The Development Process Unit 3: Multimedia The Development Process

What is Multimedia? An interactive piece of software using several types of media: Text Graphics (photographs or illustrations) Audio (synthesised or digitised) Video Animation Multimedia Applications can be: Linear or non-linear Simple or extremely complex For example: PowerPoint presentation Sophisticated and basic web pages Multimedia games

The Development Process/Cycle Analysis Design Design may change if application does not work as expected Implementation Testing Documentation Evaluation Maintenance

Analysis Stage This stage is make it absolutely clear what the project is supposed to do. The aims of the application Who will be using it? What will be in it? How will it be distributed? How much money can be spent? How long have you got? Input/output? At the end of the stage a requirements specification will be produced.

Design Stage Navigation structure? The HCI (Human Computer Interface) What does each screen look like? What media elements will be included? Storyboards may be produced for this.

Implementation Stage Testing Stage Make it: Create and combine all the media elements using the pre-decided authoring software. Testing Stage Does each screen and link work as expected? If not can it be fixed or does it have to have the design altered.

Documentation Stage Write the documentation: The technical guide What are the hardware requirements The user guide Advice on how to use the software and provide users with any other help.

Evaluation Stage Maintenance Stage Does it meet the specifications made at the analysis stage? Maintenance Stage Fixing any bugs that have been found after its released. Adapting and updating the application to suit clients needs.

The Development Process Unit 3: Multimedia The Development Process

The Development Process Mnemonic Maintenance Analysis Design Implementation Testing Documentation Evaluation A Dance In The Dark Every Monday

Methodologies used in creation of multimedia applications Text editor: Application is created using plain text e.g. Creating simple web pages using HTML. WYSIWYG editors: Previewing applications under development to check that What You See Is What You Get. Eg PowerPoint to create a presentation

WYSIWYG

Text Editor

WYSIWYG Vs Text Editors Advantages Disadvantages Text Editor Simple and places less demands on system. Provides greater control over the application Difficult to Visualise output Dependant on programming or text-based commands knowledge WYSIWYG Easy creation and editing of application Ideal for beginners Complex software that puts higher demands on system. Software tends to be expensive

Methodologies used in creation of multimedia applications Authoring Software Application can be customised using: Program code or scripting Icon based setting up of properties (without the need to learn programming code) Presentation Software Enables the creation of a sequence of slides Allows hyper linking to different slides or files

Methodologies used in creation of multimedia applications Who makes authoring software? Macromedia Flash, Dreamweaver and Director Microsoft FrontPage Adobe GoLive Others Mediator, HyperStudio, etc

Methodologies used in creation of multimedia applications Who makes presentation software? Microsoft PowerPoint (Most common) Others LiquidMedia Cre8 Many others exist but not common

Authoring Vs Presentation Advantages Disadvantages Authoring Advanced features give developer more control over final application Difficult to learn, special training generally required Can be difficult to debug complex application Presentation Simple commands Easy to learn Limited features

The Development Process Unit 3: Multimedia The Development Process

Displaying Multimedia Data Distribution Technologies Web Pages Embedded into Web pages ActiveX Object Visual Basic Script Java Applet JavaScript Program

Displaying Multimedia Data Distribution Technologies (cntd) Stand alone Program (executable) Multimedia file using player software Macromedia Flash or Shockwave PowerPoint QuickTime

Displaying Multimedia Data Distribution Medium Web pages on the Internet Web pages on an Intranet CD-ROM DVD Digital Broadcast System

Displaying Multimedia Data Embedded Data Applications include files for sound, video etc These are combined (embedded) into the actual program file itself Advantages Disadvantages File management is easier as there is only one file Easier to implement security File could be very large Entire file must be downloaded before it can be played Individual data items cannot be updated separately

Displaying Multimedia Data Streamed data Data broadcast over a network radio stations broadcast over the Internet View film clips Played as it is received No need to download entire file before listening/viewing it Requires a plug in e.g. Real Player

Codecs & Container Files Codecs (Compressor/Decompressor) Main purpose is to reduce the file size while keeping as much quality as possible Enables faster downloads Often built into programs but sometimes require downloaded as a add-in

Codecs & Container Files Contains several compressed files. This can be transmitted over a network and the individual files regenerated at the receiving end Much more convenient than sending multiple files A ZIP file is an example of a container file