Chapter 2-Multimedia Technology

Overview Macintosh versus Windows platform. What is computer? Information Processing Cycle Computer Hardware Connections Software

Macintosh Versus Windows Platform The Macintosh platform: Was launched by Apple in 1984. Has a good built-in audio and high-quality graphics capability. Includes hardware and software for digitizing and editing video and producing DVD discs. Makes multimedia project development easier and smoother.

Macintosh Versus Windows Platform The Windows platform: Is a collection of different vendor-neutral components that are tied together by the requirements of the Windows operating system. Initially focused on business computing and was not suitable for multimedia. However, it is now easier to find multimedia hardware and software for Windows as compared to the Macintosh.

What is a COMPUTER? accept data manipulate the data produce results Is an electronic machine. Operating under the control of instruction stored in its own memory that can: accept data manipulate the data produce results store the result.

COMPUTER Operation accept data manipulate the data produce results store the result.

Information Processing Cycle INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT STORAGE Accepting data from user. Processing data into meaningful information. Displaying the information to the user. Storing the information for safe keeping or later use. DATA – unprocessed items INFORMATION – processed data

Hardware Software Computer Component Major Component of a Computer: The electric, electronic and mechanical equipment that make up a computer. Software The series of instructions that tells the hardware how to perform tasks.

Computer Hardware There are FIVE major factors for a computer to be powerful: Speed Reliability Accuracy Storage Communication DimensionTM 1100 Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.8GHz with 1MB cache Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition 256MB DDR SDRAM 400 MHz 17" Colour Monitor (15.9"v.i.s.) 80GB (7200rpm) SATA Hard Drive 48X CD-ROM Drive

Communication Devices Computer Hardware Hardware components: Input Devices Output Devices System Unit Storage Devices Communication Devices

Input Devices Allow user enter DATA and COMMANDS into memory. Example: keyboard, mouse, camera, microphone and etc. Four forms of input: Data Program Commands User responses

Input Devices Keyboard - Is the most commonly used input device. The most common keyboard for PCs is the 101 style, which provides 101 keys. Mouse - Is the standard input device for a graphical user interface (GUI).

Input Devices Trackball - It is suitable to small confined environments such as a portable laptop. Touchscreen - They are monitors that usually have a textured coating across the glass face.

Input Devices Magnetic card encoder and reader - Is useful when an interface is needed for a database application or multimedia project that tracks users. Graphic tablet - Provides great control for editing finely detailed graphic elements. Scanner - Is the most useful device for producing multimedia. They are categorized as flat-bed, handheld, and drum.

Input Devices Optical Character Recognition (OCR) device - Is used to convert printed matter into ASCII text files. Infrared remote - Is used to interact with the project when the user needs to move about.

Input Devices Voice recognition system - Is used to facilitate hands-free interaction with the project. Digital camera - Is used to capture still images of a specific resolution, and store them in camera’s memory. These images can then be uploaded to a computer.

Output Devices Text Graphics Audio Video Convey information to one or more people. Four forms of output: Text Graphics Audio Video

Output Devices Audio devices: They include sound chips and microphones. Amplifiers are required when the project has to be presented to a large audience or in a noisy setting. Speakers can be internal or external.

Output Devices Video devices: Video creates the maximum visual impact. Video devices include videodisc players and video cards. Videodisc players provide precise control over the image being viewed. Video cards enable the user to place an image in a window on the computer monitor.

Output Devices Projectors: Projectors are used when you have a larger audience that can be accommodated around a computer monitor. The different types of projectors include cathode-ray tube (CRT), liquid-crystal display (LCD) panels, stand-alone LCD projectors, and light-valve projectors.

Output Devices Projectors (continued): CRT projectors are compatible with the output of most computers as well as televisions. LCD panels are portable devices that are popular for on-the-road presentations. Light-valve projectors use liquid crystal technology. The images generated are very bright and color saturated and can be projected onto wide screens.

Output Devices Printers: The two types of printers are laser and inkjet. Laser printers offer higher print quality, lower operating costs, but a higher initial cost. Inkjet printers are comparatively cheaper, but require higher maintenance. Color printers have become an important part of multimedia development.

System Unit Box like case that contains electronic components of the computer that is used to process data. [1] Usually is part of or is connected to a circuit board called MOTHERBOARD. [2] Electronic components attached to motherboard – cards, processors, memory chip. [3] [1] [3] [2]

Components of a motherboard: System Unit Components of a motherboard: Processors or Central Processing Unit (CPU) Memory Bus

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) System Unit: CPU The electronic component that interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate the computer. Contain: A control unit Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

System Unit: CPU Fetching Decoding Executing Storing Machine Cycle - for every instructions, a processor repeats a set of four basic operation: Fetching Decoding Executing Storing

System unit: Memory RAM enables the simultaneously running of many applications. ROM is non-volatile. The BIOS program that boots up the computer resides in the ROM. OS & Syst Software MEMORY Application Programs Data & Information

System unit: Memory Consist of electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed and data needed by those instructions. There are data that are kept TEMPORARILY, and there are those that is PERMANENT.

System unit: Memory VOLATILE: NON VOLATILE: The system unit contains TWO types of memory: VOLATILE: When the computer’s power is turned OFF, it loses its contents. Temporary storage. Example RAM NON VOLATILE: Does not lose its contents when power is removed from computer. Permanent storage. Example ROM, flash memory and CMOS

System unit: Memory RAM Main memory / primary storage Consist of memory chips that can be read from and write to by processor and other devices. Types of RAM: DRAM SRAM

System unit: Memory DRAM Dynamic Random Access Memory More common compared to SRAM DRAM needs to be refreshed thousands of times per second The common types of DRAM used today is DDR SDRAM. DimensionTM 1100 Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.8GHz with 1MB cache Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition 256MB DDR SDRAM 400 MHz 17" Colour Monitor (15.9"v.i.s.) 80GB (7200rpm) SATA Hard Drive 48X CD-ROM Drive

System unit: Memory SRAM Static Random Access Memory More faster compared to DRAM because it does not need to be refreshed Not commonly used because it is so much more expensive SRAM is commonly used in memory cache and some are built into the architecture of the cpu. DimensionTM 1100 Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.8GHz with 1MB cache Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition 256MB DDR SDRAM 400 MHz 17" Colour Monitor (15.9"v.i.s.) 80GB (7200rpm) SATA Hard Drive 48X CD-ROM Drive

System unit: Memory CACHE Function to speed up processing time because its stores frequently used instructions and data. Two types of cache: Memory Cache Help to speed the process of the computer because stores frequently used instructions and data. Have L1 cache and L2 cache (SRAM). Server have L3 cache Disk Cache Built into disk to speed up data access from the disk to be used by the processor

System unit: Memory ROM Refers to memory chips storing permanent data and instructions. The data cannot be modified. The ROM chips, called firmware, contain permanently written data, instructions, or information. Most personal computers contain a small amount of ROM that stores critical programs such as the program that boots the computer.

System unit: Memory CMOS Some RAMs chip, flash memory chips and others type of memory chips use CMOS technology. Its provided high speeds and consumes little power (small battery). Usage of CMOS BIOS, in computing, stands for basic input/output system. BIOS refers to the software code run by a computer when first powered on. The primary function of BIOS is to prepare the machine so other software programs stored on various media (such as hard drives, floppies, and CDs) can load, execute, and assume control of the computer. Other example date, time, Calendar even when the computer is turned off.

System unit: Memory Flash Memory A memory that can be erased electronically and reprogrammed. More in mobile device unit e.g PDA, handphone, printers and etc.

System Unit: Buses A computer processes and stores data as a series of electronic bits. These bits transfer internally within the circuit of the computer along electrical channel. Each channel called a BUS, allows the various devices both inside and attached to system unit to communicate with each other. Two types of bus: ADDRESS BUS DATA BUS

System Unit: Basic Type of Buses System Bus Connects the processor to main board. Expansion Bus Allow the processors to communicate with other peripherals. Types of expansion bus: ISA Bus PCI Bus AGP Bus ASB and FireWire Bus

Ports have different types of connectors. A port is: the point at which a peripheral attaches to a system unit so it can send data or received information from computer. Ports have different types of connectors. A connector joins a cable to a peripheral. Most connector are available in one of two design:

Types of Ports Serial Ports transmitting data 1 bit at a time. Example; mouse, keyboard ports. Using normally 25-pin and 9-pin male connector. Although many of the newer systems have done away with the serial port completely in favor of USB connections, most modems still use the serial port, as do some printers, PDAs and digital cameras.

transmitting more than 1 bit at time. Example: Printer Port. Types of Ports Parallel Ports transmitting more than 1 bit at time. Example: Printer Port.

Types of Ports USB Ports Universal Serial Bus Port. Can connect to 127 different peripherals together with single connector type. Supports Plug-and-Play.

Bays A bay is an opening inside the system unit which you can install additional equipment. Two type of drive bays exist external internal

Storage Devices Storage holds DATA INSTRUCTIONS INFORMATION. The difference between STORAGE and MEMORY STORAGE holds these items PERMANENTLY and store it before and after being used. MEMORY holds these items TEMPORARILY while they are being processed by CPU.

Storage Devices Floppy disk - Is a inexpensive, removable, and portable device for storing binary data. They are made of flexible mylar plastic coated with a thin layer of special magnetic material. Hard disk - Is a non-removable mass-storage device, and has a higher data storage capacity and data transfer speed.

Storage Devices Syquest cartridge - Is a removable storage medium and can hold 44 MB of data. Zip cartridge - Is inexpensive and can hold 100MB of data. Jaz cartridge - Is a removable storage medium that can hold 1GB of data. Magneto-optical drive - Is rewriteable and uses a high power laser. It is suitable for archiving data.

Storage Devices Digital Versatile Disc (DVD): Is an optical disc technology for distributing multimedia and feature length movies. Can store 1GB of data. They provide sharp and detailed video resolution. The two types of DVDs are DVD-video and DVD-ROM.

Storage Devices Flash or Thumb Drives: Small storage devices that can be integrated with USB or FireWire devices. Can store between 8 megabytes to several GB of data. More reliable than disk drives. Small printed circuit board encased in sturdy metal or plastic. Usable, trendy, and convenient.

Storage Devices CD-ROMs: CD-ROM player is an important delivery medium for large, mass-produced multimedia projects. CD Recordable (CD-R) - Is very inexpensive, and suitable for short-run distribution of finished multimedia projects. These write-once CDs can be used as high-capacity file archives.

Storage Devices CD-RW recorder can rewrite 700 MB of data into a CD-RW disc about 1,000 times. CD-RWs are like CD-Rs except a CD-RW can be erased.

Relationship between CPU, Bus, Memory, Storage Each time a process needs to be done,the CPU will take it from the storage media and bring it into the RAM. [1] The process is done in the RAM [2] When the SAVE button is pressed, the processed information will be sent into the storage media [3] for permanent storage. 3 2 1 CPU assigns each data a unique address. Each time a data needed to be accessed, its address is called so that the data can be fetched. Every data is sent through the bus. [4] 4

Communication Devices A communications devices is a hardware component that enables a computer to send (transmit) and retrieve data, instructions and information to and from one or more computers. Modems ISDN Cable modems

Modems Modems modulate and de-modulate analog signals. They provide connectivity through standard phone lines. Modems can be internal or external. Modem speed is measured in baud, and the standard modem speed should be at least 56 Kbps.

ISDN ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network. It is used for higher transmission speeds by telephone. They transfer data at the rate of 128 Kbps. ISDN lines are used for networking, Internet access, and audio-video conferencing. They are more expensive than the conventional analog lines.

Cable Modems They provide Internet access at speeds faster than a telephone modem, over the same cable network that supplies the television signal. However, due to noise in the system, sending rates may be much slower than receiving rates.

Connections The various connection methodologies include: Small Computer System Interface (SCSI). Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE). Universal Serial Bus (USB). FireWire.

Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) SCSI can connect internal and external peripheral equipments and devices that conform to the SCSI standard. SCSI cards can be installed on Macintosh and PC platforms. SCSI is preferred for real-time video editing, network servers, and situations that require mirroring. SCSI ID conflicts should be avoided by providing unique IDs to devices.

Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) IDE connections are also known as Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA). They connect only internal peripherals. They can connect four peripherals mounted inside the PC. The circuitry for IDE is less expensive than SCSI. IDE utilizes processor chip time.

Universal Serial Bus (USB) It is a standard for connecting devices to the computer using the plug-and-play system. USB uses a single cable to connect 127 USB peripherals to a single PC. It can be attached to one computer at a time.

FireWire FireWire was introduced by Apple in the 1980s. It is the industry standard and provides support for high-bandwidth serial data transfer, particularly for digital video and mass storage. Can connect multiple computers and peripheral devices (peer-to-peer). It is the most common method for connecting and interconnecting professional digital video equipment.

Memory Sufficient memory must be allocated for storing and archiving files. Memory requirements of a multimedia project depend on the project's content and scope. The two types of memory are random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM).

Summary Macintosh and Windows are the two most common hardware platforms used in multimedia. LANs, WANs, Ethernet, and client-server software facilitate communication and connectivity among computers. Storage devices include floppy disks, hard disks, Zip drives, Jaz drives, MO drives, DVDs, and CD-ROMs.

Summary Input devices include keyboards, mice, trackballs, touchscreens, graphic tablets, scanners, OCR devices, infrared remotes, voice recognition software, and digital cameras. Output devices include audio devices, speakers, amplifiers, monitors, video devices, projectors, and printers. Communication devices include modems, ISDN lines, and cable modems.