Video and audio is part of the web, deeply ingrained in everyday browsing, whether it’s a news site with audio reports, a social network with links, songs and videos suggested by friends and acquaintances, or the now-famous YouTube.

As with many web technologies and trends, there are parallels between the use of such media on the web, and on an intranet. There are also some significant differences.

The other aspect contributing to the boom of rich media is the ubiquity of mobile devices capable of phenomenal levels of media playback.

With a significant percentage of employees in any organisation owning at least a personal audio player and increasingly a device capable of video playback, there are a wide array of opportunities for businesses to use these channels and devices.

Rich media opportunities include:

• video
• audio
• delivery to mobile devices

This article will highlight some issues, examples and tips on using video and audio files on the intranet, whether at a desk, or on a mobile device.

Examples will also be given where these have been used in practice. Intranet teams are encouraged to experiment with these types of approaches, exploring where they can add value.

This will help the organisation to connect better with its staff, and improve information delivery.

[August KM Column by Alex Manchester, read the full article]