Matt Smith (from my old haunts at Inlet Technologies) recently wrote up an excellent overview on the rise of adaptive streaming as a disruptive technology and I couldn't agree with it more.  Adaptive bit rate architecture embodies innovation because it leverages existing infrastructure while exponentially improving the user experience.

With the adoption of Adaptive (be it HTTP adaptive for the iPhone, Smooth Streaming for Silverlight, or Dynamic Streaming for Flash), we're seeing some classic problems that have plagued online viewers—like the guesswork around plug-ins, data rates, etc...—go away.  We're also seeing improved features make an appearance, such as real-time chats and social media connections, which allow the user both a unique and collective experience. 

But all this new technology AND the growing popularity is having a tsunami effect on the amount of work content creators now have to deliver.

Can content creators keep their heads above this rising demand?  Not with the familiar options that are handy today - the CPU-only workflows will only get you so far.  Adding more computers just gives the operators more things to keep track of and eventually efficiency just flatlines as you add more systems.  Traditional acceleration avenues exist, but have long been a pariah for being so costly and proprietary. Click through for more.

Yesterday, we set a new record at Elemental, thanks to the overwhelming attendance at this month's Lunch 2.0: our conference room's largest meeting to date! There was no need for the HVAC system as 60 or so guests, ranging from software developers to entreprenuers to video industry reps, generated enough heat in our intimate office. Attendees enjoyed a Kettleman's lunch and a demonstration of Elemental's product suite by software engineers Greg and Davy and product manager Lisa. We were thrilled to have such a diverse and interested crowd join us to talk about the opportunities and challenges of online video and video compression. Thanks to all who attended for the interesting conversation and engaging questions both at the event and afterward. Here are some of our favorite tweets:

arih: Thanks @elementaltech for hosting Lunch 2.0! Very cool technology for parallel video processing.

lisacicala: Learning about video compression tools at Lunch 2.0 with @elementaltech.

ike6: Thanks to @siliconflorist for the tip on Lunch 2.0 at@elementaltech! Daily dose of smart folks doing cool stuff in Portland!

We agree. The inventive technology and supportive community is why we love Portland - see you at tech events around town!

Tomorrow, the trade show floor opens for the International Broadcaster’s Conference (the European version of NAB), otherwise known as IBC. While IBC and NAB may have much in common (meccas for online and broadcast content leaders and notorious “sin” cities), there are four significant contextual differences that inspire innovative companies to trek 4,986 miles across the Atlantic for a week in Amsterdam.