Who were the developers behind Napster?
Answer: Shawn Fanning, John Fanning, and Sean Parker
Shawn Fanning, John Fanning, and Sean Parker are recognized as the individuals who developed the Napster peer-to-peer file-sharing service.
What was the 'free-rider problem' in the context of Napster?
Answer: Users who downloaded music without contributing their own files.
The 'free-rider problem' on Napster described users who benefited from downloading music without reciprocating by sharing their own files on the network.
Why did many college campuses block access to Napster?
Answer: Because the site generated significant network congestion from file sharing.
College campuses blocked Napster primarily because the extensive music file sharing by students created substantial network congestion, negatively impacting overall network performance.
What was the outcome of the landmark case *A&M Records, Inc. v. Napster, Inc.*?
Answer: Napster was held liable for contributory and vicarious copyright infringement, leading to its shutdown.
The *A&M Records, Inc. v. Napster, Inc.* case concluded with a ruling that Napster was liable for contributory and vicarious copyright infringement, which ultimately led to the service's shutdown.
How have modern music streaming platforms like Spotify transformed music into a 'club-type good'?
Answer: By making it financially excludable but non-rival.
Modern music streaming platforms have reclassified music as a 'club-type good' by requiring payment for access (financially excludable) while allowing simultaneous consumption by multiple users without diminishing the experience for others (non-rival).
Practical streaming media was only feasible through advancements in data compression, as uncompressed media presented impractically high bandwidth requirements for contemporary networks.
Answer: True
Data compression was critical for practical streaming, as uncompressed audio and video required bandwidth far exceeding the capabilities of networks at the time.
Multimedia content is generally compressed for storage and transmission to increase its quality and fidelity.
Answer: False
Multimedia content is compressed to reduce its data-intensive nature, thereby lowering storage and transmission costs, not to increase its quality or fidelity, which compression typically reduces to some degree.
'True streaming' is used for on-demand content where information is saved to a local file before playback, while 'progressive download' is for live streams.
Answer: False
The definitions are reversed: 'true streaming' is for live content without local saving, while 'progressive download' is for on-demand content that saves to a local file before playback.
A broadband speed of 25 Mbit/s is recommended for streaming ultra-high-definition content.
Answer: True
For optimal streaming of ultra-high-definition content, a broadband speed of 25 Mbit/s or more is recommended to ensure smooth and high-quality playback.
For streaming to 1,000 concurrent users, a Multicast protocol would require significantly more server bandwidth than a Unicast protocol.
Answer: False
A Multicast protocol is significantly more efficient for large audiences, requiring only a single stream (e.g., 300 kbit/s) for 1,000 users, whereas a Unicast protocol would require a separate stream for each user (e.g., 300 Mbit/s total).
Adaptive bitrate streaming enables video quality to adjust dynamically based on network conditions and device capabilities.
Answer: True
Adaptive bitrate streaming is designed to dynamically modify the quality of a video stream in response to changes in network conditions and the capabilities of the playback device, ensuring a consistent viewing experience.
Datagram protocols like UDP guarantee correct delivery of data, making them ideal for streaming media where data loss is unacceptable.
Answer: False
Datagram protocols like UDP are efficient but do not guarantee data delivery, meaning data loss can occur, which is generally undesirable for streaming media where continuity is important.
Content delivery networks (CDNs) assist in managing streaming media load by distributing content closer to users through intermediate servers.
Answer: True
CDNs effectively manage streaming media load by strategically placing content on intermediate servers closer to end-users, thereby reducing latency and server strain.
What was a primary technical hurdle for displaying media on computers from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s?
Answer: Insufficient CPU and bus bandwidth to handle required data rates.
During the late 1980s and mid-1990s, a significant technical challenge for computer media display was the inadequacy of CPU and bus bandwidth to process the high data rates necessary for smooth streaming, alongside the difficulty in achieving real-time computing performance.
What role did data compression play in making practical streaming media possible?
Answer: It reduced the impractically high bandwidth requirements of uncompressed media.
Data compression was instrumental in enabling practical streaming media by significantly reducing the enormous bandwidth demands of uncompressed audio and video, which were unmanageable for networks of the era.
What is the key difference between 'true streaming' and 'progressive download'?
Answer: 'True streaming' is for live content without saving, while 'progressive download' is for on-demand content saved locally.
'True streaming' delivers live content directly without local storage, whereas 'progressive download' involves saving on-demand content to a local file before playback.
What broadband speed is recommended for streaming high-definition (HD) content?
Answer: 5 Mbit/s
For optimal streaming of high-definition (HD) content, a broadband speed of 5 Mbit/s is recommended to ensure a smooth and clear viewing experience.
Which of the following is a common audio coding format used in streaming media?
Answer: MP3
MP3 is a widely recognized and commonly used audio coding format in streaming media, alongside others like Vorbis, AAC, and Opus.
What is the primary function of adaptive bitrate streaming?
Answer: To allow video quality to adjust dynamically based on network conditions.
The primary function of adaptive bitrate streaming is to dynamically modify the video quality in response to fluctuating network conditions and device capabilities, ensuring an uninterrupted and optimized viewing experience.
What is a trade-off when using datagram protocols like UDP for streaming media?
Answer: They are simple and efficient but do not guarantee delivery, potentially leading to 'dropouts'.
A key trade-off with datagram protocols like UDP is their simplicity and efficiency at the cost of guaranteed data delivery, which can result in 'dropouts' or missing data segments in the media stream.
How do Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) help manage the load of streaming media?
Answer: By using intermediate servers to distribute content closer to users.
Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) optimize streaming media delivery by strategically placing content on intermediate servers that are geographically closer to end-users, thereby reducing latency and alleviating server load.
Which of the following is a common video coding format used in streaming media?
Answer: H.264
H.264 is a widely adopted and common video coding format used in streaming media, alongside others such as HEVC, VP8, VP9, and AV1.
Robert Christgau argued that streaming 'dematerializes music,' making it seem like a utility and intensifying pop fashion trends.
Answer: True
Robert Christgau's 2018 argument indeed posited that streaming 'dematerializes music,' reducing it to a utility and exacerbating pop fashion trends, while diminishing the autonomy and reality of the art form.
A 2019 study estimated that streaming music in the United States contributed between 0.2 and 0.35 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year, an increase from the pre-digital music period.
Answer: True
A 2019 study indeed estimated that streaming music in the U.S. generated 0.2 to 0.35 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually, representing an increase compared to the environmental impact of music consumption before the digital era.
According to Robert Christgau, how does streaming affect the perception of music?
Answer: It makes music seem like a utility, denying it autonomy and reality.
Robert Christgau argued that streaming transforms music into a perceived utility, thereby diminishing its inherent autonomy and reality, and fostering a shallower engagement with artistic works.
Which of the following is an example of a streaming media application beyond entertainment?
Answer: Live streams of concerts from organizations like the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Beyond traditional entertainment, streaming media is utilized for educational purposes such as long video lectures, and for cultural events like live streams of concerts from prestigious organizations, as well as continuous feeds from locations like the International Space Station.
What is a primary copyright issue associated with streaming copyrighted content?
Answer: It involves making infringing copies of the works.
A fundamental copyright concern with streaming copyrighted content is the potential for the creation of infringing copies of the works, as well as the unauthorized recording and distribution of streamed material.
What measure can be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with streaming media?
Answer: Converting data centers to use electricity from renewable sources.
A significant measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from streaming media is the conversion of data centers to operate on electricity derived from renewable sources.