Multimedia Systems

• Multimedia


  A system of relaying information or entertainment that include many different forms of communication
• Multimedia system


  A system capable of processing multimedia data and applications. It is characterized by the processing, storage, generation, manipulation, and rendition of Multimedia information
• Multimedia system


  • Computer delivered electronic system that presents information through different media that may include text, sound, video computer graphics, and animation
  • A system able to present in an integrated way different types of media, where at least one is continuous
• Functionalities of a multimedia system

  • Capture
  • Generation
  • Stocking
  • Recovering
  • Processing
  • Transmission
  • Presentation of multimedia information
• Digital multimedia


  The field concerned with the computer-controlled integration of text, graphics, still and moving images, animation, sounds and any other medium where every type of information can be represented, stored, transmitted and processed digitally
• Multimedia application


  An application which uses a collection of multiple media sources ex: text, graphics, images, sound/audio, animation and/or vide
• Characteristics of a multimedia system

  • Computer controlled
  • Integrated
  • Interactivity
  • Digitally represented
• Components of a multimedia system

  • Capture devices
  • Storage devices
  • Communication networks
  • Computer systems
  • Display devices
• Text


  Basic element of multimedia. This is the base to most applications the on-screen display of words
• Text


  • Be concise
  • Use appropriate fonts
  • Consider different type styles
  • Be consistent
  • Make the text readable
  • Use restraint
• Font


  A collection of characters of a particular size and style belonging to a particular typeface family
• Typeface


  A family of graphic characters that usually includes many types of sizes and styles
• Types of fonts


  • Serif
  • Sans serif
• Serif


  Decorative strokes added to the end of a letter's. It improves readability by leading the eye along the line of type
• Sans serif


  Doesn't have decorative strokes. It has to be read letter by letter
• Bit mapped system fonts


  Every character is represented by an arrangement of dots
• Vector graphics font


  The shape or outline of each character is defined geometrically. Can be displayed in any size
• Text data files


  • Plain text (ASCII)
  • Rich text
  • Hypertext
• Use of text in multimedia

  • Menus for navigation
  • Interaction buttons
  • Fields for reading
  • HTML documents
  • Symbols and icons
• Advantages of using text

  • Is relatively inexpensive to produce
  • Present abstract ideas effectively
  • Clarifies other media
  • Provides confidentiality
  • Is easily changed or updated
• Disadvantages of using text

  • Is less memorable that other visual media
  • Requires more attention from the user that other media
  • Can be cumbersome
• Graphics


  Image or visual representation of an object
• Types of graphics


  • Bitmap images
  • Vector graphics
• Images/graphics

  • Photographs
  • Drawings and symbols
  • Diagrams and graphs
• Audio


  Sound elements that can be used in strategic parts of the program or during a movie to emphasize certain points. They may include speech, audio effects, ambient sound, and music
• Video


  Transmits a signal to a screen and processes the order in which the screen capture should be shown
• Animation


  Giving life to inanimate objects. Animations can render a procedure more accurately than that of a movie
• Advantages of multimedia systems

  • Enhancement of text only messages
  • Improves our traditional audio visual presentation
  • Gains and Hold attention
  • Good for computer-phobics
  • Multimedia is entertaining as well as educational
• Video


  The moving picture, accompanied by sound such as a picture in television
• Digital video


  Useful in multimedia application for showing real life objects
• Animation


  Giving life to inanimate objects
• Animations


  • Can render a procedure more accurately than that of a movie
  • Objects which appear blurred within a movie can be represented more clearly
• Animation


  • A process of making a static image look like it is moving
  • A continuous series of still images that are displayed in a sequence
• Animation


  • Can be used effectively for attracting attention
  • Makes a presentation light and attractive
  • Very popular in multimedia application
• Advantages of Multimedia Systems


  • Enhancement of Text Only Messages
  • Improves our Traditional Audio-Video Presentation
  • Gains and hold attention
  • Good for "computer-phobic"
  • Multimedia is entertaining as well as educational
• Challenges for Multimedia Systems

  • Distributed Networks
  • Temporal relationships between data
  • Synchronization
• Key Issues in Multimedia Systems

  • Data has to represented digitally
  • Conversion and Sampling
  • Large Data Requirements
  • Data Compression
• Desirable Features for a Multimedia Systems

  • Very Hight Processing Power
  • Multimedia Capable File System
  • Special Hardware/ Software needed
  • Data Representations
  • Efficient and High I/O
  • Special Operating System
  • Storage and Memory
  • Software Tools
• Applications of Multimedia


  • Multimedia in Business
  • Multimedia in Marketing and Advertising
  • Multimedia in Education
  • Multimedia in Bank
  • Multimedia in Pedagogues
  • Multimedia in Hospital
  • Communication Technology and Multimedia Services
• Image


  An artifact that reproduces the likeness of some subject- usually a physical object or a person