new idea- please comment

[Robin Fabiano]

Hi- what do you think about a web based service that allows you to post videos or digital content (powerpoints etc.) and sell them?

Essentially this is a digital library where videos or powerpoints etc. can be bought and sold (think of selling all of your work!!)

It's called Smartclips.com-

let me know what you guys think and or ideas to use it:
examples so far:
-selling school plays to grandma for holiday gifts :)
-selling powerpoints or digital lessons
-"how to videos"
-computer training

I'm interested in feedback!!
Robin

[K Greenhaw]

There are a lot of free resources out there that are similar to this already so you might have some tough competition to deal with. YouTube, iFilm, StumbleUpon and various other sites have a few AT and teacher resources already although they might be a bit harder to find since they are large sites with thousands of videos. I know our website EnableMart.com sells some IEP resources and videos for teachers. I think you have a good concept there though posting it all online.

[Robin Fabiano]

YouTube is great for posting videos for free. The intent of SmartClips is to provide a way for anyone to sign up and post their videos and related materials for sale online.

SmartClips is fairly unique in its ability to allow uploaded videos to be played back (just like YouTube) on a pay-per-view basis. Of course, you can set whatever price and length of license you like (a day, a week, a year, whatever), and you can include any other downloadable materials along with your videos you like (such as social stories, powerpoints, task analysis, lesson plans etc.)

[Wendy Homlish]

I think we, as a community, have been fairly quick to share for free - one of the reasons I love "AT World" so much! I would kind of hate to move to selling things...just my opinion of course. If there is content that is "salable" I'm sure they would be purchased by one of the larger companies, like MJ. I guess I just kind of like the sharing idea - as long as we give credit where credit is due, of course.

[Paula Walser]

I totally agree with Wendy! The entire web 2.0 movement is for open source and sharing and building on the exceptional work of our network members. We have many video options available for free. We currently use YouTube and also appreciate the videos that others have posted to this ning - also tools like Voice Thread for social stories, task analysis, etc. I do agree that schools are moving to web based solutions but many are also requiring use of the tools that are free when they are available.

[KarenJanowski]

Robin,
How do you see this as different from what is already available? What makes your idea marketable? Curious to hear your thought process.

[Robin Fabiano]

Actually, it's not my idea. My friend Jeff's company created Smart Clips and he asked me to feel out the idea on this site. He actually just joined- Jeff foster- so hopefully he'll answer this. I see it being unique because a teacher could create their own "store" of materials- best practices, data sheets, tools- training videos etc. and make those available to others- and get paid for their services....similar to an online consultant. I didn't know that You Tube also shared ppt. and other materials- I thought it was just video. I know I have many idols in the Sped. field who I follow and would love to get their updated tools without having to wait until they come around to a conference in the area.
Anyway- Jeff just joined, so I'll encourage him to reply and give more of an explanation!

[K Greenhaw]

No you are correct; Youtube is just for videos. I think what some people here are saying is that with so many outlets for free videos and other resources like Powerpoint presentations it might be a hard sell for some people that are more comfortable with the Web 2.0 Opensource types of communities.

Honestly, if you have a good niche of interested buyers than nothing is a "bad" idea and I think Smart Clips could be very successful if it carefully identifies its market.

Best of luck to both of you!

[Samuel Charles Sennott]

www.atomiclearning.com is terrific.

I think the YouTube precedent kind of busts up anything that is not super professional and worth the while. The expectation currently is that it is free and you can leverage adsense, etc. Interesting idea, the micro-cost stuff.

At one point theorists imagined the internet being run by stuff like that where you used pennies and accessed all sorts of stuff. Who knows? Maybe it will come back into fashion.