Webwatch: Periscope – Real-time video streaming app

Twitter is great for keeping up to date with what’s happening, finding interesting information and sharing it with others. If you use Twitter and like it, you may be interested in Periscope, a live video streaming app for iOS and Android. The developers of the app became fascinated by the idea of discovering the world through someone else’s eyes – in real-time. In their words, Periscope is described as‘ a visual pulse of what’s happening right now’.

The idea behind it is that people anywhere in the world can step into the shoes of others and experience what they’re seeing. In real-time you can catch a glimpse of the world through their eyes. Examples might include being witness to a protest march on the other side of the world or experiencing the atmosphere of a friend’s wedding which you were unable to attend. Periscope capitalises on the power of picture and video to tell stories that words never could. It can just as easily be used to broadcast work activities such as a new service launch or a key event.

In order to shoot video via the app, a Twitter account is required. When Periscope is downloaded from the App Store, you are given the option to subscribe to the Periscope broadcasts of those you follow on Twitter. Notifications are received when anyone you follow starts streaming, and when watching a broadcast you can type out a message to the owner and fellow watchers, or tap the screen to send ‘hearts’.

Periscope’s live videos can be shot from iPhones and iPads and watched through smartphones, desktops or laptops either through the app or on Twitter’s site. You can also watch back recent broadcasts or browse live streams.

Download the Periscope app: https://www.periscope.tv/