Matterhorn Features

Matterhorn is an end-to-end software application that supports the scheduling, capture, managing, encoding and delivery of educational audio and video content. The features on the roadmap, many already implemented in the latest release, can be viewed across 4 key components, detailed below.

Also see product demonstration videos as part of the Feature Tour.

Illustration of Matterhorn Features

Capture Infrastructure

  • "Build Your Own Matterhorn Capture Appliance" based off a reference specification for a low cost, low power capture device that supports audio, video and VGA source for high quality encoding. See Release Documentation for the latest specifications
    • Support for automated capture based on schedule
    • Multiple inputs for simultaneous/synchronous capture, e.g. a video of the lecturer plus the VGA signal from the lecturer's computer
    • Configurable capture encoding specifications
  • Ingest service for institutions with existing capture infrastructure that want to send media and metadata to be processed and distributed by Matterhorn.

Administration

Media Capture Scheduling

  • Manual scheduling of individual or recurring recordings
  • iCalendar import from external scheduling source  (e.g. derived from registrar data)
  • Ability to add non-supported capture hardware
  • Tools for disaster recovery

Recording Management

  • Metadata entry and editing for related recordings
  • Distribution initiation to supported channels (i.e. iTunes, YouTube, RSS)
  • Manual media upload (e.g. user-generated or production video) for processing and distribution
  • Media trimming, and tools for efficiently managing large volumes of recordings, including bulk editing and recording search/filtering
  • Access to data about status, performance statistics and technical details

Media Processing

  • Configurable workflow for processing the media through the processing and distribution life cycle
  • Trimming capability (features like branding and watermarking coming soon)
  • Automated media segmentation based on slide changes and scene detection
  • Simple integration with encoding engines such as FFmpeg or Apple's QuickTime
  • Advanced media analysis, including video OCR that extracts time-synched metadata from slides
  • Powerful search indexation for static, dynamic, and user-generated metadata
  • Tool that enables closed captioning of media
  • Sophisticated administrative dashboard for monitoring and management of media's life cycle
  • Handling for dublin core metadata

Distribution

  • Published for both progressive download and streaming server
  • Local search index using solr available
  • Distribution to RSS/Atom feeds for integration into learning management systems
  • Automated publishing to iTunes U and YouTube (coming soon!)
  • Workflows can be configured to enable distribution/archive to local storage or distribution servers

Engage Tools

  • Basic embeddable media player for learners to engage with media
  • Two-screen media player, so that the learner can view the lecturer and slides at the same time
  • Interface for viewing closed captions, searching videos, and subscribing to an RSS feed
  • Navigation timeline representing slide changes and keyword relevance
  • Powerful in-media keyword search
  • Viewing hotspots, indicating which sections of the recording were most often watched
  • Basic media annotation (coming soon)
  • All functionality accessible by keyboard and screen reader
  • Improved REST APIs for customization and localization of the player interface
  • Skinnable media player with pluggable architecture
  • Authorization, allowing administrators to determine which groups have access to particular series of recordings
  • User directory integration (LDAP, CAS etc.)
Creative Commons License

Opencast Projects are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License and source is available under Educational Community License 2.0. Permissions for commercial use of Opencast Matterhorn's logo and name may be available on request.