The virtPresenter lecture recording system: Automated production of web lectures with interactive content overviews

Recording live lectures has proven to be a fast and efficient way of creating content for e-learning (Lauer & Ottmann, 2002). This content can be used in a number of ways ranging from simply augmenting a lecture to profoundly changing its didactic setting. See (Mertens et al., 2004 a) for an overview. A number of application scenarios aim for replacing the lecture in its traditional form by more interactive learning sessions (Day et al., 2005; Foertsch et al., 2002; Hurson & Kavi, 1999). In these scenarios, the recorded talk takes over the role of the classic lecture in that it becomes the main means of knowledge transfer. The way in which knowledge transfer takes place in a traditional lecture can, however, be considered highly inefficient. Traditional lectures deliver content in a one-size-fits-all manner that wastes time of more advanced learners and that often is too fast for those who do not possess the required prior knowledge. To fully exploit the possibilities given by electronic lectures, advanced navigation features are crucial (Lauer & Trahasch, 2005). Students must be Interactive Technology & Smart Education (2007) 55-66 © 2007 Troubador Publishing Ltd.