Introduction to Multimedia

What is Multimedia?
• Derived from the word “Multi” and “Media”
– Multi
• Many, Multiple,
– Media
• Tools that is used to represent or do a certain things,
delivery medium, a form of mass communication –
newspaper, magazine / tv.
• Distribution tool & information presentation – text,
graphic, voice, images, music and etc.
 Definition of Multimedia
• Multimedia is a combination of text, graphic,
sound, animation, and video that is delivered
interactively to the user by electronic or
digitally manipulated means.
GRAPHIC
TEXT

VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION
 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

TEXT
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 A broad term for something that contains words to

express something.
 Text is the most basic element of multimedia.
 A good choice of words could help convey the intended message to
the users (keywords).
 Used in contents, menus, navigational buttons
 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

TEXT
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Example
 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

GRAPHIC
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Two-dimensional figure or illustration

 Could be produced manually (by drawing, painting, carving,
etc.) or by computer graphics technology.
 Used in multimedia to show more clearly what a particular
information is all about (diagrams, picture).
 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

GRAPHIC
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Example
 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

AUDIO
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Produced by vibration, as perceived by the sense of

hearing.
 In multimedia, audio could come in the form of
speech, sound effects and also music score.
 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

AUDIO
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Example
 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

ANIMATION
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 The illusion of motion created by the consecutive display of

images of static elements.
 In multimedia, animation is used to further enhance /
enriched the experience of the user to further understand
the information conveyed to them.
 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

ANIMATION
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Example
 Elements of Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

VIDEO
VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

 Is the technology of capturing, recording, processing,

transmitting, and reconstructing moving pictures.
 Video is more towards photo realistic image sequence / live
recording as in comparison to animation.
 Video also takes a lot of storage space. So plan carefully
before you are going to use it.
 Interactive Multimedia

• When the user is given the option of

controlling the elements.

Hyper Media
A combination of hypertext, graphics,
audio, video, (linked elements) and
interactivity culminating in a
complete, non-linear computer-based
experience.
 Example
• Interactive Multimedia
 Example
• Hyper Media
Main Page
1. Video link
2. Image link
3. Audio Link
 Linear VS Non-Linear
LINEAR
• A Multimedia Project is identified as Linear when:
– It is not interactive
– User have no control over the content that is being showed to them.
• Example:
– A movie
– A non-interactive lecture / demo show
 Linear VS Non-Linear
NON-LINEAR
• A Multimedia Project is identified as Non-Linear when:
– It is interactive
– Users have control over the content that is being showed to them.
– Users are given navigational control
• Example:
– Games
– Courseware
– Interactive CD
 Authoring Tools
• Use to merge multimedia elements (text, audio,
graphic, animation, video) into a project.
• Designed to manage individual multimedia
elements and provide user interaction (if
required).
 Authoring Tools
Example:
• Macromedia Authorware
• Macromedia Director
• Macromedia Flash
• Microsoft Power Point
 Importance of Multimedia

• There are a number of fields where

multimedia could be of use. Examples are:-
– Business
– Education
– Entertainment
– Home
– Public Places
 Importance of Multimedia

• Business
– Use and Applications
• Sales / Marketing Presentation
• Trade show production
• Staff Training Application
• Company Kiosk
 Importance of Multimedia

• Education
– Use and Applications
• Courseware / Simulations
• E-Learning / Distance Learning
• Information Searching
 Importance of Multimedia

• Entertainment
– Use and Applications
• Games (Leisure / Educational)
• Movies
• Video on Demand
– Online
 Importance of Multimedia

• Home
– Use and Applications
• Television
• Satellite TV
• SMS services (chats, voting, reality TV)
 Importance of Multimedia

• Public Places
– Use and Applications
• Information Kiosk
• Smart Cards, Security
 Multimedia Products

1. Briefing Products
2. Reference Products
3. Database Products
4. Education and Training Products
5. Kiosk
6. Entertainment and Games
 Multimedia Products
Briefing Products
• Small, straightforward, linear products used to present
information quickly and concisely.
• Characteristic of briefing product:
 Short Development Cycle
 Limited Number of Presentations
 Usage of text to present information with limited use
of graphic, audio and video.
 Have few navigational controls. (mouse click and
button press to move from one page to another)
 Content and the format are suitable for the audience
and fulfill the purpose of the presentation.

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 Multimedia Products
Briefing Products
• Good briefing presentation depends on:
 The understanding of the presented subject.
 Seamless integration of content.
 Consistent layout

• Example:
 Corporate Presentation
 Sales Presentation
 Educational Lectures

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 Multimedia Products
Reference
• Products
Often used for answering specific questions or for general
browsing of information. (stored on CD/ DVD ROM)
• Characteristic of reference product:
 Used by wide range of user (small – adult)
 Have navigational menu, book marking, searching, printing
utility

• 2 Basic classes of reference product:

 Generalized Content (dictionary/encyclopedia)
 Broad treatment of content at a limited depth
 Detailed Content
 Focus on specific area and provide extensive
information.
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 Multimedia Products
Reference
• Products
Good usability and success depends on:
 The developers understanding the body of
information and how the end user will want to access
it.
 Help function should always available to explain how
to access and use the information
• Examples are electronic forms of:
 Encyclopedia
 Dictionaries
 Cookbooks, Historical, Informative
 Scientific surveys.

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 Multimedia Products
Reference
• Products
Example:

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 Multimedia Products
Database
• Products
Similar to reference product in a sense that large amount of
information are made available to the end user.
• Focus on storing and accessing the actual data (multimedia
data such as text, graphic, audio, animation and video)

• Characteristics of Database Products are:

 Manages multimedia data (large data)
 Descriptive finding methods
 Content based search
 Simultaneous access
 Online database
 Relational consistency in data management.

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 Multimedia Products
Database
• Products
Examples are:
 Google Search
 Google Earth

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 Multimedia Products
Education and Training
•
Products
Similar to textbook or training manuals but have added media
such as audio, animation and video.
• Make up a significant share of the multimedia market ranging
from pre-kindergarten to postgraduate offerings from technical
to corporate training products.

• 2 categories of reference product:

 Instructor Support Products
 Standalone or Self-Paced Products
 Combination Products

• Shares the same characteristics as Reference Product

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 Multimedia Products
Education and Training
•
Products
Example

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 Multimedia Products
Kiosk Products
• A product which is usually stationed at public places and allow
the user to find information interactively and also other types
of transaction.

• Characteristics of Kiosk Products:-

 Limited target users and usage.
 User friendly and easily used by user.
 Fast response.

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 Multimedia Products
Kiosk Products
• Categories of Kiosk
 Point Of Information
 Provide certain information (example map, timetable
etc)
 Point Of Sales System
 Allow users to purchase or make orders

• Example of Kiosk Products:-

 Instant Photo Booth
 Banking Kiosk (money deposit, cheque)
 University Information Kiosk

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 Multimedia Products
Entertainment &
• Games
Most popular
• Shipped in the form of Interactive CD / DVD ROM.
• Characteristics of E & G Products:-
 Immersive.
 Requires constant feedback and interaction with the user.
 Challenging and sometimes intriguing for user
 Enabled online play for more than one user experience.
 Applications
• Education
• Training
• Entertainment
• Health & Medical
• Engineering
• Business
• Home
• Gaming
• Simulation
• Computer Aided Design
Framework of Multimedia System
 Multimedia System

Multimedia
Multimedia
Communication
Information System
System

Multimedia
Multimedia Multimedia Multimedia
Distributed
Information Model Conferencing Model Multiservice Network
Processing

Data Processing System Services Email PSTN

Data Storage Application Toolkit Audio Conferencing Internet Model
Information Application Video Conferencing ATM Network
retrieval Framework
Live Chat ADSL

Fig: Framework of multimedia System

The framework provides an overall picture of the
development of the distributed multimedia system
from which system architecture can be developed.
The Framework highlights:
• Dominant feature of Multimedia system
• Integration of Multimedia computing and Multimedia
communication including communication and
telephony function.
Multimedia system can be categorized into two
categories:
• Multimedia information system: extends the
processing, storage and retrieval of existing
information system by introducing new data types.
• Multimedia communication system: extends existing
point to point connectivity by permitting
synchronized multipoint group communication(video
conferencing etc.)
Multimedia Information system and communication
system are again divided into two parts:
• The Multimedia information model includes data modeling
for storage, retrieval and processing. The Multimedia
processing model includes system services, application
toolkit and application frameworks.
• The Multimedia conferencing model provides abstraction
for multiparty communication, real time interchanging, e-
mail and telephony. Multi service model supports the
communication model with a network architecture,
protocol and interfaces.
 Multimedia Information Model
• Relates to the abstraction and data model for
organizing multimedia document.
• Support for temporal relationship between
components, interactivity and components
with active behavior are considered
important.
• Now, the information is accessible in the same
context as it was recorded and reported.
Some of the examples of information systems
supporting rich information retrieval and
organizational communication are:
– CAD drawing are annotated with voice or video.
– Product simulation use animation and video.
– Marketing materials includes video recording.
– On-line laboratory manuals use the video of the
operation of the equipment.
– Multimedia mails can contain video clips.
– Computer based information system have become
a primary tool in the multidisciplinary
organization.
 Multimedia Distributed Processing Model

• Provides a layered architecture shown in next slide

• Each layer provides services to the layer above.
• Significant additions to the facilities of traditional
computing environment includes:
– Scripting language
– Toolkits
– orchestration
– Media services
– System services
– Hardware services
Layered Architecture
Application

Script

Toolkits

Orchestration

Media Services

System Services

Hardware services
 Multimedia Conferencing Model
• Trends in communication and computing are
leading to the convergence of computer based
telephony and communication function.
• OSI and TCP were not designed with the intent
for supporting real time multiparty
conferencing.
• In contrast to traditional telecommunications,
the majority of computer application are
supporting communication access.
 Multiservice Network Model
• Networks for distributed multimedia system
must support a wide range of traffic
requirements including traffic with real time
requirements. Such network are defined as
multiservice.
• Efforts in designing multiservice networks are
being carried out for
– Public switched network
– Internet
Multimedia Devices
 INTRODUCTION
• A multimedia system is not different from any
other type of computer system except for its
ability to process multimedia data.
• Thus, it should have features that can process
audio, video, graphics and animation.
• The components required for a multimedia
system  Hardware and Software
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this session, you should be able to:
· Explain the term “Multimedia Hardware”.
· Outline the different types of Multimedia
Hardware.
· Describe the difference between the types of
multimedia systems.
MULTIMEDIA HARDWARE
 HARDWARE
Hardware is a general term for the physical
artifacts of a technology.
It may also mean the
physical components or items of a computer
system that you can see or touch.

The major forms of multimedia Hardware are

discussed below:
 CD STORAGE
A compact disc, or CD, is a thin wafer of clear polycarbonate
plastic and metal measuring 4.75 inches (120mm) in
diameter, with a small hole, or hub, in its centre.
The metal layer is usually pure aluminum, sputtered onto the
polycarbonate surface in a thickness measurable in molecules.
As the disc spins in the CD player, the metal reflects light from a
tiny infrared laser into a light-sensitive receiver diode.
These reflections are transformed onto an electrical signal and
then further converted to meaningful bits and bytes for use in
digital equipment.
CD STORAGE
 CD STORAGE
• CDs (compact discs) are used to store data for use in a variety
of devices, including computers and CD players.
• The main or standard type of CD is called a CD-ROM.
• ROM means read-only memory. It can be played back or read
by just any CD player as well as most computers that have CD
drives.
• One is the CD-R, which is the typical choice for an individual
who only wants to add data files or music to a CD once.
• An individual uses a CD burner, which is a component of many
modern computer systems, to record to these discs.
 CD STORAGE
• Some recordable CDs are classified as CD+R.
• This type of disc allows consumers to record music or
data to it, but provides nearly twice the amount of
space that is available with a CDR.
• A CD-RW also has a place among the recordable CDs.
This one is a bit different, because it allows
consumers to erase it and record over it again.
• Otherwise, it can be used in the same manner as CD-
Rs and CD+Rs.
 Capacity
A standard 120 mm CD-ROM holds 650 or 700 MiB of data. To
put this storage capacity into context, the average novel
contains 60,000 words.
Assume that average word length is 10 letters and that each
letter occupies one byte. A novel therefore might occupy
600,000 bytes (600 KB, without layout information).
One CD can therefore contain over 1,000 novels. If each novel
occupies at least one centimeter of bookshelf space, then one
CD can contain the equivalent of over ten meters of
bookshelf.
However, textual data can be compressed by more than a factor
of ten, using compression algorithms, so a CD-ROM can
accommodate at least 100 metres of bookshelf space.
 DVD
• DVD, which stands for Digital Video Disc, Digital Versatile Disc,
is the next generation of optical disc storage technology.
• This disc has become a major new medium for a whole host
of multimedia system: It's essentially a bigger, faster CD that
can hold video as well as audio and computer data.
• DVD aims to encompass home entertainment, computers,
and business information with a single digital format,
eventually replacing audio CD, videotape, laserdisc, CD-ROM,
and perhaps even video game cartridges.
• DVD has widespread support from all major electronics
companies and all major computer hardware companies.
 DVD
• It's important to understand the difference between DVD-
Video and DVD-ROM.
• DVD Video (often simply called DVD) holds video programs
and is played in a DVD player hooked up to a TV.
• DVD/ROM holds computer data and is read by a DVD-ROM
drive hooked up to a computer. The difference is similar to that
between Audio CD and CD-ROM.
• DVD-ROM also includes future variations that are recordable
one time (DVD-R) or many times (DVD-RAM).
• Most new computers with DVD-ROM drives will also be able to
play DVD-Videos.
DVD
 UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB)
• USB has effectively replaced a variety of interfaces such as
serial and parallel ports.

• It can connect computer peripherals such as mice, keyboards,

digital cameras, printers, personal media players, flash drives,
Network Adapters, and external hard drives.

• For many of those devices, USB has become the standard

connection method. USB was designed for personal
computers, but it has become commonplace on other devices
such as smart phones and video game consoles, and as a
power cord.
 UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB)
• USB devices are linked in series through hubs. There always
exists one hub known as the root hub, which is built into the
host controller.

• So-called sharing hubs, which allow multiple computers to

access the same peripheral device(s), also exist and work by
switching access between PCs, either automatically or
manually.

• Sharing hubs are popular in small-office environments.

 UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB)
• A physical USB device may consist of several logical sub-
devices that are referred to as device functions.

• A single device may provide several functions, for example, a

webcam (video device function) with a built-in microphone
(audio device function).

• Such a device is called a compound device in which each

logical device is assigned a distinctive address by the host and
all logical devices are connected to a built-in hub to which the
physical USB wire is connected.
UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB)
 Webcam
• A webcam is a simple digital camera capable of taking video
or still images for transmission over the Internet.
• Unlike digital cameras, webcams don’t include storage
capabilities.
• Most webcams plug into a USB port, but a few have used IEEE
1394 or parallel ports.
• Webcams are generally used in live chat situations, such as
with AOL Instant Messenger or other IM clients.
• They offer resolutions ranging from sub-VGA to as high as 2
million pixels (2 megapixels). Some offer auto focus and zoom
features for better image clarity, and some have built-in
microphones.
Webcam
 Digital Camera
• Digital cameras have largely replaced film cameras for both
amateur and professional photography.

• They use CMOS or CCD image sensors to record images onto

internal or card-based flash memory form factors such as
Compact Flash, SD, Memory Stick, xD-Picture Card, and Smart
Media.

• Digital cameras transfer images to computers for emailing,

printing, or storage via either flash memory card readers or
direct USB port connections.
Digital Camera
 MIDI Music and MIDI Ports
• Musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) music is created
from digitized samples of musical instruments that are stored
in the ROM or RAM of a MIDI device (such as a sound card)
and played under the command of a MIDI sequencer.

• MIDI sequences can be stored as files for future playback,

and can be transferred between sound cards and MIDI-
enabled devices such as keyboards via the MIDI port.
MIDI Music and MIDI Ports
MIDI Music and MIDI Ports
 Sound Card
• Sound cards are used to record and play back analog
audio, and most can also play back digital audio
sources as well.

• When recording analog audio sources such as CDs,

line in or microphone in, sound cards digitize the
audio at varying sample