Access X-Stream from Home - Essay Example

? Full Paper Introduction E learning is a concept and tool used to deliver the information in a simple way. The aim is to evaluate and provide better online functionality that may simplify the learning methodologies. Exploring different methods on E learning in different ways, bundles with rich experience and 24 hours availability of the learning resources construct it a exceptional learning tools. The visual technology with rich animated graphics helps the learners to understand better. Teachers and students can discuss the lectures and suggestions on forums making a virtual learning environment. Students can participate online by uploading their suggestions on a particular topic and at the same time sharing the videos and suggestions with the peers. Evaluation of the students is also conducted by E learning, which is an added feature which is beneficial for the instructors. E- Learning Techniques ‘Distance learning’ is the process to commence learning from a computing interface rather than face-to-face. The reason is the distance between the learner and the educator. It is the only possible way the learner has access to education. This approach existed long before the Internet in the form of correspondence courses indoor via television. The current technology has expanded its horizons, increased speed and efficiency. It also enabled many potential learners to access the distance education programs. Furthermore, ‘Flexible learning’ is the learner’s preference of learning either in a traditional face-to-face approach or via another medium, TV, CD-ROM or distance learning all with equal standing in terms of course conclusion and gratitude. Before the advent of the web, this approach was available but technology has made it possible to manage and deliver these choices more efficiently to provide a broad range of learners. This technology also facilitates to learners who do not have access to the campuses and cannot attend classes. ‘Blended learning’ is the process of learning by compound and mandated modes of deliverance. Mandated is the key element and is not optional. This means that a component of a learning application need to be commence in digital forms other than face-to-face, i.e., World Wide Web, Compact Disc , remoteness, etc. Blended learning is often related to flexible deliverance of the presentation. Moreover, ‘Online learning’ is almost certainly the most often used phrase when explaining ‘Online learning’. The core concept is the learning via World Wide Web. Online learning does not have a general definition other than access to learning via the Internet. X-Stream System X stream is a virtual learning environment with a sole purpose of enhancing learning techniques. It is a virtual learning environment that can be accessed via Internet. Every user is provided with credentials to ‘login’ to the virtual learning system. In fact, there are different protocols associated to accomplish a remote session. For instance, a user wants to connect X-stream from home, various computational processes are conducted in order to establish a remote session. Moreover, Internet connectivity is the prime requirement for establishing a session. Creating a Session When a user wants to connect to X-stream virtual learning environment, user open the web browser and enters ‘www.x-stream.com’, in order to access the website. The host accepts the request that is forwarded by hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP). However, due to strict security issues, HTTPS is deployed, abbreviated as ‘Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure’. Furthermore, after the arrival of the request, website is presented for the user’s web browser. Authorization and Authentication is required for getting access to the system. This procedure normally involves credentials including ‘User ID’ and ‘Password’. When the user authenticates him or her, permission is granted to access all the resources of the virtual learning web based system. However, the authentication server matches the ‘User ID’ and ‘Password’ to grant or deny access for creating a session. The X-stream system supports email which may also require authentication and authorization in some cases. In Fact, some websites require flash, video and voice support to interact with the user via web browser. Connection-Oriented and Connection-less Protocol The connection-oriented protocols are reliable as they are connection-oriented. In addition, these protocols support segment retransmission and flow control by the process called windowing. Furthermore, connection-oriented protocols also support segment sequencing and at the same time supports acknowledges for missing segments. In comparison, connection-less protocols are unreliable and do not guarantee a successful delivery of data. Furthermore, connection-less protocol do not support windowing and retransmission of data packets if they are lost or corrupt. Likewise, no sequencing and acknowledgment is present in these protocols. X-stream system operates on both connection-oriented and connection-less protocol. One example for connection-oriented is transmission control protocol (TCP), and user datagram protocol (UDP) for connection less. “TCP ensures that all data arrive accurately and 100% intact at the other end” (TCP definition from PC magazine encyclopedia). X-Stream Online Features As the X-stream system supports other features for instance, digital library, Email, online help, news and events and voice and video support for the users, various protocols are incorporated in order to make these features functional on the web based online portal. The file transfer protocol (FTP) is a connection less protocol that may be used to upload or download a project, file, assignment, essay, or coursework from the X-stream system. Consequently, video streaming services available on the X-stream system also operates on connection less protocol. Another prime feature for interacting with students is the voice support. However, voice support requires an additional device called a microphone for communication and a high speed Internet connection; VOIP adds value and instant assistance for students. However, VOIP is a connection less protocol; it is emerging to be a most sufficient and cost-effective way for voice communication. VoIP congregates voice data signals and exchange the data into digital format to route over the Internet and to be transmitted to its objective, that can be anywhere in the world. Consequently, for adding more value, email services are also offered in order to provide electronic communication between students and instructors. Furthermore, with the help of email, student can ask any questions and queries related to the current topic or lecture. In addition, financial assistance, fee issues, and students may also inform any issue related to health and sick leaves etc. Email operates on ‘simple mail transfer protocol’. The SMTP is connection oriented protocols that guarantee trustworthy delivery of email. In fact, SMTP is extensively used by government, education organizations and is also the most efficient protocol for mail transfer. “The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol would be an "application layer" protocol when slotted into the OSI model. It is an open protocol because the only assumption it makes of the transport mechanism below it is that it will provide a reliable service. In most cases, SMTP is used in conjunction with the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) service, which provides the reliable transport layer (Service). Other transport mechanisms that are mentioned as supported in the specification are the Network Control Program (NCP) service, the Network Independent Transport Service (NITS), and the X.25 service “(SMTP: Definition of SMTP). X-Stream Data Access Methodology Accordingly, for accessing databases to read and access online books, object oriented database (.odb) extension is applied to all the electronic documents. The Open Document Format (ODF) is also deployed, that is an extensible markup language (XML) compatible file format for representing electronic documents, such as spreadsheets, charts, presentations and word processing documents such as word processing documents, spreadsheets, object-oriented database, presentations, graphics and for mathematical equations (How to read and write ODF/ODS files (Open Document spreadsheets) ). Consequently, the digital library of the campus or educational organization is scanned to make every book digitized with the help of optical character recognition (OCR), so that the students can read any book they want virtually from the X-stream system. The scanned images can be viewed by the web browser or PDF viewer. Furthermore, the X-stream system also provides access to various research databases. Students can research on any topic or subject that may help them to increase their scope of understanding. Multimedia Support The simultaneously support for video and voice is made successful by the online flash players and VOIP. The user datagram protocol (UDP) executes a flash based interactive player to display live videos on the web browser of the user. Although, user must install Flash player in order to initialize the flash player on the browser. Furthermore, to broadcast video, camera is required at the user end, to capture live video. UDP handles this broadcast in terms of data packets. However, UPD is not a connection-oriented protocol, performs the job that is quite acceptable. The VOIP support is also handles by UDP. A high bandwidth connection is recommended for video conferencing, whereas, Dialup connection is not acceptable to perform this task efficiently. However, “UDP is widely used for streaming audio and video, voice over IP (VoIP) and videoconferencing, because there is no time to retransmit erroneous or dropped packets” (UDP definition from PC magazine encyclopedia ). References How to read and write ODF/ODS files (OpenDocument spreadsheets) Retrieved 1/25/2011, 2011, from http://www.gemboxsoftware.com/LA/Read-Write-ODS-ODF-.NET.htm TCP definition from PC magazine encyclopedia Retrieved 1/25/2011, 2011, from http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=TCP&i=52610,00.asp SMTP: Definition of SMTP Retrieved 1/25/2011, 2011, from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/87022 UDP definition from PC magazine encyclopedia Retrieved 1/25/2011, 2011, from http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=UDP&i=53351,00.asp Read More