The world of streaming video is growing fast and is becoming commonplace in households and on mobile devices all around the world. People typically consume video for a wide range of reasons, ranging from entertainment to day-to-day business use, but video also has its place in some unusual and innovative circumstances.

Let’s take a look at the top five unusual uses for streaming video.

1.    Exploration and engineering in mining and offshore regions

The nature of offshore exploration in the mining industry has been long documented as one of the most dangerous, yet necessary pursuits. The use of streaming video is revolutionising this part of the industry, offering a remote view of the deep ocean. Streaming video also offers a cost-effective solution to oceanic exploration.

Delivering information from where people cannot reach

After the Macondo oil well blowout in 2010, video streaming came into its own, providing continuous transmission at a depth of 5000 ft for over three months. The live footage was watched daily by 20 million people around the globe and contributed to the management and handling of crisis response teams.

The ability to live stream at 5000 ft under the sea, or a mile underground has huge benefits for the mining community.

2.    Medical video streaming

The use of live streaming in the medical sector is also changing the face of education for professionals and patients. Video streams can be viewed live for training purposes anywhere in the world and can offer incredible opportunities for learning and demonstrating the latest technologies.

Video streams from the operating theatre are increasing in popularity, and the world’s most renowned surgical presentations are being viewed live. The use of medical video is also appearing in the board room, as engagement of a targeted audience can strengthen branding, the adoption of new medical devices via real-life demonstration of their applications and can elevate an organisation’s authority.

What’s in the future of medical streaming video?

The future of medical video streaming is strong, and high-quality streaming video is set to contribute to the changing needs of patients and students of medicine through growing opportunities, such as:

• Medical seminars
• eLearning
• Live streaming of operations to a conference or classroom
• Products demonstrations

3.    Live streaming for education

eLearning is another area where live streaming video is changing the face of education. According to some industry experts, streaming video could actually replace the standard traditional classroom environment in the future.

For students that live in remote areas, making attending school difficult, live video could provide an alternative to home schooling with high levels of education in a virtual classroom instead.

Making education more accessible for lower cost

The cost implications of this solution could be significant, even, some say, if there is a subscription element to eLearning streaming. With a reduced need for education materials, such as reference books, for example, it is clear to see how eLearning could make education accessible to more students.

Teachers believe that there is a significant difference in the standard of education for some students, and that remote learning will increase not only the learning opportunities, but in addition live video will offer teachers an entirely new platform to test new learning methodologies for the modern student.

4.    Farming and agriculture

In the farming industry, particularly in the US and Australia, the use of live video is increasing for a number of uses. Interestingly, farmers on vast cattle ranches are currently exploring drone technology for checking fences and borders. The time and resources saved here are already making a difference.

Cattle-counting is also being revolutionised by fixed video streaming technology. With several streams being monitored simultaneously, farm hands can count and compare results far more efficiently than ever before.

Using video in an emergency farming situation

One of the most unusual, and arguably the most useful video resource for farming, is the increasing use of video tutorials from industry participants like vets. Remote assistance, or a video tutorial for lambing, for example, can be sometimes life-saving during an emergency situation, or in a farm with limited access due to distance.

5.    eLearning tutorials

Touching on this subject again, eLearning via streaming video has its place in many sectors, and with the vast and expanding online library of ‘How-to’-type video, the sky is truly the limit. Although eLearning may seem at first to be not-so-unusual, it is the sheer volume of possibilities that makes us mention it here.

There is little that hasn’t been explored yet in terms of ‘How-to.’ From performing basic home renovations, to learning how to extract a urine sample from your dog, a swift search for online video streams will undoubtedly render success and a few thousand tutorials to choose from. It is only expected to continue to increase in popularity from the sensible to the ‘out there’.

The Streaming Company works closely with our clients to deliver high-quality, low latency video solutions for all types of consumer requirement. Talk to us today, or visit the video streaming solutions page now to find out more.