Pixetell
Encyclopedia
Pixetell is an online communication and collaboration tool which can be used to produce and share screencasts, or short videos that present the contents and activity on their computer screen. Screencasts may be combined with audio voice-over
, existing video files and webcam
recordings to present information to the person viewing the recording; attachments
may be added and sent as part of the message. The software allows people to communicate asynchronously
; as with email, the producer and the viewer need not be online at the same time; but as with remote desktop software
, it is possible to provide detailed demonstrations of computer-based tasks.
Pixetell also supports password
protection, the ability for the viewer to post a reply within the message, adding existing video files, and the ability to manage and edit existing Pixetell messages.
As of spring 2010 Pixetell production software is available only for Microsoft Windows
; the recordings, which are displayed in Flash
format, may be viewed from Windows, Mac OS X
, and Linux
. The software is offered by monthly or annual subscription; a free 21-day trial is also available.
The messages may be embedded in documents, on web pages, and on online and social networking services such as eBay
, YouTube
and Google Wave
.
Files may be attached to Pixetell messages, existing video may be edited
into a Pixetell message, and the recipient of a message may reply from within the message.
ing software products, Pixetell's software can be used to create messages that demonstrate software features and critiques of digital documents. The messages have applications in customer service
, document editing, sales
, training
and education
. The messages may be sent by email or embedded in web pages, documents, and social media sites.
They also have applications in education such as professional development
, inter-school communication, parent/teacher communication, and project collaboration.
Pixetell is the flagship product of Ontier, a company established in Portland, Oregon in 2008.
Voice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
, existing video files and webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
recordings to present information to the person viewing the recording; attachments
Computer file
A computer file is a block of arbitrary information, or resource for storing information, which is available to a computer program and is usually based on some kind of durable storage. A file is durable in the sense that it remains available for programs to use after the current program has finished...
may be added and sent as part of the message. The software allows people to communicate asynchronously
Asynchronous communication
In telecommunications, asynchronous communication is transmission of data without the use of an external clock signal, where data can be transmitted intermittently rather than in a steady stream. Any timing required to recover data from the communication symbols is encoded within the symbols...
; as with email, the producer and the viewer need not be online at the same time; but as with remote desktop software
Remote desktop software
In computing, the term remote desktop refers to a software or an OS feature allowing applications, either command line programs or graphical applications, to be run remotely on a server, while being displayed locally. Remote desktop applications have varying features...
, it is possible to provide detailed demonstrations of computer-based tasks.
Pixetell also supports password
Password
A password is a secret word or string of characters that is used for authentication, to prove identity or gain access to a resource . The password should be kept secret from those not allowed access....
protection, the ability for the viewer to post a reply within the message, adding existing video files, and the ability to manage and edit existing Pixetell messages.
As of spring 2010 Pixetell production software is available only for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
; the recordings, which are displayed in Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
format, may be viewed from Windows, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, and Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
. The software is offered by monthly or annual subscription; a free 21-day trial is also available.
Features
Depending upon the customer's preference, Pixetell messages may be stored on Pixetell's server or on the customer's server. When stored on Pixetell's server, password protection is available.The messages may be embedded in documents, on web pages, and on online and social networking services such as eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
, YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and Google Wave
Google Wave
Apache Wave is a software framework for real-time collaborative editing online. Google Inc. originally developed it as Google Wave.It was announced at the Google I/O conference on May 27, 2009....
.
Files may be attached to Pixetell messages, existing video may be edited
Video editing software
Video editing software, is application software which handles the post-production video editing of digital video sequences on a computer non-linear editing systems...
into a Pixetell message, and the recipient of a message may reply from within the message.
Applications
As is the case with some other screen recording and screencastScreencast
A screencast is a digital recording of computer screen output, also known as a video screen capture, often containing audio narration. The term screencast compares with the related term screenshot; whereas screenshot is a picture of a computer screen, a screencast is essentially a movie of the...
ing software products, Pixetell's software can be used to create messages that demonstrate software features and critiques of digital documents. The messages have applications in customer service
Customer service
Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase.According to Turban et al. , “Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer...
, document editing, sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
, training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
. The messages may be sent by email or embedded in web pages, documents, and social media sites.
They also have applications in education such as professional development
Professional development
Professional development refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement. Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal learning...
, inter-school communication, parent/teacher communication, and project collaboration.
Technical and corporate details
The built-in "Manager" software lets the user edit previously recorded Pixetell messages, to track how many times a message has been viewed, to delete a message, and to send it to a different recipient.Pixetell is the flagship product of Ontier, a company established in Portland, Oregon in 2008.
See also
- Collaborative softwareCollaborative softwareCollaborative software is computer software designed to help people involved in a common task achieve goals...
- Comparison of screencasting softwareComparison of screencasting softwareA comparison of notable screencasting software programs, that are used to record activities on the computer screen, mouse movement, and often includes live audio for later playback. Screencasting is an asynchronous communication technology...
- Distance educationDistance educationDistance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
- Multimodal interactionMultimodal interactionMultimodal interaction provides the user with multiple modes of interfacing with a system. A multimodal interface provides several distinct tools for input and output of data.- Multimodal input :...
- Instructional designInstructional designInstructional Design is the practice of creating "instructional experiences which make the acquisition of knowledge and skill more efficient, effective, and appealing." The process consists broadly of determining the current state and needs of the learner, defining the end goal of instruction, and...