1. The Development Process
Unit 3: Multimedia
The Development Process

2. 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

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. The Development Process
Unit 3: Multimedia
The Development Process

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

11. 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

12. WYSIWYG

13. Text Editor

14. 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

15. 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

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

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

18. 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

19. The Development Process
Unit 3: Multimedia
The Development Process

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

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

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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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