INTRODUCTION TO MULTIMEDIA

Chapter 1
Introduction to Multimedia and
Hypermedia
 What is Multimedia?

Multi means many, much, multiple

Medium mean:
An intervening substance that which
something is transmitted or carried out
Multimedia means that computer
information can be represented through
audio, video, and animation in addition to
traditional media (i.e., text,
graphics/drawings, images).
 …. cont’d

Multimedia is the field concerned with the

computer controlled integration of text,
graphics, drawings, still and moving
images (Video), animation, audio, and any
other media where every type of
information can be represented, stored,
transmitted and processed digitally.
 …. cont’d

Multimedia is a media that uses

multiple form of information content and
information processing.
History of Multimedia

Reading Assignment
 The Basic Elements of
Multimedia
GRAPHIC
TEXT

VIDEO
AUDIO

ANIMATION

Text
Graphic
Animation
Video
Audio
 The Basic Elements of
Multimedia
  TEXT
 characters that are used to create words,
sentences, and paragraphs.
 The Basic Elements of
Multimedia

  Graphics
A digital representation of non-text


information, such as a drawing, chart, or

photograph.
 The Basic Elements of
Multimedia
  Animation
 Flipping through a series of still images. It is
a series of graphics that create an illusion of
motion.
 The Basic Elements of
Multimedia
  Video
 photographic images that are played back at
speeds of 15 to 30 frames a second and the
provide the appearance of full motion.
 The Basic Elements of
Multimedia
  Audio
 music, speech, or any other sound.
 Categorization

Two types of Multimedia presentation

Linear Non-linear
Presentation Interactive
 Categorization

Linear active content progresses often without any

navigational control for the viewer such as a
cinema presentation.

Non-linear uses interactivity to control progress as

with a video game or self-paced computer based
training. Hypermedia is an example of non-linear
content.
 Application/Usage

Multimedia finds its application in various

areas including, but not limited to:
Advertisements
Art Education
Entertainment
Engineering
Medicine
Mathematics
Business
Scientific research
 Usage

In education, multimedia can be used as a source of

information. Students can search encyclopaedias such
as Encarta, which provide facts on a variety of different
topics using multimedia presentations.

Teachers can use multimedia presentations to make

lessons more interesting by using animations to highlight
or demonstrate key points.
 Usage

A multimedia presentation can also make it easier for

pupils to read text rather than trying to read a teacher’s
writing on the board.

Programs which show pictures and text whilst children

are reading a story can help them learn to read; these too
are a form of multimedia presentation.
 Usage

• Multimedia is used for advertising and selling products

on the Internet.
• Some businesses use multimedia for training where
CD- ROMs or on-line tutorials allow staff to learn at
their own speed, and at a suitable time to the staff and
the company.
• Another benefit is that the company do not have to
pay the additional expenses of an employee
attending a course away from the workplace.
 Usage

People use the Internet for a wide range of reasons,

including shopping and finding out about their hobbies.

The Internet has many multimedia elements embedded

in web pages and web browsers support a variety of
multimedia formats.

Many computer games use sound tracks, 3D graphics

and video clips.
 Usage

Computer-Based Training Teaching Aid

 Usage

References Entertainment
 Usage

Simulation Virtual Reality

 Usage

Virtual Surgery Information Kiosk

 Advantages of using
Multimedia

  It is very user-friendly. It doesn’t take much energy out

of the user, in the sense that you can sit and watch the
presentation, you can read the text and hear the audio.

  It is multi sensorial. It uses a lot of the user’s senses

while making use of multimedia, for example hearing,
seeing and talking.
 Advantages of using
Multimedia

  It is integrated and interactive. All the different

mediums are integrated through the digitisation
process. Interactivity is heightened by the possibility of
easy feedback.

  It is flexible. Being digital, this media can easily be

changed to fit different situations and audiences.
 Advantages of using
Multimedia

  It can be used for a wide variety of audiences, ranging

from one person to a whole group.
 Disadvantages of using
Multimedia

  Information overload. Because it is so easy to use, it

can contain too much information at once.

  It takes time to compile. Even though it is flexible, it

takes time to put the original draft together.
 Disadvantages of using
Multimedia

  It can be expensive. As mentioned in one of my

previous posts, multimedia makes use of a wide range
of resources, which can cost you a large amount of
money.

  Too much makes it unpractical. Large files like video

and audio has an effect of the time it takes for your
presentation to load. Adding too much can mean that
you have to use a larger computer to store the files.
 Hypertext and Hypermedia

Hypertext is a text which contains links to

other texts. The term was invented by
Ted Nelson around 1965.
 Hypertext and Hypermedia

Information is linked and cross-referenced

in many different ways and is widely
available to end users.

Hypertext means a link in which

information (text) has been organized
nonlinearly.
 Hypertext and Hypermedia

  A link is defined by source and

destination nodes, and by an anchor in
the source node.
  Two types of link:
 Internal link

 External link
Hypertext and Hypermedia
 Hypertext and Hypermedia

Hypermedia is not constrained to be text-

based. It can include other media, e.g.,
graphics, images, and especially the
continuous media – sound and video.
Hypertext and Hypermedia
 Characteristics of
Hypermedia
  It must be possible to use hypermedia both for
writing and reading information.
  The information comprises non-sequential
structures, and may thus be followed along
alternative paths.
  The information must follow natural
associations from one information unit to
another.
  The information may be hierarchically
structured.
 Characteristics of
Hypermedia
  Each information unit is presented in a
separate on-screen window.
  It must be possible to share the information or
parts of it among several users.
  It must be possible to have several people
working against the database at the same
time.
  The information resides in a database.
 Delivering Multimedia

  Multimedia can be delivered using

 Optical disk (CD-based)

 Over a distributed network (Web-

based)
 Delivering Multimedia

Optical Disks

  The most cost-effective

method of delivery for
multimedia materials.
 These devices are used to
store large amounts of some
combination of text, graphics,
sound, and moving video.
 Delivering Multimedia

Optical Disks

Media Storage
Compact Disc (CD) 700MB
Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) 4.7GB
Bluray Disc (BD) 27GB
 Delivering Multimedia

Distributed Network

  Suitable for web-based

content eg. website
  Files need to be compress
before transfer
 Delivering Multimedia

Web-based CD-based
Limited in picture size and Can store high end
low video resolution Multimedia elements
Can be changes, Can be permanently
damaged or deleted by stored and not
irresponsible individuals changeable
Information can be Information can be quickly
updated easily and outdated
cheaper
 Stages of Multimedia Application
Development

• Planning and Costing

• Designing and Producing
• Testing
• Delivering
 Careers in Multimedia

• Executive Producer/Production • Graphic Designer

Manager
• Animation Specialist
• Multimedia Director/Architect • Audio Specialist
• Art Director • Sound Engineer
• Interface Designer • Video Specialist
• Interactive Scriptwriter/Editors • Videographer
• Content Specialist/Instructional • Computer Programmer
Specialist
• Web Master
• Support Positions
 Multimedia Skills

• Who are Multimedia Developers?

Computer science experts
Graphic artists
Literary artists
Film and audio specialists
 Multimedia system

• A Multimedia System is a system capable of processing multimedia

data and applications.
• A Multimedia System is characterized by
processing,
Storage
 Generation
 Manipulation and
Rendition/ delivery of Multimedia information.
 Characteristics of a Multimedia System

• Multimedia system has four basic characteristics:

Multimedia systems must be computer controlled.
 Multimedia systems are integrated.
The information they handle must be represented digitally.
The interface to the final presentation of media is usually
interactive.
 Challenges for Multimedia Systems

• Distributed Networks
• Temporal relationship between data
 Render different data at same time - continuously.
 Sequencing within the media - playing frames in correct order/time frame in video
 Synchronization - inter-media scheduling
• Example: Video and Audio - Lip synchronization is clearly important for humans to
watch playback of video and audio and even animation and audio.
 Key Issues for Multimedia Systems
• The key issues multimedia systems need to deal with here are:
How to represent and store temporal information.
 How to strictly maintain the temporal relationships on play
back/retrieval
What processes are involved in the above
Data has to represent digitally – Analog to Digital Conversion,
Sampling etc.
Large Data Requirements — bandwidth, storage
Remark: Data compression is usually mandatory in multimedia
systems.
 Desirable Features for a Multimedia System
• Given the above challenges the following feature a desirable (if not a prerequisite) for a Multimedia
System:
• Very High Processing Power - needed to deal with large data processing and real time delivery of media.
Special hardware commonplace.
• Multimedia Capable File System - needed to deliver real-time media example Video or Audio Streaming.
• Special Hardware/Software needed – example: RAID technology.
• Data Representations - File Formats that support multimedia should be easy to handle yet allow for
compression or decompression in real-time.
• Efficient and High I/O- input and output to the file subsystem needs to be efficient and fast. It needs to
allow for real-time recording as well as playback of data. Example: Direct to Disk recording systems.
• Special Operating System – used to allow access to file system and process data efficiently and quickly. It
needs to support direct transfers to disk, real-time scheduling, fast interrupt processing, I/O streaming etc.
• Storage and Memory- it needs large storage units (of the order of hundreds of TB if not more) and large
memory (several GB or more). Large Caches also required and high speed buses for efficient management.
• Network Support - Client-server systems common as distributed systems common.
• Software Tools - user friendly tools needed to handle media, design and develop applications, deliver
media.
 Components of a Multimedia System
• Hardware and Software required for a multimedia system:
• Capture devices - Video Camera, Video Recorder, Audio Microphone,
Keyboards, mice, graphics tablets, 3D input devices, tactile sensors, VR devices.
Digitizing Hardware
• Storage Devices - Hard disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROM, etc
• Communication Networks - Local Networks, Intranets, Internet, Multimedia
or other special high speed networks.
• Computer Systems- Multimedia Desktop machines, Workstations,
MPEG/VIDEO/DSP Hardware
• Display Devices- CD-quality speakers, HDTV, SVGA, Hi-Res monitors, Color
printers etc.
Multimedia System Architecture
End of Chapter 1