» Frequently Asked Questions : RootAtlas

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated October 8, 2007

Here is a list of questions and answers.

Topic: This website

What is this site all about?
RootAtlas.com was created as a source for ophthalmology videos online. These videos were designed for playback online or for download for offline vieweing.

Who is this site for?
It is intended for the education of eye-care professionals, students, and anyone interested in ocular pathology. It is not intended as a source of medical advice, nor is this site peer reviewed. Thus, the eye diseases, surgeries, and techniques may not be the “standard of care” of your country or community.

Video Playback Problems

I’m having difficulty playing the videos, why?
The videos are all encoded as WMV (windows media video) format. This video file format allows high-compression while still maintaining good image quality. If you are using an older computer (or possibly an apple computer) you may have to install appropriate software to view the videos. We are striving to convert the videos into other formats, such as apple’s ipod format, but until then the wmv files are all that is available.

The video plays, but starts and stops.
The videos on this site are streamed to your computer during playback, such that the video starts before the entire movie has downloaded. If your internet connection is running slow, the video may stutter as it trys to catch up. There are several workarounds: pause the video during playback to allow the entire movie to download first. Alternately, you can download the video file onto your computer’s harddrive and play them from there.

How do I download the “other” videos?
Many of the videos on this site are embeded from online sharing sites like youtube. These videos are not acually uploaded to this site. The copyright terms for these other videos vary, and as such, are not available for download from this site.

That being said, some video sharing sites like google, make select videos downloadable from their own video page. Also, there are methods for capturing streaming video to your personal computer if you are intent on this.

Sources

Where do these videos come from?
All of the videos under “our videos” were captured by myself at the slit-lamp. Despite making them available online for educational purposes, they may not be republished or redistributed without my express permission … with a few stipulations below.

Where do the other videos come from?
The “other videos” on this site were found on online video sharing sites such as YouTube, Google Video, and Revver. None of these videos were uploaded by us, nor are they hosted on this website. If you see any video that you believe is under copyright infringement, please email us. More importantly, please contact the video hosting site (ie. youtube) as they are the website that is actually hosting and streaming the video to you.

Copyright and Republishing

Can I use these videos in my own presentations?
Generally, yes. The website is designed so that you can download the videos for inserting into your own powerpoint presentation for educational purpose. You can even publish your own presentation (with the videos embeded) online and I do not mind. This is under these stipulations:
1. You do not change or edit the video in anyway, including removal or hiding of our website’s watermark
2. You are not making money off these vidoes. They are intended for educational and non-monetary purposes.
3. I reserve the right to change these stipulations if so desired (i.e. if you distribute the videos in a way that seems dishonest, disparaging, or I just don’t like.)

Is it OK to use the photos from this website on my own website or publication?
As long as you do not remove or change the watermark, you are welcome to use any photograph from this website. Once again, see the last question for stipulations.

Can I use one of your photos for journal publication? Is there a way to remove the watermark and site your website in my sources instead to make it look more professional?
Absolutely, I would love to have photos placed in an article. Please contact us if that is your intention.

Your Question not answered? Then email us, or ask us below in the comments area below!

Comments and Feedback
8 Comments »

I guess this site is quite new. I find the videos of excellent quality, it’s a very good idea!
Comparing to the static photographs in the textbooks this sometimes makes things a lot clearer!
I have a suggestion: would it be possible to make a video of flare and especially also of cells in the AC? (I was not able to record this, but I only use a simple camrecorder recording through the eyepiece).

Editor: Ask and you shall receive … just posted an anterior cell and flare video on the site that I think you’ll enjoy.

Comment by Jan de Waard — September 8, 2007 @ 2:27 pm

First thing to say … BRAVO!!
Then after applause which is a rare thing i do ,can you inform me how do you take such videos? what is the type of the camcorder ,how do you set it up ,i’m waiting to have these questions answered as i want to buy my digicam for same purpose and cant have advice.Please reply even on my email and many thanks in advance and a big WOW for such an effort again

Comment by moatassem zerban — October 26, 2007 @ 5:20 pm

Hello sir,
I m a final year student.I am doing a study on cataract as a part of my project.I was searching and got to see ur site.I found it really useful.It would be of great help to me if u could send me some cataract eye images(apart from the ones in this site).
Looking forward for your response.
Thanking u,
rathika

Comment by rathika — February 14, 2008 @ 9:26 am

what camera do you use for the photos and vidz?

Comment by thomas bartolomeo — March 5, 2008 @ 1:26 pm

many thanks for this site it is great tool for learning and refreshing concepts, since is going to be bookmark

thank you so much from Costa Rica

Comment by carsalnu — May 25, 2008 @ 8:57 am

What excellent videos! What a remarkable website! What superb teaching!
Dr. Root, what video camera do your use? Do you have any recommendations or reflections regarding choosing a video camera to use at the slit lamp, and/or regarding choosing a video camera for the operating microscope?
Many thanks!

Comment by Anita Nevyas-Wallace, M.D. — June 30, 2008 @ 7:47 pm

Thank you so very much for this site! Excellent video and photos of epithelial inclusion cysts. I was recently diagnosed with one a little more than two years after my first surgery to reattach my detached retina. I also left comments on the pages with the cyst photos. I was so grateful to be able to see a photo of the cyst and to know that other people have has these as well. It just helps me feel better about the situation to know that I am not the only one with these cysts. Thank you again, I appreciate your work! By the way, I would love to be able to get a good photo of my cyst. My retinal surgeon said he did not have the proper equipment. My cyst is in the same spot as the cyst in your photos but my cyst is slightly different looking. Thanks again and feel free to read about my experience with my detached retina on my website: http://www.dianeszoo.com/detachedretina.htm If anyone else has had one of these epithelial cysts after eye surgery, especially with a scleral buckle in the eye, please contact me through my website. Thanks again for the great site, it was very helpful and meaningful to me! Diane

Comment by Diane — August 24, 2008 @ 3:06 pm

I am an Orthoptist/Ophthalmic Technician and a casual lecturer at the University of Sydney(USYD), School of Visual Sciences. The module I teach is Anterior Segment and Ocular Surface disorders.
I was put on to your web site by a fellow lecturer and I must say it has been an invaluable tool for my Cataract and Glaucoma component. Fantastic Educational tool. Sorry I did not know of this earlier. Well done from all at USYD, Australia.

Comment by Ana Alexanadratos — September 3, 2008 @ 8:28 pm

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