Characteristics of Multimedia Systems

Characteristics of Multimedia Systems  Multimedia systems as information systems that include combinations of the following media; including: o Text, hypertext and numbers

o Audio

o Images and/or animations

1 o Video

 The differences between print and multimedia, including: o Different modes of display

o Interactivity and involvement in multimedia systems

2  The demands placed on hardware by multimedia systems; including: o Primary and secondary storage capacity as a result of: . Bit depth and the representation of colour data

. Sampling rates for audio data

o Processing as a result of: . Video data and frame rates

3 . Image processing, including morphing and distortion

. Animation processing

4 o Display devices as a result of: . Pixels and resolution

 The variety of fields of expertise required in the development of multimedia applications, including: o Content providers

o System designers and project managers

o Those skilled in the collection and editing of each of the media types

o Those skilled in design and layout

o Those with technical skills with the information technology being used.

5 Examples of multimedia systems  The major areas of multimedia use, including: o Education and training: multimedia systems designed for teaching/learning

o Leisure and entertainment: multimedia systems such as computer games and other leisure activities

o Information: multimedia systems that provide information such as an information kiosk

6 o Virtual reality and simulations such as flight simulator

o Combined areas such as educational games

 Advances in technology which are influencing multimedia development such as: o World Wide Web and communication speed and capacity

o CD-ROM speed

7 o Digital Video Disc

Displaying in multimedia systems

 Hardware for creating and displaying multimedia, including: o Screens: CRT displays, LCD displays, touch screens

o Projection devices

o Speakers, sound systems

o CD-ROM

8 o Video

o Head-up displays and head-sets

 Software for creating and displaying multimedia, including: o Presentation software

o Application software such as word processors with sound notes and video

9 o Authoring software

o Animation software

o Web browsers and HTML editors

10 Other information processes in multimedia systems  Processing: o The integration of text and/or number, audio, image and/or video

o Compression and decompression of audio, video and images

o Hypermedia as the linking of different media to another

 Organising presentations using different storyboard layouts, including:

11 o Linear

o Hierarchical

o Non-linear

o A combination of these

 Storing and retrieving: o The different file formats used to store different types of data

12 o Compression and decompression

 Collecting: o Text and numbers in digital format

o Audio, video and images in analog format

o Methods for digitising analog data

13 Issues related to multimedia systems  Copyright: the acknowledgment of source data and the ease with which digital data can be modified

 Appropriate use of the Internet and the wide spread application of new developments on it such as live video data

 The merging of radio, television, communications and the Internet with the increase and improvements in digitization

14  The integrity of the original source data in educational and other multimedia systems