Kaltura to offer users two embed options
On Thursday, July 30, Penn State IT and Kaltura will make available a second option for users to embed content in webpages, blogs, and social media.
The new default option in Kaltura is Embed. It features secure embed codes that limit access to the content by enforcing the permissions assigned by the owner in MediaSpace. Users should note that the secure embed option does not apply to Channel Playlists and Playlists.
Standard Embed codes are also available to Kaltura users. Standard Embed allows the general public to access the embedded content and is less secure than Embed. Prior to publishing Standard Embed codes, users will get a prompt to remind them that their embedded content can be widely available for public review.
Kaltura users can also visit the Penn State Knowledge Base article for step-by-step instructions on embedding content.
Any Kaltura users in need of further assistance are asked to email kaltura@psu.edu
Updates to Kaltura player provide a uniform experience
On Wednesday, July 15, Penn State IT and Kaltura introduced updated features to the service’s media player to ensure consistency for its users.
The updates mean that whether Kaltura videos are played in MediaSpace, Canvas, or other websites, viewers will be able to access all of the same features and that they will operate in the same way.
Some of the feature updates will aid in the accessibility of content delivered through Kaltura. Closed Caption Font enables a menu on the “Closed Captions” widget where users can select various fonts and colors. Reach, meanwhile, is a feature that enables a widget containing full transcriptions.
Attach is a player feature that will help faculty and students with hybrid course delivery. It allows for a widget on the player to download files related to the video content.
Any Kaltura users in need of further assistance are asked to email kaltura@psu.edu
5/19/2019: “Autoscaling” improves caption display in Kaltura
On Tuesday, May 12, Penn State IT and Kaltura will launch an “autoscaling” feature to the service’s media player.
Autoscaling can be seen in MediaSpace and Canvas only while using a desktop or laptop device; it does not appear on mobile devices.
With autoscaling, videos in Kaltura’s MediaSpace will be re-sized to allow for captions to appear at the bottom of the player’s screen on a black background. The location will ensure that captions do not obscure any content in the video, such as equations or formulas used in math and science courses. The black background will provide appropriate contrast so that the captions are easily readable.
The autoscaling feature applies automatically to Kaltura videos that are captioned; users do not need to take any action. If a video does not have captions, no autoscaling will take place, and the video will fill the player's screen.
Any Kaltura users in need of further assistance are asked to email kaltura@psu.edu
9/11/2019: Reach 2.0 provides free machine captioning for Kaltura media
On Wednesday, September 4, Reach 2.0 machine captioning for Kaltura media became available. Penn State faculty, staff, and students now have access to an improved machine captioning system from which they can order computer-generated captions for videos in their Kaltura MediaSpace and Kaltura media in Canvas. Reach 2.0 takes the place of the previous machine captioning system, Cielo.
Reach 2.0 allows Kaltura users to order and edit machine-generated captions for Kaltura media in MediaSpace and Canvas. This feature allows users to ensure their content complies with Penn State’s accessibility requirements. In conjunction with Reach 2.0 coming online, Cielo will be disabled on Kaltura. This change will not adversely affect captions created using Cielo or other methods, however Cielo-generated captions can no longer be edited.
Machine-generated captions are not automatic and must be ordered. Because machine-generated captions are typically returned with 70-80% accuracy it is essential that users review their captioned content. Incorrect wording, improper punctuation, and vocabulary errors must be revised before captioned content is published.
A knowledge base article has been written and provides step-by-step instructions for ordering and editing captions via Reach 2.0.
Any Kaltura users in need of further assistance are asked to email kaltura@psu.edu
8/23/2019: Configuration change in Kaltura MediaSpace has been rolled back
On Friday, August 16, Penn State IT enabled a video embedding setting in Kaltura’s MediaSpace that resulted in an inability to embed videos properly with third-party content management systems (CMSs). This change created challenges to some units’ workflows for preparing course content at the start of the academic year.
After discussions with the vendor, Penn State IT decided reverting to the original configuration was the most suitable immediate solution. At this time, the setting is disabled and units can now embed videos from MediaSpace into third-party CMSs.
At this time, Kaltura users do not need to take any action; the configuration change has not affected how embedded media plays.
Any Kaltura users in need of further assistance are asked to email kaltura@psu.edu
Archived - Kaltura service updated
Kaltura, Penn State’s enterprise-wide service for storing, publishing, and streaming digital media, recently received a round of updates intended to improve the user experience.
Express capture is a new non-Flash-based feature that works with modern browsers and enables Kaltura to record video directly via a laptop’s webcam. Users no longer need to download the desktop capture application or upload video that was recorded on another device.
This new feature can be found under the “Add New” menu by selecting “Webcam Recording.” This feature requires a web browser that supports WebRTC, a free, open project that provides browsers and mobile applications with Real-Time Communications (RTC) capabilities. Current WebRTC-compatible browser options include Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.
Additionally, every Kaltura user can now view closed captioning on all videos that have been made public. Previously anonymous users were unable to view attachments or captions.
Finally, users can paste links to previously uploaded YouTube videos into Kaltura and a “reference” of that video will be created within Kaltura.
The Kaltura service team is aware of an issue with embedding images in “Assignments” within Canvas via the “Embed Kaltura Media” function. This method causes the image to appear within a video player window. Work is being done to provide a solution to this issue and ensure that all embedded images, regardless of method used, appear within the proper image window type.
For additional information or questions, about these updates to Kaltura please contact kaltura@psu.edu