Introduction To
Multimedia
CSIT 210
*Several of these slides have been adapted and modified from CMU CPS282 course by Jerry Kabell.
Course Outline
Course Outline
2
Multimedia – An Overview
Objectives
Multimedia
defined
Multimedia on
the Web
Multimedia
growth
Educational
applications
4
Objectives
Entertainment
applications
Business
applications
Multimedia
playback systems
Multimedia
development
systems
5
Multimedia Defined
A computer-based,
interactive
experience that
incorporates text,
graphics, sound,
animation, video
and virtual reality.
6
Multimedia Elements
Graphics
Drawings and Photos
Animation
2-D and 3-D, Video
Sound
7
Interactivity of Multimedia
Allows user to interact with
application
Content presentation is
nonlinear
User determines
– What content is delivered
– When it is delivered
– How it is delivered
Input can be keyboard, mouse,
voice and touch screens
8
Computer Playback System
Internet connection with browser also important
9
Multimedia
Applications:
Titles:
All uses of
multimedia
Specific products;
usually on CDs
10
Multimedia on the Web
Internet
Browsers
World Wide Web
11
Multimedia Growth
Highest growth rate is online
Telecommunications
– Multimedia courseware
– Training and teleconferencing
Internet
– Home pages for products
– Video demonstrations
– Product purchases
12
Webcasting - Includes audio and video in real time
Live updates
on
scoreboard
Program
needed to
receive
webcast can
be
downloaded
Live broadcast
13
Animations
Rotating text and 3-D settings
Software
– HTML
– Macromedia Flash
– Virtual Reality Modeling Language
(VRML)
14
HTML
HyperText
Markup
Language
Basic Web
documents
Hyperlinks
HTML tags:
<i>Hello</i>
15
Multimedia Web Pages
Java programming
language
– Animations
– Database searches
– Applets
Need for file compression
– Video/audio files very large
– Modem speeds can be slow
16
Growth of Multimedia
Growth in % of homes with
computers in US
Growth in % of homes using
internet in US
Prices dropped from $2000 to $500 from 1997 to 2001
17
Internet Usage Growth Drivers
18
Growth of Internet Users
19
Growth of Mobile Subscribers
20
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)
21
Multimedia Barriers
Different types of computer systems
Vary in speed, capacity
and display capabilities
Lack of standardization
Lack of a way to deliver
huge amounts of
information to the desktop
22
Using Multimedia for Education
Learning by experimentation
Learning
by
association
Learning
by sound
Learning by visual stimulation
23
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
24
Online Course Benefits
Students can:
access it
anytime from
anywhere
see animations
with audio and
video
have virtual labs
to conduct
experiments
25
Edutainment CDs
26
Reference Titles and
Multimedia
Encyclopedias
Census data
Yellow Pages
Dictionaries
27
Entertainment Applications
Pioneers in multimedia were
game developers
Emphasis has shifted from:
– Pure action  Action + story-telling
– Games  Entertainment
– Physical  Mental
28
Games on the Web
29
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.
30
Online Entertainment
Categories
Sports (Beckett Interactive Football League)
Mystery (Avalon)
Adventure (Webstrike)
Fun (Playsite backgammon, etc.)
31
Recreation Applications
Give user a vicarious experience
– “play” a famous golf course
– “fly” over 3-D cityscapes
Could include hobbies and sports
titles
32
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
33
Multimedia Category
Crossovers
34
Business Applications
Multimedia used for communication:
Marketing
Training
Presentations
35
Marketing on the Web
Go global on the Net
Shop online
Demonstrate product
lines
Allow users to
customize products
online
Publish magazines
online
36
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
37
Business Presentations
38
Computer Playback Systems
Development
System
Playback
System
39
Hardware Issues
Minimum configuration
vs. recommended
configuration
Processor can determine
speed
Memory types:
– Temporary: Random Access
Memory (RAM)
– Permanent: hard drive
40
Hardware Issues: Displays
Monitor standards:
– Screen resolution
– Number of colors
41
Hardware Issues: Displays
Resolution differences
640 x 480
1024 x 768
42
Hardware Issues: Displays
Video Graphics Card
– Video Graphics Array (VGA)
– Super VGA (SVGA)
Card determines:
– Resolution
– Memory capacity
– Number of colors displayed
43
Hardware Issues: Sound
Need:
– Audio card (Sound Blaster)
– Speakers
Sound quality depends on
number of bits used
Standard is 16-bit sound
44
Hardware Issues: Digital Disks
CD-ROM
DVD
Compact Disc Read-Only
Memory
Digital Versatile or Video
Disk
Drive determines
– What type of disk can be played
– Speed of locating data on disk
(seek time)
– Speed of transferring disk
information to computer
45
Multimedia Development
Systems
Speakers
Video camera
Flatbed scanner
Microphone
High capacity removable
disk storage
Disk array for video
capture and storage
CD-ROM recorder
46
Development Platforms
Macintosh
– Superior handling of graphics
– Cross-platform capabilities
– Used extensively in multimedia
development
Windows
Software allows
– Development on particular platform
– Playback on both platforms
47
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
48
Digital Cameras
Menu Options:
– Preview
– Play back
– Delete
– View in slide-show
Images stored on 4 GB
SDHC memory card
(available upto 32 GB)
49
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?
50
Issue: MPC Standards - Are they
needed?
1990
1991
1993
1995 1996 to present
51
Multimedia – An Overview
End