CITB 123: MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGYCHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION TO MULTIMEDIA

SARASWATHY SHAMINIAdapted from Notes Prepared by:

Noor Fardela Zainal Abidin© UNITEN 2004/2005

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Objectives

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:• define basic terms and concepts related to multimedia

technologies• understand the history and evolution of media and

multimedia technologies• distinguish between the types of linear and non-linear

multimedia systems• state the four characteristics of multimedia system

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History Of Multimedia

• What can we say about the evolution of media that has taken place for thousands of years?

• Since the dawn of time, people have had the need to communicate with one another

• This created what we called as communication media

http://www.december.com/present/mediaev.html

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The notion of MultimediaConsists of two words:Multi (Latin)= many; much; Medium (Latin) = An intervening substance through which something is transmitted or carried on.

Multimedia

What is Multimedia?•Multimedia can be any combination of text, graphics,

sound, animation and video, to effectively communicate ideas to users delivered by computer or any other electronic devices.

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What is Multimedia? (Other definition)• ‘Multimedia is any combination of text, art, sound,

animation, and video. It is delivered to the user by electronic or digitally manipulated means. A multimedia project development requires creative, technical, organizational, and business skills.’

Tay VaughanMultimedia : Making it work 7th Ed.

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What is Multimedia? (Other definition)• ‘“Multimedia is the presentation of a (usually

interactive) computer application, incorporating media elements such as text, graphics, video, animation and sound on computer.”

Stephen McGloughlin Multimedia: Concepts & Practice

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Multimedia Building Block

Digital environment

USERUSER

Elements of Multimedia

Why Multimedia?• Ease of use• Intuitive Interface• Immersive experience• Self-paced interaction and better retention• Better understanding• Cost effectiveness• More fun = greater efficiency

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Multimedia has a number of distinct and unique features, including:

Based on Edgar Dale (Cone Of Learning), on average, people remember:

10% of what they read,20% of what they hear,30% of what they see, 50% of what they hear and see, multimedia approach

multimedia rich elements, multi-sensory delivery system can facilitate greater retention of new knowledge

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Types of Multimedia

•Linear Multimedia▫Users have very little control over the

presentation

•Nonlinear/Interactive Multimedia▫Users dictate the flow of delivery. User

control the flow of the show.

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Types of Multimedia: (1)Linear Multimedia▫The users sit back and watches the

presentation▫The presentation normally plays from

the start to end or even loops continually to present the information.▫A movie is a common type of linear

multimedia

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Types of Multimedia: (2)Interactive Multimedia

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The users control the delivery of elements – to control the what and when. Users have the ability to move around or follow different path through the information presentation.

Advantage: complex domain of information can be presented.

Disadvantage: users might lost in the massive “information highway”.

Useful for: information archive (encyclopedia), education, training and entertainment.

What is a Multimedia Project?•The software vehicle, the messages, and the content

together constitute a multimedia project.•A multimedia project shipped to end-users with or

without instructions is called a multimedia title.•A project can also be launched on the Web.•Authoring tools are used to merge multimedia

elements into a project.•These software tools are designed to manage

individual multimedia elements and provide user interaction.

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Delivering and Using MultimediaThe primary media for delivering multimedia projects

are: ▫Compact disc read-only (CD-ROM).▫Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) / Blu-ray Disc

•Multimedia Projects can also be delivered online (webs) and through PDAs/Hand-held Devices

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Delivering and Using Multimedia : (1) CD-ROM•CD-ROM is the most cost-effective distribution

medium for multimedia projects.• It can contain up to 80 minutes of full-screen video

or sound.•CD burners are used for reading discs and converting

the discs to audio, video, and data formats.

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Delivering and Using Multimedia : (2) DVD / Blu-ray•Multilayered DVD technology increases the capacity of

current optical technology to 18 GB.• DVD authoring and integration software is used to create

interactive front-end menus for films and games.• DVD burners are used for reading discs and converting

the disc to audio, video, and data formats.• BD – Blu-ray disc (Blu-ray Disc Association BDA)

▫ next-generation format for high-definition video and high-density data. ▫ A single-layer disc can fit 23.3, 25, or 27 GB (enough for approximately four hours

of high-definition video with audio)▫ supports 25GB for one layer, 50GB for two and 100GB for four

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Delivering and Using Multimedia (3) Online• Multimedia can be delivered online•Copper wire, glass fiber, and radio/cellular

technologies also serve a means for delivering multimedia files across a network

•Online uses include: Books and magazines, Education Movies, Entertainment News and weather Maps

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Application of Multimedia•Business - Business applications for multimedia

include presentations training, marketing, advertising, product demos, databases, catalogues, instant messaging, and networked communication.

•Schools - Educational software can be developed to enrich the learning process.

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Application of Multimedia•Home - Most multimedia projects reach the homes

via television sets or monitors with built-in user inputs.

•Public places - Multimedia will become available at stand-alone terminals or kiosks to provide information and help.

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Multimedia Applications

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Examples of Multimedia Applications: •Digital video editing and production systems•Electronic Newspapers/Magazines•Games•Groupware•Home shopping•Interactive TV•Multimedia courseware•Video conferencing•Video-on-Demand (VoD)•Virtual reality

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Multimedia System Characteristics

•Multimedia systems must be computer controlled.•All multimedia components are integrated.•The interface to the final user may permit

interactivity.• Information must be represented digitally.

Overlapping Technologies

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•Different branches of multimedia grow together because of new, upcoming multimedia technology and applications.

•Two challenges lie ahead:▫Timing requirements (synchronization etc.)▫Integration requirements (of different media types)

Summary•Multimedia is the combination of text, graphics,

sound, animation and video, to effectively communicate ideas to users delivered by computer.

•Multimedia projects can be linear or nonlinear.•Multimedia projects are often stored on CD-ROM or

DVDs. They can also be hosted on the Web.•Multimedia is widely used in business, schools,

public places, and at home.

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References•Vaughan Tay. Multimedia: Making It work. 7th

Edition. McGraw Hill •McGloughlin Stephen. Multimedia: Concepts and

Practice. Prentice Hall

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