Introduction To Multimedia

CSIT 210

*Several of these slides have been adapted and modified from CMU CPS282 course by Jerry Kabell.

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Course Outline

Course Outline

Multimedia – An Overview

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Objectives

Multimedia defined

Multimedia on the Web

Multimedia growth

Educational applications

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Objectives

Entertainment applications

Business applications

Multimedia playback systems

Multimedia development systems

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Multimedia Defined

A computer-based, interactive

experience that incorporates text, graphics, sound, animation, video

and virtual reality.

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Multimedia Elements

Drawings and PhotosDrawings and PhotosGraphicsGraphics

2-D and 3-D, Video2-D and 3-D, VideoAnimationAnimation

SoundSound

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Interactivity of Multimedia

Allows user to interact with applicationContent presentation is nonlinearUser determines– What content is delivered– When it is delivered– How it is delivered

Input can be keyboard, mouse, voice and touch screens

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Computer Playback System

Internet connection with browser also important

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Multimedia

Applications:All uses of multimedia

Applications:All uses of multimedia

Titles:Specific products;

usually on CDs

Titles:Specific products;

usually on CDs

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Multimedia on the Web

Internet

Browsers

World Wide Web

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Multimedia Growth

Highest growth rate is online

Telecommunications– Multimedia courseware– Training and teleconferencing

Internet– Home pages for products– Video demonstrations– Product purchases

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Webcasting - Includes audio and video in real time

Live broadcast

Program needed to

receive webcast can

be downloaded

Live updates on

scoreboard

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Animations

Rotating text and 3-D settings

Software– HTML– Macromedia Flash– Virtual Reality Modeling Language

(VRML)

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HTML

HyperText Markup Language

Basic Web documents

Hyperlinks

HTML tags: <i>Hello</i>

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Multimedia Web Pages

Java programming language– Animations– Database searches– Applets

Need for file compression– Video/audio files very large– Modem speeds can be slow

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Growth of Multimedia

Growth in % of homes with computers in US

Prices dropped from $2000 to $500 from 1997 to 2001Prices dropped from $2000 to $500 from 1997 to 2001

Growth in % of homes using internet in US

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Internet Usage Growth Drivers

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Growth of Internet Users

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Growth of Mobile Subscribers

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Growth of Multimedia

Audio and video delivered on web (RealPlayer)

CD-ROM titles decreased– 1992 = $100– Today < $20

Computer company marketing techniques– Next “killer application”

Adding value to an existing product (the computer)

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Multimedia Barriers

Different types of computer systemsDifferent types of computer systems

Vary in speed, capacity and display capabilities

Vary in speed, capacity and display capabilities

Lack of standardizationLack of standardization

Lack of a way to deliver huge amounts of information to the desktop

Lack of a way to deliver huge amounts of information to the desktop

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Using Multimedia for Education

Learning by

association

Learning by experimentation

Learning by visual stimulation

Learning by sound

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Multimedia Allows Students To

“Jump” via hyperlinks

Proceed at their own pace

Focus on particular areas

Be in charge of learning experience

Have instant feedback

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Online Course Benefits

access it anytime from anywhere

see animations with audio and video

have virtual labs to conduct experiments

Students can:

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Edutainment CDs

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Reference Titles and Multimedia

Encyclopedias

Census data

Yellow Pages

Dictionaries

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Entertainment Applications

Pioneers in multimedia were game developers

Emphasis has shifted from:– Pure action Action + story-telling– Games Entertainment– Physical Mental

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Games on the Web

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Virtual Worlds

A new field in entertainment on the Web where

individuals can log on and interact with others in a

virtual environment that includes chat

sessions.

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Online Entertainment Categories

Sports (Beckett Interactive Football League)Sports (Beckett Interactive Football League)

Mystery (Avalon)Mystery (Avalon)

Adventure (Webstrike)Adventure (Webstrike)

Fun (Playsite backgammon, etc.)Fun (Playsite backgammon, etc.)

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Recreation Applications

Give user a vicarious experience– “play” a famous golf course– “fly” over 3-D cityscapes

Could include hobbies and sports titles

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Microsoft Flight Simulator

Award winning; most popular; oldest

U.S. Navy has used it to train pilots

Requires a fairly powerful computer configuration for latest version

Has spawned web sites, user groups, newsletters, and add-on products

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Multimedia Category Crossovers

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Business Applications

Multimedia used for communication:

Training PresentationsMarketing

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Marketing on the Web

Go global on the Net

Shop online

Demonstrate product lines

Allow users to customize products online

Publish magazines online

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Corporate Training

Multibillion-dollar industry

Focus on specific skill sets

Can be on CD or the Web– Often use an Intranet

Can train for certification tests

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Business Presentations

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Computer Playback Systems

DevelopmentSystem

PlaybackSystem

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Hardware Issues

Minimum configuration vs. recommended configuration

Processor can determine speed

Memory types:– Temporary: Random Access

Memory (RAM)– Permanent: hard drive

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Hardware Issues: Displays

Monitor standards:– Screen resolution – Number of colors

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Hardware Issues: Displays

Resolution differences

640 x 480 1024 x 768

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Hardware Issues: Displays

Video Graphics Card– Video Graphics Array (VGA)– Super VGA (SVGA)

Card determines:– Resolution– Memory capacity– Number of colors displayed

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Hardware Issues: Sound

Need:– Audio card (Sound Blaster)– Speakers

Sound quality depends on number of bits used

Standard is 16-bit sound

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Hardware Issues: Digital Disks

Compact Disc Read-Only MemoryDigital Versatile or Video DiskDrive determines– What type of disk can be played– Speed of locating data on disk

(seek time)– Speed of transferring disk

information to computer

CD-ROM

DVD

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Multimedia Development Systems

Speakers

Video camera

Flatbed scanner

Microphone

High capacity removable disk storage

Disk array for video capture and storage

CD-ROM recorder

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Development Platforms

Macintosh– Superior handling of graphics– Cross-platform capabilities– Used extensively in multimedia

development

WindowsSoftware allows – Development on particular platform – Playback on both platforms

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Development Configurations

Pentium III 750 processor or Power Mac 500

256 MB of RAM desired

20 GB of hard disk space

Video capture card (internal) and video source (camera, VCR, TV)

19” monitor

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Digital Cameras

Menu Options:– Preview– Play back– Delete– View in slide-show

Images stored on 4 GB SDHC memory card (available upto 32 GB)

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Issue: What is the appropriate use of multimedia?

Does development time outweigh cost of alternatives?How should we use text and video?Who is your audience?Is use of bells and whistles appropriate?What are our objectives?

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Issue: MPC Standards - Are they needed?

1990

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1991

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1995

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1996 to present

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End

Multimedia – An Overview