Delivering Instructional Video Anywhere: An Intelligent Wireless Streaming Video Delivery Mechanism for Mobile Asynchronous Distance Learning

During the last two years, Purdue University's Computer Graphics Technology department has been developing an open-architecture distance learning system capable of both synchronous and asynchronous instructional delivery. The system strives to provide the ability to deliver any instructional content, to any learner, under any condition through the integration of intelligent modules that dynamically determine the most appropriate mode of presentation for any particular learner. This paper details the development of a module for Purdue's Unified Multimedia Delivery System capable of intelligently identifying and delivering asynchronous video content to users on traditional PC's or PDA's over a wireless environment. This provides the system with the capability to deliver traditional videobased instructional and supportive documentation such as schematics, illustration, and animation to students outside of the confines of their traditional classroom or laboratory.