Unit 3: Multimedia
The Development Process
What is Multimedia?
• An interactive piece of software using several types
of media:
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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
The Development
Process/Cycle
Analysis
Design
Design may change if
application does not
work as expected
Implementation
Testing
Documentation
Evaluation
Maintenance
Analysis Stage
• This stage is make it absolutely clear what the project is
supposed to do.
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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.
Design Stage
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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.
Implementation 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.
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.
Evaluation 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.
Unit 3: Multimedia
The Development Process
The Development Process Mnemonic
Analysis
Design
Implementation
Testing
Documentation
Evaluation
Maintenance
A
Dance
In
The
Dark
Every
Monday
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
WYSIWYG
Text Editor
WYSIWYG Vs Text Editors
Advantages
Text Editor
WYSIWYG
Simple and places less
demands on system.
Disadvantages
Difficult to Visualise output
Provides greater control
over the application
Dependant on programming
or text-based commands
knowledge
Easy creation and
editing of application
Complex software that puts
higher demands on system.
Ideal for beginners
Software tends to be
expensive
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
Methodologies used in creation
of multimedia applications
• Who makes authoring software?
– Macromedia
• Flash, Dreamweaver and Director
– Microsoft
• FrontPage
– Adobe
• GoLive
– Others
• Mediator, HyperStudio, etc
Methodologies used in creation
of multimedia applications
• Who makes presentation software?
– Microsoft
• PowerPoint (Most common)
– Others
• LiquidMedia
• Cre8
• Many others exist but not common
Authoring Vs Presentation
Authoring
Presentation
Advantages
Disadvantages
Advanced features
give developer more
control over final
application
Difficult to learn, special
training generally required
Simple commands
Limited features
Easy to learn
Can be difficult to debug
complex application
Unit 3: Multimedia
The Development Process
Displaying Multimedia Data
Distribution Technologies
• Web Pages
• Embedded into Web pages
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ActiveX Object
Visual Basic Script
Java Applet
JavaScript Program
Displaying Multimedia Data
Distribution Technologies (cntd)
• Stand alone Program (executable)
• Multimedia file using player software
– Macromedia Flash or Shockwave
– PowerPoint
– QuickTime
Displaying Multimedia Data
Distribution Medium
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Web pages on the Internet
Web pages on an Intranet
CD-ROM
DVD
Digital Broadcast System
Displaying Multimedia Data
Embedded Data
• Applications include files for sound, video etc
• These are combined (embedded) into the actual
program file itself
Advantages
File management is easier
as there is only one file
Disadvantages
File could be very large
Entire file must be
downloaded before it can be
Easier to implement security played
Individual data items cannot
be updated separately
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
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
Codecs & Container Files
Container File
• 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