What is multimediaWhat is multimedia

Let's begin in a straightforward manner by defining Let's begin in a straightforward manner by defining what multimedia is. In our attempt to do so let's first what multimedia is. In our attempt to do so let's first consider what constitutes consider what constitutes mediamedia. Some examples of . Some examples of media are: media are:

–animation animation –sound sound –graphics graphics –text text –video video –photography photography

Multimedia:Multimedia: involves the combination of two or more involves the combination of two or more media types to effectively create a sequence of events media types to effectively create a sequence of events that will communicate an idea usually with both sound that will communicate an idea usually with both sound and visual support. and visual support.

• Typically, multimedia productions are developed and Typically, multimedia productions are developed and controlled by computer. controlled by computer.

• Multimedia means any kind of computer-based system Multimedia means any kind of computer-based system that uses text with one or more other media types—that uses text with one or more other media types—graphics, images, animation, sound, or motion pictures. graphics, images, animation, sound, or motion pictures.

Multimedia And Hypermedia Multimedia And Hypermedia

• Hypermedia is defined as a navigational tool that allows Hypermedia is defined as a navigational tool that allows users to explore interrelated materials from large users to explore interrelated materials from large databases of multimedia information.databases of multimedia information.

• For example, hypermedia systems can be used to For example, hypermedia systems can be used to store, retrieve, and represent information in varied data store, retrieve, and represent information in varied data formats such as text, graphics, images, animation, formats such as text, graphics, images, animation, sound, and motion pictures. sound, and motion pictures.

• Multimedia used as the systems for decision making Multimedia used as the systems for decision making and indeed proving to be valuable for professionals in and indeed proving to be valuable for professionals in academia, government, and industryacademia, government, and industry

Importance of Multimedia Importance of Multimedia

• Many multimedia applications employ hypertext as a Many multimedia applications employ hypertext as a means of relating textual components with associated means of relating textual components with associated data in a variety of media forms. data in a variety of media forms.

• The major functions that multimedia products can The major functions that multimedia products can provide to users are (1) browsing, (2) training and provide to users are (1) browsing, (2) training and education, (3) briefing/illustration, (4) learning and education, (3) briefing/illustration, (4) learning and analysis, (5) help, and (6) referencing and on-line analysis, (5) help, and (6) referencing and on-line documentation. documentation.

• With these types of functions, multimedia systems can With these types of functions, multimedia systems can play a major role in industry by accessing information play a major role in industry by accessing information and providing users with control through navigation of and providing users with control through navigation of datadata

• Multimedia isn't new; the term pre-dates the PC. The Multimedia isn't new; the term pre-dates the PC. The term has been used for decades to describe slide term has been used for decades to describe slide presentation accompanied by audio tape (slide/tape).presentation accompanied by audio tape (slide/tape).

• Hypertext systems were initially denned as a valuable Hypertext systems were initially denned as a valuable interactive approach for presenting text and graphic interactive approach for presenting text and graphic information by allowing users to jump from a given information by allowing users to jump from a given subject to related ideas. subject to related ideas.

• Ted Nelson, who is sometimes considered to be the Ted Nelson, who is sometimes considered to be the originator of the term, includes all media in the term originator of the term, includes all media in the term "hypertext.“"hypertext.“

• In the industry, however, hypertext generally refers to In the industry, however, hypertext generally refers to text-only-based systems. In general, we can consider text-only-based systems. In general, we can consider hypertext to be a sophisticated approach for interactive hypertext to be a sophisticated approach for interactive use of text-only databases.use of text-only databases.

History of Multimedia History of Multimedia

History of Multimedia History of Multimedia

• Figure 1Figure 1 depicts the evolution of hypertext, hypermedia, and depicts the evolution of hypertext, hypermedia, and multimedia beginning in 1935 through 2000. Since the early multimedia beginning in 1935 through 2000. Since the early 1990s, multimedia has gone through a technological breakthrough 1990s, multimedia has gone through a technological breakthrough such as Internet/Web based multimedia, and web-based video such as Internet/Web based multimedia, and web-based video streaming and synchronized multimedia.streaming and synchronized multimedia.

Figure 1. A history of hypertext, hypermedia and multimedia. [Adapted from R. E. Horn, Mapping Hypertext, The Lexington Institute, 1989; and from J. P. Shim, "SMIL and Videostreaming for Teaching Business Telecommunications and e-Commerce," Decision Line, July 2000.]

History of MultimediaHistory of Multimedia• Hypertext is often referred to as "nonsequential" or "linked" text.Hypertext is often referred to as "nonsequential" or "linked" text.

• The structure of a hypertext database (The structure of a hypertext database (Fig. 2Fig. 2) illustrates how users ) illustrates how users can quickly follow documents without losing their original context.can quickly follow documents without losing their original context.

• Note that hypertext software creates links among the Note that hypertext software creates links among the documents/nodes using four types of links: documents/nodes using four types of links: – (1) hierarchical links: branch from top down(1) hierarchical links: branch from top down– (2) keyword links: keyword links serve as an index to provide (2) keyword links: keyword links serve as an index to provide

terminologyterminology– (3) referential links: jump from one subject to another subject to (3) referential links: jump from one subject to another subject to

retrieve or "refer" informationretrieve or "refer" information– (4) cluster links: merge together information(4) cluster links: merge together information

Structure of a hypertext database

Components of MultimediaComponents of Multimedia

• Like hypermedia, multimedia systems are any kind of computer-based Like hypermedia, multimedia systems are any kind of computer-based system that uses text with one or more other media types. system that uses text with one or more other media types.

• Multimedia services are made possible by a number of underlying Multimedia services are made possible by a number of underlying technologies. These include the processing of audio, image, video signals, technologies. These include the processing of audio, image, video signals, hand-written data, as well as the high-duality transmission of audiovisual hand-written data, as well as the high-duality transmission of audiovisual messages and data information. messages and data information.

• multimedia systems add interactivity to the combination of text, graphics, multimedia systems add interactivity to the combination of text, graphics, images, and audio, and video images, and audio, and video

• Media DefinitionMedia Definition– Text: Letters, numbers, punctuation, special characters, and controls, Text: Letters, numbers, punctuation, special characters, and controls,

created with a text editor or word processorcreated with a text editor or word processor– Graphics: Lines, circles, boxes, shading, fill colors, created with a draw Graphics: Lines, circles, boxes, shading, fill colors, created with a draw

program Images Still pictures, expressed as the colors of many small program Images Still pictures, expressed as the colors of many small individual picture elements (pixels), either captured and digitized from individual picture elements (pixels), either captured and digitized from nature or painted using a paint programnature or painted using a paint program

– Audio: Sound, including voice, music, and special effects, either Audio: Sound, including voice, music, and special effects, either captured from nature or synthesized captured from nature or synthesized

– Video: Successive pictures presented sufficiently fast, frequently to Video: Successive pictures presented sufficiently fast, frequently to give the appearance of smooth motion, either captured from nature or give the appearance of smooth motion, either captured from nature or synthesized, such as by using an animation programsynthesized, such as by using an animation program

Media’s: General previewMedia’s: General preview

• TextText– There are 3 major advantages generally associated with There are 3 major advantages generally associated with

screen-based text compared with paper-based text: the screen-based text compared with paper-based text: the ability to spontaneously update the screen, the reactive ability to spontaneously update the screen, the reactive capability, and the ability to incorporate special effectscapability, and the ability to incorporate special effects

• PicturesPictures– When using images the designer must decide on the When using images the designer must decide on the

most economical and efficient method to generate them. most economical and efficient method to generate them. – At the planning stage of the application the designer must At the planning stage of the application the designer must

decide the most appropriate combination of technology decide the most appropriate combination of technology and software to be able to reproduce and create new and software to be able to reproduce and create new images. images.

AudioAudio

• Interactive audio can add a particular dimension of Interactive audio can add a particular dimension of reality to multimedia systems. Until recently, audio-reality to multimedia systems. Until recently, audio-based subject domains — such as music, linguistics, based subject domains — such as music, linguistics, languages etc — have been virtually ignored. languages etc — have been virtually ignored.

• Also, the efficiency of interaction between the human Also, the efficiency of interaction between the human and the machine could have been greater had sonic and the machine could have been greater had sonic interaction and audio enhancements been available interaction and audio enhancements been available sooner.sooner.

Video imagesVideo images

• Portable video recorders have made it relatively easy to Portable video recorders have made it relatively easy to capture real-time video images. capture real-time video images.

• Video can be incorporated into multimedia applications Video can be incorporated into multimedia applications using two different processes. using two different processes. – The first involves using a video source connected to the The first involves using a video source connected to the

computer via a controller card. This technology has been computer via a controller card. This technology has been referred to as interactive video. referred to as interactive video.

– A more integrated process converts video from analogue A more integrated process converts video from analogue into digital format that can be manipulated by the desktop into digital format that can be manipulated by the desktop computer. This approach (called computer. This approach (called digital videodigital video) allows all ) allows all video operations — including editing and special effects video operations — including editing and special effects — to be carried out on the computer — to be carried out on the computer

Why use multimediaWhy use multimedia

• Why is multimedia appropriate? Why is multimedia appropriate?

• Who is the audience? Who is the audience?

• What is the task? What is the task?

• Does multimedia improve user experience? Does multimedia improve user experience?

• Is there a need for user involvement & control? Is there a need for user involvement & control?

• Can the information be used again? Can the information be used again?

The hardware of desktop multimediaThe hardware of desktop multimedia

• Any desktop computer can handle text processing and produce Any desktop computer can handle text processing and produce basic sounds. basic sounds.

• Most desktop systems can also handle graphics well, although Most desktop systems can also handle graphics well, although they differ in important details such as display resolution, color they differ in important details such as display resolution, color depth, and performance. depth, and performance.

• Desktop computers start to diverge when you look at animation Desktop computers start to diverge when you look at animation (which is essentially high-performance graphics). (which is essentially high-performance graphics).

• When you examine high-quality audio, they diverge even further. When you examine high-quality audio, they diverge even further.

• They vary dramatically in their ability to handle video (importing They vary dramatically in their ability to handle video (importing video signals from tape or camera, editing and merging video with video signals from tape or camera, editing and merging video with computer-generated graphics or text, and exporting the resulting computer-generated graphics or text, and exporting the resulting mix to video tape). mix to video tape).

• Different desktop systems have quite different abilities to integrate Different desktop systems have quite different abilities to integrate these elements. these elements.

• Each offers a different operating system and authoring system Each offers a different operating system and authoring system software to create, read from peripherals, combine, edit, and software to create, read from peripherals, combine, edit, and produce multimedia presentations; this software is as critical to produce multimedia presentations; this software is as critical to practical multimedia as the sophisticated video, audio and graphics practical multimedia as the sophisticated video, audio and graphics hardware. hardware.

CopyrightsCopyrights

•Soft Wares and Contents are divided in accordance to the Soft Wares and Contents are divided in accordance to the user authority into:user authority into:

– Free wareFree ware–Share WareShare Ware–LicensedLicensed

• Free ware:Free ware:– Users can consider the software as theirs, can do what Users can consider the software as theirs, can do what

they like with it.they like with it.

• Shareware: Shareware: – Users are allowed limited accessUsers are allowed limited access

• Not fully functioning versionNot fully functioning version

• Limited time versionLimited time version

• Limited number of usingLimited number of using

• No Technical help No Technical help

• Licensed: Licensed: – Protected by lowProtected by low– Have to pay to useHave to pay to use

– Fully functioning versionFully functioning version– Discount on updateDiscount on update– Have technical supportHave technical support

• Public domain contentPublic domain content– Any work of the federal governmentAny work of the federal government– Works with expired copy rights (more than 75 years ago Works with expired copy rights (more than 75 years ago

and not renewed )and not renewed )

• Establishment of CopyrightsEstablishment of Copyrights– Begins the moment the work is created in fixed formBegins the moment the work is created in fixed form– Most works are copyright protected even if they do not Most works are copyright protected even if they do not

have a notice of copyrighthave a notice of copyright

• Copyright Owners RightsCopyright Owners Rights

Have exclusive rights for their material:Have exclusive rights for their material:

• Display their work publiclyDisplay their work publicly

• Derive other works from their copyrighted workDerive other works from their copyrighted work

• Distribute copies of their copyrighted workDistribute copies of their copyrighted work

• Reproduction of their copyrighted workReproduction of their copyrighted work

• Perform the copyrighted work publiclyPerform the copyrighted work publicly

• Multimedia copyright issuesMultimedia copyright issues

Multimedia is new: not many laws that cover copy Multimedia is new: not many laws that cover copy right. However the following basic rules can be right. However the following basic rules can be applied: applied:

• Be aware of copyright law, if you don’t know ask some Be aware of copyright law, if you don’t know ask some one who knowsone who knows

• What you copy or scan or any other electronic way of What you copy or scan or any other electronic way of acquired media is not yoursacquired media is not yours

• Obtain written rights for content you get from other Obtain written rights for content you get from other sourcessources

• Acknowledge copyrighted material in your applicationAcknowledge copyrighted material in your application

• Provide notice of copy right on your own material or Provide notice of copy right on your own material or multimedia productmultimedia product

• Search for material in the public domain as it is cheap Search for material in the public domain as it is cheap and availableand available

• Resources for Multimedia DevelopersResources for Multimedia Developers• Resources will provide you with information aboutResources will provide you with information about::

– Current productsCurrent products– Multimedia authoring toolsMultimedia authoring tools– State of the art technologyState of the art technology– Best practices for developing and using multimedia productsBest practices for developing and using multimedia products

• These resources includesThese resources includes::– MentorsMentors– Books Books – Magazines and Periodicals Magazines and Periodicals – Vendors and trade showsVendors and trade shows– Formal EducationFormal Education– Internet-WWW and NewsgroupsInternet-WWW and Newsgroups– ExperienceExperience– Being critical of multimedia products that you see in your daily Being critical of multimedia products that you see in your daily

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