Multimedia
Principles
Chapter 1
Multimedia – an Overview
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Multimedia – an Overview
Introduction
The word “multimedia” comes from Latin word multus meaning
“numerous” and media meaning “middle”.
In modern day context “multimedia” means “multiple means” or
“multiple intermediary” for conveying information between the
source and sink.
The multiple means are : text, image, graphic, audio, video and
animation.
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Multimedia – an Overview
Presentation
A multimedia presentation is essentially a “show” where the
content is expressed through various media elements
The individual or team who creates the show is called the
developer or author.
The end user who executes or runs the show is the target
audience.
Each presentation must be made for a specific class of target
audience and must fulfill a set of objectives or goals.
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Multimedia – an Overview
Characteristics
A multimedia presentation must involve multiple media which
may be static (e.g. text, image, graphic) or dynamic (e.g. audio,
video, animation).
A multimedia presentation must be non-linear in nature whereby
the user can navigate to any part of the presentation
instantaneously without delay.
A multimedia presentation must support interactivity from the
user through elements like buttons, menus, hyperlinks etc.
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Multimedia – an Overview
Characteristics
For supporting non-linearity a multimedia presentation must be
stored in digital form on random access media like the hard disk
and processed on a computer.
All the media elements must form part of and controlled by a
single entity or framework called the presentation, and cannot
play independently. This property is called integrity.
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Multimedia – an Overview
Multiple Media
Text can comprise of alpha-numeric characters entered via the
keyboard or copied from an existing document.
Images are real world photographs taken through a camera and
subsequently digitized.
Graphics are drawings or sketches drawn by artists usually by
using graphic software.
Audio can be human speech or music recorded through
microphones and subsequently digitized.
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Multimedia – an Overview
Multiple Media
Video imples real-world motion scenes usually taken through a
video camera and subsequently digitized.
Animation implies synthetic or artificial motion scenes usually
drawn by artists or animators using animation software.
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Multimedia – an Overview
Hardware and Software
Multimedia Playback
Processor : Pentium class
RAM : 8 MB (min) to 32 MB (recommended)
Hard disk : 500 MB (min)
SVGA monitor and adapter supporting 800 by 600 display mode
CD-ROM drive with speeds of 4X (min) to 36X (recommended)
Sound card and speakers
Keyboard and mouse
Windows OS, drivers, plug-ins, media players etc.
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Multimedia – an Overview
Hardware and Software
Multimedia Production
Processor : Pentium II or higher
RAM : 128 MB (min) to 256 MB (recommended)
Hard disk : 10 GB (min) to 80 GB (recommended)
SVGA monitor and adapter supporting 800 by 600 display mode
CD/DVD-Writer with speeds of 4X (min) to 36X (recommended)
Sound card and speakers
Keyboard and mouse
Accessories like scanner, microphone, video capture card, camera etc.
Windows OS, drivers, plug-ins, media players etc.
Editing / media processing software, authoring or integration software,
2D / 3D animation software.
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Multimedia – an Overview
Uses
Home entertainment – games, cartoons, interactive encyclopedias etc.
Educational – learning packages and lab simulation
Training – computer based training packages for professionals
Information – shopping kiosks, railway time tables, digital library
Corporate – for company profiles, products, advertisements
Business – sales of fragile, industrial, chemical products via simulations
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Multimedia – an Overview
Uses
Tourism – tour packages, lodging boarding info, museums, galleries
Commerce – e-commerce packages, on-line shopping catalogs
Communications – audio/video conferencing, voice-mail, VoD
Medicine – using 3D images of human bodies, tele-medicine
Engineering – CAD, CAM, archirectural drawings
Database – content based search and retrieval systems
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Multimedia – an Overview
Promotions
Demand from Customer – should provide a value addition to normal
print material to justify additional expenses of creating presentations
Compression Techniques – Efficient compression algorithms for easier
manipulation of large media files
Processing power – Fast processors and large amount of memory for
manipulating and editing of media files
Standards – include file formats, data transmission protocols, CODECs
Bandwidth – large data transmission rates, high speed buses
Distribution – CD, DVD, multimedia servers
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Multimedia – an Overview
Creating Presentations
Choose topic – subject matter should be expressed adequately using
multiple media, interactivity tools etc. The target audience and
objectives of the presentation should also be decided.
Story – textual description of the subject matter, might involve
demarcation onto chapters, sections for better readability
Script - depicts how subject matter is to treated using various media
elements, details of interactivity involved.
Storyboard – visual layout of the presentation screens, depicts the
spatial and temporal parameters associated with each media element
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Multimedia – an Overview
Creating Presentations
Flowline – building the navigational pathways within the presentation
Implementation – involves editing the media and integration into a
presentation through the use of editing and authoring software
Testing and feedback – presentation is distributed to sections of the
target audience and feedback is collected from them for improving it
Final delivery – by copying a run-time version of the presentation on to a
CD / DVD or to a network server
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