Digital Media Introduction SM1001 Digital Media, Semester A, 2010 School of Creative Media © Week 02, 2010

Teachers Mr. Lam Kin Ying, Ryan

Course Components LecturesTutorial Individual/Group Assignments Final Examination

Lectures and Tutorials Lectures: Lectures: C01: C01: Tuesday: 5:30 pm - 7:20 pm (ACAD B2523) Tutorial Sections : Tutorial Sections : L01: L01: Thursday: 10:30 am - 12:20 pm (SCM GPL) L02: L02: Thursday: 4:30 pm - 6:20 pm (SCM GPL)

Assessment Assignments: total mark 40% Participation: 20% 1% for each lecture 1% for each tutorial session Final Examination: 40%

What to Expect from SM1001 In this course you’ll be introduced to several major topics in digital media (it is a very big world). In this course you’ll be introduced to several major topics in digital media (it is a very big world). E.g. Computer Hardware, digital image, Internet, Web Design, Programming, Games, Computer Vision, etc. E.g. Computer Hardware, digital image, Internet, Web Design, Programming, Games, Computer Vision, etc.

You and Technology: a gentle start A fact of life: A fact of life: We are living the information era! We are living the information era! We are users of digital technology: We are users of digital technology: Computers, mobile phones, and PDAs, etc. Computers, mobile phones, and PDAs, etc. But for a media professional being a naive user is not enough in this competitive era: But for a media professional being a naive user is not enough in this competitive era: You have to be one step of ahead! You have to be one step of ahead!

What is your Digital Life Style?

“Digital” Life Style Online news/WebRadio Online news/WebRadio e-Book e-Book Youtube.com Youtube.com BT/Foxy BT/Foxy Online Shopping (e.g eBay) Online Shopping (e.g eBay) Online Booking…etc Online Booking…etc PC Game/Online Game PC Game/Online Game Make Friend Make Friend Search for beautiful bodies Search for beautiful bodies

and Farming…

Example 1: Communication Blog Blog Skype Skype ICQ/MSN/QQ ICQ/MSN/QQ Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter iPhone iPhone Smart Phone Smart Phone …etc …etc

Example 2: Digital Sound MP3 MP3 MIDI MIDI

Example 3: Digital Image

Example 4: Digital Movie

Analog vs Digital Analogue forms are natural to humans: the images and sounds we hear are in analogue form. Analogue forms are natural to humans: the images and sounds we hear are in analogue form. Digital forms are natural only to a digital computing device: it handles only bits and bytes. Digital forms are natural only to a digital computing device: it handles only bits and bytes.

Analog vs Digital Important facts : Important facts : Digital format is useful only to a digital device, such as a computer, an MP3 player, or a digital camera. Digital format is useful only to a digital device, such as a computer, an MP3 player, or a digital camera. What we see and hear are reconstructed analogue signals which have been converted from digital format to their analogue equivalent (but not exact!) What we see and hear are reconstructed analogue signals which have been converted from digital format to their analogue equivalent (but not exact!)

Analog vs Digital All stories were told in analog form. All stories were told in analog form. Analog is perhaps the most natural form of expression which includes Analog is perhaps the most natural form of expression which includes Songs/music Songs/music Sculptures Sculptures Buildings Buildings Paintings Paintings Dancing Dancing Drama Drama Cooking Cooking Natural sceneries: mountains, ocean waves, trees… Natural sceneries: mountains, ocean waves, trees…

Digital Technology Most media are moving to digital form: Most media are moving to digital form: Music Music Photography Photography Movies Movies Animation Animation Games Games E-book E-book Communication/Networking Communication/Networking WWW WWW Interactive Media Interactive Media Digital TV/Cinema Digital TV/Cinema

Digital Technology Why use digital technology? There are four major reasons: Why use digital technology? There are four major reasons: 1. Easier to manage (size, search, sort…etc), 2. Easier to edit, 3. Easier to maintain content quality, 4. Easier to move between media.

Media: Continuous and Discrete Media have both analogue (continuous) and digital forms (discrete). Media have both analogue (continuous) and digital forms (discrete). Digital representations are based on discrete units in both space and time. Digital representations are based on discrete units in both space and time.

Media: Continuous and Discrete Continuous (analogue): everything can be divided into smaller and smaller parts, e.g., Continuous (analogue): everything can be divided into smaller and smaller parts, e.g., water can be divided into smaller and smaller quantities. water can be divided into smaller and smaller quantities. New things can made by simply mixing together existing things, e.g., New things can made by simply mixing together existing things, e.g., Soft drinks, such as punch/cocktail is a mix of different liquids. Soft drinks, such as punch/cocktail is a mix of different liquids.

Example: Analog clocks Analog clocks usually indicate time using angles

Example: Sundial Sundial tracks the sun continuously, registering the time by the shadow position of its gnomon

Example: Analog Computer An analog computer is a form of computer that uses the continuously- changeable aspects of physical phenomena such as electrical or mechanical quantities to model the problem being solved. oscilloscope

Example: Analog Calculators Abacus 算盘 The abacus, also called a counting frame, is a calculating tool used primarily in parts of Asia for performing arithmetic processes Good Link:

Example: Analog photography (Film) Analog photography is a term for photography using a progressively changing recording medium, which may be based either on a chemical process (e.g., photographic film or plate) or electronic means (e.g., using a CCD sensor).

Example: Analog recording vinyl record 黑膠 Compact Cassette 60-minutes playing time

Example: Analog recording Video cassette recorder Radio

Example: Analog TV

Media: Continuous and Discrete Discrete (digital): everything built from primitive building blocks; Discrete (digital): everything built from primitive building blocks; small set of primitive units used to construct everything small set of primitive units used to construct everything

Media: Continuous and Discrete Binary signals Digital Audio are constructed by a set of binary signals—‘on/off’ pulses

Media: Continuous and Discrete Pixel Image are constructed pixel-by-pixel

Media: Continuous and Discrete Frame Movies are constructed frame-by-frame

What is digital media (Discrete data)? Digital: Method of representing information using "1" and "0" numbers Digital: Method of representing information using "1" and "0" numbers  The digital information  The digital information Media: materials such as VHS, DVDs, films, audiotapes and CDs, that require special equipment to be used. Media: materials such as VHS, DVDs, films, audiotapes and CDs, that require special equipment to be used. In a word, digital media just is a digital version of media. In a word, digital media just is a digital version of media.

What is digital media (Discrete data)? For media professionals working with digital data means manipulating bits and bytes with digital tools: a computing device ( e.g.a computer) and application software. For media professionals working with digital data means manipulating bits and bytes with digital tools: a computing device ( e.g.a computer) and application software.

What is digital media (Discrete data)? Digital media is discrete: we divide (discretize) an analogue media into small units according to a standard established, accepted internationally. Digital media is discrete: we divide (discretize) an analogue media into small units according to a standard established, accepted internationally. Two possible discretization: Two possible discretization: Spatial division: e.g. divide an image into a number of small units which we call pixels. Spatial division: e.g. divide an image into a number of small units which we call pixels. Temporal division: represent the media at fixed points in time. Temporal division: represent the media at fixed points in time.

Analogue  Digital Digital format is purposefully created artifacts: Digital format is purposefully created artifacts: The information is called analog signal or data which have to go through the following three stages: The information is called analog signal or data which have to go through the following three stages: Sampling (chop the analogue data into pieces); Sampling (chop the analogue data into pieces); Quantization (assign a numeric value for each piece); Quantization (assign a numeric value for each piece); Binarization (turn the numeric value into 0’s and 1’s). Binarization (turn the numeric value into 0’s and 1’s). Let’s look at an example: voice signals Let’s look at an example: voice signals

Example 1: Sound The sound of “Hello!”

A Sentence “A sailboat may have a bone in her teeth one minute and lie becalmed the next.”

Sampled Signal Sampling Time Magnitude Analog Signal

Quantization and Binarization Quantized Signal Time Magnitude: quantized levels 75 = Binarization Quantization

Digital Media: How does it work? Music MP3 Music Sampling Reconstruction Original Analogue signal Reconstructed equivalent Quantization Quantization,Binarization

Example 2: Digital Image With digital technology, we can paint completely on the computer: With digital technology, we can paint completely on the computer: No paper wasted No paper wasted No real paint wasted No real paint wasted A digital image is constructed by a number of pixels A digital image is constructed by a number of pixels 0x1BEE1A (RGB)

Freedom to Change With computers, you can make changes at will; for example to change the color tone, you may just click a button; With computers, you can make changes at will; for example to change the color tone, you may just click a button; It gives you a greater ability and freedom for artistic expression. It gives you a greater ability and freedom for artistic expression.

Freedom to experiment Sometimes digital paintings give you the extra ability to experiment with some different ideas you’ve never tried… Sometimes digital paintings give you the extra ability to experiment with some different ideas you’ve never tried…

Example 3: Digital Movie Movies have been moving to digital form for over 20 years. Movies have been moving to digital form for over 20 years. Some new releases are all digital - Star Wars - no film involved. Some new releases are all digital - Star Wars - no film involved. Digital cinemas. Digital cinemas. Director George Lucas and the Sony 24p digital camera he used to shoot 20th Century Fox's Star Wars: : Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Why Digital Movie? Movies in digital form: Movies in digital form: easier to edit easier to edit easier to produce special effects easier to produce special effects easy to preview, no film to develop easy to preview, no film to develop easier to distribute: CDs, DVDs, the Internet, wireless. easier to distribute: CDs, DVDs, the Internet, wireless.

Digital Movie

Final Fantasy Digital Movie: Computer Graphic

Summary There are 3 main digital media: There are 3 main digital media: 1. Digital Sound 2. Digital Image 3. Digital Video

Summary Media have both analogue (continuous) and digital forms (discrete). Media have both analogue (continuous) and digital forms (discrete). Digital representations are based on discrete units in both space and time. Digital representations are based on discrete units in both space and time. Digital forms are natural only to a digital computing device: it handles only bits and bytes. Digital forms are natural only to a digital computing device: it handles only bits and bytes. Analogue forms are natural to humans: the images and sounds we see/hear are in analogue form. Analogue forms are natural to humans: the images and sounds we see/hear are in analogue form.