Multimedia – An Overview Unit A

Objectives Multimedia defined Multimedia on the Web Multimedia growth Educational applications

Objectives Entertainment applications Business applications Multimedia playback systems Multimedia development systems

Multimedia Defined A computer-based, interactive experience that incorporates text, graphics, sound, animation, video and virtual reality.

Multimedia Elements Graphics Drawings and Photos Animation 2-D and 3-D, Video Animation Sound

Interactivity of Multimedia Allows user to interact with application Content presentation is nonlinear User determines What content is delivered When it is delivered How it is delivered Input can be keyboard, mouse, voice and touch screens

Computer Playback System Internet connection with browser also important

Specific products; usually on CDs Multimedia Applications: All uses of multimedia Titles: Specific products; usually on CDs

Multimedia on the Web Internet Browsers World Wide Web

Multimedia Growth Highest growth rate is online Telecommunications Multimedia courseware Training and teleconferencing Internet Home pages for products Video demonstrations Product purchases

Webcasting - Includes audio and video in real time Live updates on scoreboard Program needed to receive webcast can be downloaded Live broadcast

Animations Rotating text and 3-D settings Software HTML Macromedia Flash Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML)

HTML HyperText Markup Language Basic Web documents Hyperlinks HTML tags: <i>Hello</i>

Multimedia Web Pages Java programming language Animations Database searches Applets Need for file compression Video/audio files very large Modem speeds can be slow

Growth of Multimedia Growth in % of homes with computers in US Growth in % of homes using internet in US Prices dropped from $2000 to $500 from 1997 to 2001

Growth of Multimedia Audio and video delivered on web (RealPlayer) CD-ROM titles decreased 1992 = $100 Today < $20 Computer company marketing techniques Next “killer application” Adding value to an existing product (the computer)

Multimedia Barriers Different types of computer systems Vary in speed, capacity and display capabilities Lack of standardization Lack of a way to deliver huge amounts of information to the desktop

Using Multimedia for Education Learning by experimentation Learning by association Learning by sound Learning by visual stimulation

Multimedia Allows Students To “Jump” via hyperlinks Proceed at their own pace Focus on particular areas Be in charge of learning experience Have instant feedback

Online Course Benefits Students can: access it anytime from anywhere see animations with audio and video have virtual labs to conduct experiments

Edutainment CDs

Reference Titles and Multimedia Encyclopedias Census data Yellow Pages Dictionaries

Entertainment Applications Pioneers in multimedia were game developers Emphasis has shifted from: Pure action  Action + story-telling Games  Entertainment Physical  Mental

Games on the Web

Virtual Worlds A new field in entertainment on the Web where individuals can log on and interact with others in a virtual environment that includes chat sessions.

Online Entertainment Categories Sports (Beckett Interactive Football League) Mystery (Avalon) Adventure (Webstrike) Fun (Playsite backgammon, etc.)

Recreation Applications Give user a vicarious experience “play” a famous golf course “fly” over 3-D cityscapes Could include hobbies and sports titles

Microsoft Flight Simulator Award winning; most popular; oldest U.S. Navy has used it to train pilots Requires a fairly powerful computer configuration for latest version Has spawned web sites, user groups, newsletters, and add-on products

Multimedia Category Crossovers

Business Applications Multimedia used for communication: Marketing Training Presentations

Marketing on the Web Go global on the Net Shop online Demonstrate product lines Allow users to customize products online Publish magazines online

Corporate Training Multibillion-dollar industry Focus on specific skill sets Can be on CD or the Web Often use an Intranet Can train for certification tests

Business Presentations

Computer Playback Systems Development System Playback System

Hardware Issues Minimum configuration vs. recommended configuration Processor can determine speed Memory types: Temporary: Random Access Memory (RAM) Permanent: hard drive

Hardware Issues: Displays Monitor standards: Screen resolution Number of colors

Hardware Issues: Displays Resolution differences 640 x 480 1024 x 768

Hardware Issues: Displays Video Graphics Card Video Graphics Array (VGA) Super VGA (SVGA) Card determines: Resolution Memory capacity Number of colors displayed

Hardware Issues: Sound Need: Audio card (Sound Blaster) Speakers Sound quality depends on number of bits used Standard is 16-bit sound

Hardware Issues: Digital Disks Compact Disc Read-Only Memory Digital Versatile or Video Disk Drive determines What type of disk can be played Speed of locating data on disk (seek time) Speed of transferring disk information to computer CD-ROM DVD

Multimedia Development Systems Speakers Video camera Flatbed scanner Microphone High capacity removable disk storage Disk array for video capture and storage CD-ROM recorder

Development Platforms Macintosh Superior handling of graphics Cross-platform capabilities Used extensively in multimedia development Windows Software allows Development on particular platform Playback on both platforms

Development Configurations Pentium III 750 processor or Power Mac 500 256 MB of RAM desired 20 GB of hard disk space Video capture card (internal) and video source (camera, VCR, TV) 19” monitor

Digital Cameras Menu Options: Images stored on 16MB CompactFlash™ card Preview Play back Delete View in slide-show Images stored on 16MB CompactFlash™ card

Issue: What is the appropriate use of multimedia? Does development time outweigh cost of alternatives? How should we use text and video? Who is your audience? Is use of bells and whistles appropriate? What are our objectives?

Issue: MPC Standards - Are they needed? 1991 Multimedia PC Marketing Council formed 1990 MPC Level 1 specifications created 1993 MPC Level 2 specifications created 1995 MPC Level 3 specifications created 1996 to present ????????

Multimedia – An Overview End