Chapter

Introduction to Multimedia
1
1.1 WHAT IS MULTIMEDIA?
First thing first, let us understand what Multimedia means. Multi means many, i.e., not one,
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more than one. Media means medium to communicate or talk. Now how would a computer
talk to you. It would either create a sound, show a picture or some text on the screen. All
this would be communicated to you by computer using medium like Monitor to show the
text and picture, speaker to broadcast sound. All these mediums of the computer, like
monitor and speaker are collectively called Computer Media.
Now what we make of Multimedia. It is a process by which computer communicates with
you using more than one computer medium like sound, text, graphics, animation or video.
Any two or more combinations from the above can be used and the net result can be
displayed on the monitor screen or transferred to your web or the website which you may
create.
Among the various applications of multimedia are the dazzling effects you can see in most
of the advertisements on the TV. How about Pepsi advertisement of Oh Bubbly. It makes
good use of sound, graphics, and animation. Most of the advertisements which you see
on the TV are the results of computer created animation (using software called Flash,
about which you would be reading in a later chapter) and combinations of pictures shot
by either still or video camera. These pictures are then changed to suit according to needs
using a software called Photoshop, about which too you will read in a later chapter.
A perfect example of Multimedia is the creation of a motion picture called Toy, which was
totally made in the studio using the various animations and live actors. It used live pictures
and merged them with animations and fit in the sound to create an effect which had been
highly appreciated by many. Some time back Japanese made a complete film on
Ramayan, totally animated with Hindi sound.
1.1.1 Advantages of Multimedia
Not comparing with any other media, the major advantages of multimedia are:
• Make the Text more attractive: You can design your multimedia project in such
a way that the text, its readability is enhanced and is easier to read and look. This
can be done by using the various applications of fonts, which are later discussed in
the book.
• Adding Video and Audio: Have you ever wondered why TV is more popular than
Copyright 2015. Laxmi Publications Pvt Ltd.

Radio. Simple, because in TV you can see and hear, whereas in Radio you can

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 2 Introduction to Multimedia

just listen. So by adding both audio and video in your multimedia project, you can
enhance the viewability and hearability of your project.
• Merging of the media: Multimedia is a great way of combining; text, audio, video,
animation, graphics, etc., to make it more attractive not only in seeing but even in
catching your eye on your multimedia project.
• Easier to understand: Multimedia makes it easier to understand the various topics
which you are trying to explain.
• Entertaining while learning: Multimedia is such a process which makes you learn
in a easier and entertaining way.

1.2 COMPONENTS OF MULTIMEDIA

Most multimedia and Web projects must be undertaken in stages. Some stages should
be completed before other stages begin and some stages may be skipped or combined.
Here are the four basic stages in multimedia project:
1.2.1 Planning and Costing
A project always begins with an idea or a need that you refine by outline its messages
and objectives. Identify how you will make each message and objective work within your
authoring system. Before you begin developing, plan what writing skills, graphic art, music,
video and other multimedia expertise will be required. Develop a creative graphic look and
feel, as well as a structure and navigation system that will let the viewer visit the messages
and content. Estimate the time needed to do all elements, and prepare a budget. Work
up a short prototype of proof-of-concept. The more time you spend getting your arms around
your project and defining its content and structure, the faster you can later build it and
less reworking and rearranging will be required midstream.
Make a mental flow of the project before beginning to assemble.
1.2.2 Designing and Producing
Perform each of the planned tasks to create a finished product.
1.2.3 Testing
Always test your programs to make sure they meet the objectives of your project, they
work properly on the intended delivery platforms and they meet the needs of your client or
client user.
1.2.4 Delivering
Package and deliver the project to the end user.
1.2.5 Multimedia Needs
Needless to say that you need a good computer to start with. You also need software to

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 Introduction to Multimedia 3

match it too. Not that since somebody told you to use a particular software, you will use
that. You must use the software with which you are familiar with. This will help you in saving
time and energy.
You also need to stay organized, because as the construction work gets under way, all
the little bits and pieces of multimedia content will get lost under growing piles of paper,
cassettes, videotapes, disks, phone messages, permissions and releases, cookie crumbs,
photocopies and mail. Even in offices, where the floors are swept every morning, you are
bound to loose some important paper which accidentally drops in the night. You must forget
about time management. A project which you estimate to complete in 24 hours would
normally take 48 hours. You will need time in abundance so that you are not racing against
time, which would effect your output. Budgeting is another factor you should look into.
You cannot create a project all alone. It is very difficult though not impossible. You will
need the help of other people. Multimedia is often a team effort: artwork is performed by
graphic artists, video shoots by video producers, sound editing by audio producers and
programming by programmers. You might have to do some dirty work like carrying things
for others.
Let us have a look at the major factors like Hardware and Software. We would however
discuss them in details in a later chapter.
1.2.5.1 Hardware
For all practical purposes we would be talking about PCs in general. This however, does
not rule out the possibility of running the end product on any other computer. It can even
be running on a TV with the help of a television set-top box such as Sega, Nintendo or
Sony.
1.2.5.2 Operating system
When Windows is discussed in this book, it means Windows 95/98/ME/2000. The basic
principles for creating and editing multimedia elements are the same for Apple Macintosh
and PCs. A bitmap is a bitmap, a digitized sound is a digitized sound regardless of the
methods or tools used to make and display it or play it back.
Indeed, many software tools readily convert picture, sound and other multimedia files (and
even whole functioning projects) from Macintosh to Windows format, and vice versa, using
known file formats or even binary compatible files that require no conversion at all. While
there is a lot of talk about platform-independent delivery of multimedia on the Internet, with
every new version of a browser there remain annoying failures on both platforms.
1.2.5.3 Software
Multimedia software tells the hardware what to do. Display the color red. Move that tiger
three leaps to the left. Slide in the words “Now You’ve Done It!” from the right and blink
them on and off. Play the sound of cymbals crashing. Run the digitized movie of Captain
Hook. Turn down the volume on that MP3 file!

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 4 Introduction to Multimedia

You do not have to be a programmer or a computer scientist to make multimedia work for
you, but you do need some familiarity with terms and building blocks; even the simplest
multimedia tools require an iota of knowledge to operate.
If someone sends you a file in Macintosh AIF format, you should know that you’re getting
digitalized sound. Then load up your tools and open the help files’ your learning curve will
be easier to manage because you have the bigger picture.

1.3 WEB AND INTERNET MULTIMEDIA APPLICATIONS

Some time back, a publisher in New Delhi issued Model Test Papers of class XI and XII in
the form of CD-ROMs. You had to put the CD in the computer and it would ask you the
question. You have to replay choosing one of the options given there and the result would
come on the screen immediately. It is another form of training. Though the concept is quite
new in India, but, is catching up fast in other countries.
The teaching method is more and more interactive using the multimedia concepts and
instead of teacher asking the questions the questions are asked by the computer and
students have to reply on the computer itself by pressing various keys. Thus, the result is
compiled on the spot.
1.3.1 Science and Technology
Over the years Multimedia with the help of Internet has taken the Science and Technology
to a new height. An experiment being done in USA can be watched in India. Of course, if
the surgeon allows it to be seen. Similarly all the new information is passed over the
thousands of computers in few seconds, to keep every user know about it. I know of cases
where doctors in India send x-ray and other reports to the corresponding doctors in USA
via Internet and ask for the possible treatments.
The same thing happens in other spheres of research. All the possible research materials
are shared. The most important part which the Multimedia and Internet have given to the
mankind is the communication. It takes hardly few seconds to transfer the sound and
graphics from one part of the world to another.
1.3.2 Kiosks
Kiosks are like booths, wherein you feed the data to get the information. These are very
useful in places like Exhibitions, where you press a button to know where you are. All the
relative informaton about the other places, which you can visit are shown along with maps,
etc. We have one placed at Ashoka Hotel to help tourists know more about Delhi.
Supposing you have to go to Karol Bagh from Ashoka Hotel, it would not just tell you the
distance, but will also tell you the route and how much the Taxi and Scooter would charge.
In other countries similar types are available on railway stations, shopping malls, museums
and grocery stores. These are stand-alone terminals or kiosks to provide information and
help. Such installations reduce demand on traditional information booths and personnel,

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 Introduction to Multimedia 5

add value and they can work round the clock,

even in the middle of the night, when live help is
off duty.
1.3.3 Business
I am quite sure that you must have seen a sales
conference of a company. If not at least must
have heard about it. There the speaker while
talking about the sales has the various charts and
graphs displayed on the board using the overhead
projector. This becomes the part of the sales
display and supports the figures given by the
speaker. The same can now be done using the various facilities of the multimedia with
graphs and sounds. The most common software used here is the presentation software
from Microsoft named as Microsoft PowerPoint.
Multimedia is enjoying widespread use in training programs. The teacher replaces speaker
in the above example. Flight attendants learn to manage international terrorism and security
through simulation. Mechanics learn to repair engines. Sales people learn about product
lines and leave behind software to train their customers. Fighter pilots practice full-terrain
sorties before spooling up for the real thing.
1.3.4 Games
There is no limit to the number of games available in the market for playing on computers.
These games are quite similar to the ones you see in so called Video Parlours. Most of
them are interactive, i.e., they react to what you do or how you play. All of them are part of
multimedia application, since all of them make good use of sound and graphics.

1.4 TRANSITION FROM CONVENTIONAL MEDIA TO DIGITAL MEDIA

Let us now learn about the Computer which you would need to create Multimedia. Not
only computer, you also need software to match it too. You must use the software with
which you are familiar. This will help you in saving time and energy. It is not that you would
see the hardware which is needed now but you would also make mentally sure that the
same would last at least 3 years.
Let us look at the two major factors like Hardware and Software in little details.
1.4.1 Hardware
For all practical purposes we would be talking about Personal Computers in general. This,
however, does not rule out the possibility of running the multimedia product on any other
computer. It can even be running on a TV with the help of a television set-top box such as
Sega, Nintendo or Sony. These are becoming popular overseas though have a little
presence in India.

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 6 Introduction to Multimedia

1.4.2 Software and Operating System

The most important software which a personal computer has, is Operating System. And
the most popular operating system now-a-days is Windows. It is upto you to use the version
which suits you the best since Windows XP is the latest, but other versions like Windows
95/98/ME/2000 are also available in the market.
A graphic is first converted into bitmaps in computer. Sound is converted to digitized sound.
For these whichever tools you use would not make a difference since the end product is
the same. Indeed, many software tools readily convert picture, sound and other multimedia
files (and even whole functioning projects) from Macintosh to Windows format, and vice
versa, using known file formats or even binary compatible files that require no conversion
at all.
Multimedia software tells the hardware what to do. Display the colour red. Move that tiger
three leaps to the left. Slide in the words “Now You’ve Done It!” from the right and blink
them on and off. Play the sound of cannibals crashing. Run the digitized movie of Captain
Hook. Turn down the volume on that MP3 file!
You do not have to be a programmer or a computer scientist to make multimedia work for
you, but you do need some familiarity with terms and building blocks; even the simplest
multimedia tool requires an iota of knowledge to operate. If someone sends you a file in
Macintosh AIF format, you should know that you’re getting digitalized sound. Then load up
your tools and open the help files’ learning curve. It will be easier to manage because you
have the bigger picture.
1.4.3 OCR (Optical Character Recognition) Devices
It is not that you would be typing the text in all the cases. You may enter the text in computer
by scanning it from the matter already available. In fact, while using scanner you can not
even scan the text, but would scan the images too, which can be stored in the computer.
For this you need to have what is called an OCR software, meaning Optical Character
Reader software, which reads all the characters on the image character by character.
OCR software turns bitmapped characters into electronically recognizable ASCII text.
A scanner is typically used to create the bitmap. Then the software breaks the bitmap into
chunks according to whether it contains text or graphics, by examining the texture and
density of areas of the bitmap and by detecting edges. The text areas of the image are
then converted to ASCII characters using probability and expert system algorithms.
Most OCR applications claim about 99% accuracy when reading 8- to 30-point characters
at 300 dpi and can reach processing speeds of about 150 characters per second. These
programs, however, have difficulty in reading poor copies of originals where the edges of
characters have bled; these and poorly received faxes in small print may yield more
recognition errors than it is worthwhile to correct after the attempted recognition.

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 Introduction to Multimedia 7

1.4.4 Touch-Screen
A touch screen registers input when a finger or other object comes in beams and ultrasonic
acoustic waves. Infrared beams criss-cross the surface of the screen and when a light
beam is broken, that location is recorded. It is widely used as Kiosks as mentioned earlier
in this chapter.
1.4.5 Scanners
Whereas a keyboard, mouse or trackball requires manual input of data, scanners allow
input of printed data. A scanner reads text, photographs and graphics from paper which
are then converted into bit patterns for processing, storage or output. Scanner is a device
that examines a spatial pattern one part after another and generates analog or digital signals
corresponding to the pattern. Scanners are often used in mark sensing, pattern recognition
or character recognition. Practically scanner uses light for examining the spatial patterns.
In a scanner, as the image is scanned, it is converted into light and dark picture elements,
or pixels, similar to newspaper photo. Colour scanners can assign a specific colour to a
pixel. The pixel are then stored as bit patterns. This technique makes the images usable
by word processing, desktop publishing, and graphic packages.
There are two types of scanners, Hand-held scanner and Flat-bed scanner.
1.4.6 Hand-Held Scanner
These devices read data on price tags, shipping labels, inventory part number, book ISBNs,
and the like. Hand-held scanner, sometimes called wand scanners, use either contact or
laser technology.
It has a set of light emitting diodes. It is placed over the material
to be scanned and slowly dragged from the top to the bottom.
The light emitted by the diodes is not reflected by black lines and
is reflected by whole areas. The material is converted and stored
in a bitmap.
Typical applications are to store images and reproduce them in
publications.
1.4.7 Flat-bed Scanner
It consists of a box with glass plate on top, which is used
for placing the document to be scanned. The light beam
is situated below the glass plate and is moved from left
to right horizontally. After scanning one line the beam
moves up little and scans the next line.
The scanner can also store colour images.

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 8 Introduction to Multimedia

1.4.8 Digital Cameras

In recent years, source-data automation has expanded to allow the direct entry of graphic
information, as well as text-based information via scanners.
In a process called imaging, a scanner converts a drawing,
a picture, or any document into computer-recognizable form
by shinning a light on the image and sensing the intensity of
the reflection at each point of the image.
That is, the hard-copy image is translated into an electronic
format that can be interpreted by and stored on computers.
The electronic version of the image can then be stored,
probably on disk, and reproduced on the screen when
needed. The image to be stored can be handwritten notes, a photograph, a drawing, an
insurance form—anything that can be digitized. Once an image has been digitized and
entered to the computer system, it can be retrieved, displayed, altered, merged with text,
stored, and sent via data communications to one or several remote locations.
Businesses find imaging particularly useful for documents, since they can view an exact
replica of the original document at any time. Professional photo agencies are the another
area where imaging is useful. Here the film that was shot with a conventional camera is
processed onto optical disk instead of prints or slides. Professional photo agencies keep
thousands of images on file, ready to be leased for a fee. Typically a couple of dozen
small-size images can be displayed on the screen at one time; a particular image can be
enlarged to full screen size with a click of a mouse button.
A digital camera can store many more pictures than an ordinary camera. Pictures taken
using a digital camera are stored inside its memory and can be transferred to a computer
by connecting the camera to it. A digital camera takes pictures by converting the light
passing through the lens at the front into a digital image. It does that by using a grid of tiny
light sensors which convert the light that is falling on them into binary patterns of 0s and
1s. Different binary patterns are used to represent the different colours and shades of
light that make up a picture. Pictures taken using a digital camera can be easily saved
and transferred from one computer to another where they can be edited using special
graphics software.
Some digital camera can also capture short clips of moving images but for longer video
clips a digital video camera is needed. However, both of these types of camera are still
quite expensive.
1.4.9 Speakers
Computers can output music, voices and many other complicated sounds using speakers.
To be able to output sound a computer needs a special circuit board inside it called a
sound card. Most PCs have at least one small speaker built into them which generates
sound from the audio input signal generated by the sound card.

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 Introduction to Multimedia 9

The quality and volume of the sound produced can be improved by connecting external
speakers into a port at the back of the computer. Headphones can also be attached to
this port so that any sound can only be heard by the person using the computer.
1.4.10 Printers
They are hardcopy output devices and can be divided into two distinct categories:
1. Impact Printers
2. Non-impact Printers
1.4.11 Impact Printers
A printer in which printing is the result of mechanically striking the printing medium is an
impact printer. An impact printer makes contact with the paper to produce an image. The
impact may be produced by a print hammer character, like that of a typewriter key striking
a ribbon against the paper or by a print hammer hitting paper and ribbon against a
character.
An impact printer must be used if printing a multiple copy report so that the duplicate copies
will receive the imprint.
Impact printers are of following types:
1.4.11.1 Dot-Matrix printer
In Dot Matrix Printer the individual characters are formed by a matrix of wires or styluses.
Dot-matrix printers are also called serial
printers. The images are formed by a print
head that is composed of a series of little
print hammers that look like the heads of
pins. The print head usually has nine pins
or 24 pines. The bottom 2 pins are used to
form the descenders of lower case letters
viz., p, q, g and y. Many expensive dot-matrix printers do not provide descenders, but print
quality is improved when they are used.
1.4.11.2 Daisywheel printers
A serial impact printer in which the
printing element is a plastic hub that has
a large number of flexible radial spokes,
each spoke having one or more different
raised printing characters. The wheel is
rotated as it is moved horizontally step by
step under computer control, and stops
when a desired character is in a desired
print position so a hammer can drive that character against an inked ribbon.

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 10 Introduction to Multimedia

Daisy Wheel Printers are slower than dot-matrix printers, but they produce a high-resolution
output. This high-resolution output is often called letter quality printing because it is suitable
for business letters and memos. You can print in as many type fonts or foreign languages
on a daisywheel printer as there are print wheels to fit your particular model of machine.
It is also called as a smart printer because of its bi-directional printing and built-in
microprocessor control features.
1.4.11.3 Line printers
It prints an entire line in a single operation without necessarily printing one character at a
time. These are generally electro-mechanical devices which print complete lines of print
up to 160 characters in width, at speeds about 300 to 2000 lines per minute. Line printers
are used primarily in the mini/mainframe processing environment. Examples of line-at-a-
time impact printers are:
1. Chain Printers
2. Band Printers and
3. Drum Printers
Chain Printers: It is a high-speed printer in which the type are carried by the links of a
revolving chain. As the characters on the print chain revolve in a horizontal loop, a desired
character eventually aligns in a given column. At this instant, the hammer strikes the paper
forcing the page into the inked ribbon and the ribbon against the character thus creating
the desired symbol on the print page. The chain is cycled continuously until a complete
print line has been formed. The print page is then advanced one line and the process is
repeated.
Band Printers: On a band printer, several similar sets of fully formed characters are
embossed on a horizontal band that is continuously moving in front of the print hammers.
In band printer, the paper is momentarily stopped and, as the desired character passes
over a given column, the hammer activates, pressing the ribbon against the paper to form
the image.
It is a line printer that uses band of type characters as its printing mechanism.
Drum printers or (Barrel Printers): A printer in which all the characters for printing are
placed round the surface of a cylinder (the barrel), the entire character set being placed
round the cylinder at each print position. Print hammers opposite each print position can
be activated by the computer striking the paper and bringing it in contact with a continuous
ink ribbon between the paper and the surface of the barrel. The barrel rotates at high speed,
the appropriate character being selected as it reaches a position immediately opposite
the print hammers.
A drum printer uses 80 or more character sets embossed on a cylindrical drum. A separate
hammer for each character set forces the print page into an inked ribbon and the character
when the character aligns at the print position.

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 Introduction to Multimedia 11

A complete line of output is printed for each revolution of the drum since all the characters
in each set pass their print stations during revolution.
1.4.12 Non-Impact Printers
Printers that do not strike characters against ribbon or paper when they print, are non-
impact printers. Example of non-impact printers include:
1. Ink-jet printers
2. Laser printers
These printers make much less noise than impact printers. If you are using a non-impact
printer, do not try to print on multiple-part carbon forms: because no impact is being made
on the paper, you will end up with no copies.
1.4.12.1 Ink-jet printers
It uses a technique of projecting droplets of ink at paper to form the required image. Ink-
jet printer creates an image directly on paper by
spraying ink through as many as 64 tiny nozzles.
It provides a print resolution of around 360 dots
per inch.
1.4.12.2 Laser printers
The physical properties of LASERS (Light
Amplification by Stimulate Emission of Radiation)
allows for the very precise positioning of narrow
beam of light, transferring a high energy source
to a very small area. This property is used to
control printing, i.e., laser printers, to read information from bar codes and to read and
write information in optical storage devices.
Laser printer is a non-impact printer that creates, by means of a laser beam directed on
a photosensitive surface, a latent image which is then made visible by a toner and
transferred and fixed on paper.
A separate computer is built into the printer to
interpret the data that it receives from the
computer and to control the laser. Just as
electron gun in a graphic monitor can target
any pixel, the laser in a laser printer can aim
at any point on a drum creating an electrical
charge.
Toner which is composed of tiny particles of
oppositely charged ink, sticks to the drum in
the places the laser has charged. Thus, with

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 12 Introduction to Multimedia

pressure and heat, the toner is transferred off the drum to paper. Also laser printers contain
special memory to store the images they print. The resolution of laser printers is 600 DPI
both horizontally and vertically; some high-end models have resolution of 1200 DPI.
1.4.13 Plotters
It is an output unit that directly produces a hard copy record of data on a removable medium,
in the form of a two-dimensional graphic representation. Plotters are designed to produce
large drawings or images such as construction plans for buildings or blueprints for
mechanical objects.
There are two major types of pen plotters:
1. Flatbed plotters
2. Drum plotters
1.4.13.1 Flatbed plotters
It uses a bed or tray to hold paper in a fixed position. A movable pen is usually held by a
single arm that can move the pen both horizontally and vertically. The computer instructs
the flatbed plotter by directing the pen to x-y position on the page.
1.4.13.2 Drum plotter
It has a single arm that can only move across the drum horizontally. The drum itself moves
the paper forward or backward to enable the pen to draw in any vertical direction. Any
type of diagonal line is drawn by combining a horizontal movement of the pen arm with a
vertical page movement via the drum.
Drum plotters are used to produce continuous output, such as plotting earthquake activity,
or for long graphic output, such as the structural view of a ‘skyscraper’.
1.4.14 Optical Disks and Drivers as CDROM and DVD
Introduced in 1980 for stereo buffs, the extraordinarily successful compact disk, is an optical
disk designed to enhance the reproduction of recorded music. To make a CD recording,
the analog sounds of music are translated into their digital equivalents and stored on a
5.25 inches optical disk. In fact, anything that
can be digitized can be stored on optical disk:
data, text, voice, still pictures, music, graphics,
and video.
CD-ROM (Compact disk-read only memory) a
spinoff of audio CD technology, is created at a
mastering facility, just as audio CDs are created
at a recording studio. The master copy is
duplicated or “pressed” at the studio to distribute
large amounts of data, such as an online
encyclopedia or multimedia presentations.

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 Introduction to Multimedia 13

Computer programs and associated user manuals are often distributed on CD-ROMs video
sequences and library references are also recorded for educational applications.
Since CD-ROMs have the capacity to hold lots of high-quality images, this type of storage
is well suited for structural drawings used by architects and engineers. Unlike an audio
CD player, however, a CD-ROM drive is nearly devoid of buttons and LCD readouts,
excepts for a button to load and unload a disk and few lights to tell you when the drive is
reading a disk or playing music. The drive is controlled by a software in your PC that sends
instructions to controller circuitry that is either a part of the computer’s motherboard or on
a separate board installed in an expansion slot.
Over the year CD-ROM drive performance has improved as the hardware technology
provided faster access speeds. The original single-speed 150 KBps CD-ROM drives are
now considerably obsolete. Double-speed 2x(300 KBps) and quad-speed 4x(600 KBps)
CD-ROM drives currently offer the best performance for the price, with access speeds at
300 msec or less.
Faster drives viz., 6x and 8x (1.2 MBps) are on the drawing board multimedia disks. The
most demanding CD-ROMs of all, are written only for 2x or 4x drives. So going faster
won’t increase the performance of video and audio until multimedia software titles are written
specifically for the faster CD-ROM drives. This is no doubt the latest and the best medium
for storing data.
Though they look very similar to music CDs, so to differentiate from them, the computer
ones are called CD-ROMs. They are round in shape and are about 5" in diameter. Till
recently they used to be Read Only but now writeable CDs are also available with the
relevant drives to write on them. With capacity to write data of about 600 floppies, it has
become very popular over the recent times.
In the form of videodisks or compact disks (CDs), optical disks represent a new trend in
small, high-capacity storage of images and sound. A single optical disk stores nearly 1
GB of data on one side. To put this storage capacity into perspective, an optical disk can
hold 800 television quality images or 60 minutes of high fidelity music.
The explosive growth in storage needs has driven the computer industry to provide cheaper,
more versatile storage devices with greater capacity. New storage technologies using
optical disks exceed the storage capacities currently available with magnetic disks of the
same size. Optical storage techniques used by computers are basically the same as those
used to record music on compact disks.
Optical disks differ from magnetic disk storage by the way data is stored and read from
the storage media. A laser beam is used to write and read data on these reflective disks,
so they are also known as laser disks. In this technology a laser hits a layer of metallic
material spread over the surface of a disk. When data is being entered heat from the laser
produces tiny spots on the disk surface. To read the data, the laser scans the disk, and a
lens picks up different light reflections from the various spots.

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 14 Introduction to Multimedia

Optical disks are becoming a very inviting option for users. They are less sensitive to
environmental fluctuations, and they provide more direct-access storage at a cost that is
much less per megabyte of storage than the magnetic disk alternative.
Optical disk technology is still emerging and has yet to stabilize; however, at present there
are three different types of optical disks in common use:
1. read-only
2. recordable, and
3. erasable.
1.4.15 Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)
Nine major electronics companies (Toshiba, Matsushita, Sony, Philips, Time Warner,
Pioneer, JVC, Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric) have agreed to formulate optical disc
technology for distribution of multimedia and feature-length movies called DVD, as per
the following specifications.

DVD Features DVD Specifications

Disc diameter 120 mm (5 inches)
Disc thickness 1.2 mm (0.6 mm thick disc x 2)
Memory capacity 4.7 gigabytes/single side
Track pitch 0.74 micrometer
Wave length of laser diode 650 nanometer/635 nanometer
Numerical aperture (NA) 0.6
Error correction RS-PC (Reed Solomon Product Code)
Signal modulation 8-16
Data transfer rate Variable speed data transfer at an average rate of 4.69 mega
bits/second for image and sound
Image compression MPEG2 digital image compression
Audio Dolby AC-3 (5.1 ch), LPCM for NTSC and MPEG Audio,
LPCM for PAL/SECAM (a maximum of 8 audio channels and
32 subtitle channels can be stored)
Running time (movies) 133 minutes a side (at an average data rate of 4.69 mega
bits/second for image and sound, including three audio
channels and four subtitle channels)
File management structure Micro UDF and ISO-9660

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 Introduction to Multimedia 15

With the new medium capable not only of gigabyte storage capacity but also full-motion
video (MPEG2) and high-quality audio in surround sound, the bar has again risen for
multimedia developers. Commercial multimedia projects will become more expensive to
produce as consumers’ performance expectations rise. There are two types of DVD-DVD
Video and DVD-ROM; these reflect marketing channels, not the technology.
DVD can provide 720 pixels per horizontal line, whereas current televisions (NTSC) provide
240 — television pictures will be sharper and more detailed. With Dolby AC-3 Digital
Surround Sound as part of the specification, six discrete subwoofer channel, developers
can program the low-frequency doom and gloom music popular with Hollywood. DVD also
supports Dolby Pro-Logic Surround Sound, standard stereo and mono audio.
Users can randomly access any section of the disc and use the slow-motion and freeze-
frame features during movies. Audio tracks can be programmed for as many as 8 different
languages, with graphic subtitles in 32 languages. Some manufacturers such as Toshiba
are already providing parental control features in their players.
1.4.16 Multimedia Networks
There are five basic types of communication network that are used to provide multimedia
communication services:
1. Telephone networks
2. Data networks
3. Broadcast television networks
4. Integrated services digital networks
5. Broadband multiservice networks.
As the name signifies, the first three network types were initially designed to provide just
a single type of service: telephony, data communications and broadcast television
respectively. The last two network types, however, were designed from the outset to provide
multiple services. In the case of the first three network types, the technological
developments have enabled them to provide additional services.
1.4.16.1 Telephone networks
Public switched telephone networks have been in existence for many years and have gone
through many changes during this time. They were designed to provide a basic switched
telephone service which, with the advent of the other network types, has become known
as a plain old telephone service or POTS.
The term “switched” is used to indicate that a subscriber can make a call to any other
telephone that is connected to the total network. Initially, such networks spanned just a
single country but later the telephone networks of different countries were interconnected
so that they now provide an international switched service.

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 16 Introduction to Multimedia

1.4.16.2 Data networks

Data networks were designed to provide basic data communication services such as
electronic mail (e-mail) and general file transfers. The user equipment connected to these
networks, therefore, is computer such as a PC, a workstation, or an e-mail/file server.
The two most widely deployed networks of this type are the X.25 network and the Internet.
Because of its operational mode, however, the X.25 network is restricted to relatively low
bit rate data applications and hence is unsuitable for most multimedia applications.
1.4.16.3 Broadcast television networks
Broadcast television networks were designed to support the diffusion of analog television
(and radio) program throughout wide geographical areas. In the case of a large town or
city, the broadcast medium is normally a cable distribution network while for larger areas,
a satellite network or sometimes terrestrial broadcast network is used.
Since their introduction, digital television services have become available with these
networks which, together with a low bit rate return channel for interaction purposes, provide
a range of additional services such as games playing and home shopping.
1.4.16.4 Integrated services digital networks
Integrated services digital networks started to be deployed in the early 1980s and were
originally designed to provide PSTN users with the capability of having additional services.
This was achieved firstly, by converting the access circuits that connect user equipment
to the network — a telephone for example — into an all-digital form and secondly, by
providing two separate communication channels over these circuits.
These allow users either to have two different telephone calls in progress simultaneously
or two different calls such as a telephone call and a data call.
1.4.16.5 Broadband multiservice networks
Broadband multiservice networks were designed in the mid-1980s for use as public
switched networks to support a wide range of multimedia communication applications.
The term broadband was used to indicate the circuits associated with a call could have
bit rates in excess of the maximum bit rate of 2 Mbps — 30x64 kbps — provided by an
ISDN.
As such, they were designed to be an enhanced ISDN and hence were called broadband
integrated services digital networks or B-ISDN. Also, for the same reason, an ISDN is
sometimes referred to as narrowband ISDN or N-ISDN.

1.5 TRANSITION FROM CONVENTIONAL MEDIA TO DIGITAL MEDIA

We have the music all around us. Even the animals sometimes make sound in the form
of music. Though of the birds are known to have musical notes. Their sound, specially
made in the morning, is very pleasing to the ears. You can hear music from various types

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 Introduction to Multimedia 17

of speakers, attached to your Tape recorders, TV, or even to the music station. When a
music is coming out of the speakers the surrounding atmospheric air is actually
compressed or decompressed at various rates depending up on the source signal, and
this process carries the sound through the media from the source to the destination.
Without going into the various frequency details at this stage, it can be said that at any
point of time, only two states can be represented by computer, viz., low level (zeros) and
high level (ones). These signals are called digital signals. When the original analog light
waves of an image or sound waves of a sound are sampled and converted to binary digits
is called digitization. Traditional multimedia systems us specialized equipment that records
sounds and graphics in an analog format such as cassette tapes, records, or video
cassette tapes. Analog equipment relies on waves to record information such as sounds
or video. Technology has changed the hardware used to develop multimedia from the
traditional analog equipment tocomputer-based or digital multimedia systems. Digital
systems sample analog waves and convert them into a series of numbers, 0s and 1s
(digital) for processing by a computer.

LET US REVISE

1. Multimedia combines text, sound and video to give multimedia projects.

2. Hypertext is where the text of the document is linked in between for an easy access.
3. Hypergraphics allows students to easily interact with their teachers.
4. Animation is created using frames and running them.
5. Multimedia is quite widely used for teaching and training.
6. Technology has used text and graphics to make communication easy.
7. Multimedia is used to create Kiosks.
8. Multimedia is widely used to create Games.
9. Personal Computers are mainly used for creating multimedia applications.
10. Hardware to be used for multimedia should be such that you are not short of memory or hard disk
space.
11. Software used be the one which you are familiar with.
12. Sound files are available in computer under Windows.
13. You can create your own sound and save it in your computer.
14. MIDI means Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
15. Digital format is more in use now.
16. For video you can use available video clips or shoot your own.
17. OCR reads the characters and saves them as text in ASCII format.
18. Touch screen allows you to get information by just touching the screen.
19. There are two types of scanners: Hand-held and Flat-bed.
20. Digital cameras are used to take digital pictures which can be transferred to computers.
21. Speakers can be used to get the sound from the computer.

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 18 Introduction to Multimedia

22. Printers are mainly of two types: Impact and Non-impact.

23. Plotters can be used to plot the information.
24. DVD means Digital Versatile Disc.
25. Among the types of multimedia networks in use are: Telephone networks, Broadcast television
networks, Integrated services digital networks and Broadband multiservice networks.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. Of the following which is not used in Multimedia:

(a) text (b) sound (c) odour
(d) video.
2. In Animation, you run ________ at a very high speed.
(a) frames (b) text (c) sound
(d) food.
3. Hypertext allows you to have _________ from one section to another.
(a) animation (b) anchors (c) games.
4. Multimeida Kiosks are like _________.
(a) Touch screen (b) Keyboard (c) Mouse
(d) Speaker.
5. Video Parlours have multimedia ________.
(a) Text (b) Games.
6. DVD is a :
(a) sound device. (b) optical disk. (c) video device.
7. You can add your own sound to the computer.
(a) Yes. (b) No.
8. For putting the printed text to the computer, besides keyboard, we use:
(a) monitor. (b) mouse. (c) OCR.
9. A touch screen is like a:
(a) Kiosks. (b) Printer. (c) Keyboard.
10. Sound format more in use now-a-days is:
(a) MIDI. (b) Digital.
11. Popular operating system these days is:
(a) DOS. (b) Windows.
12. NTSC is a _________ format.
(a) sound (b) video (c) text
13. CD ROMs are high-density memory devices.
(a) Yes (b) No
14. Data on the CD-ROM will be affected by humidity and dust.
(a) True (b) False
15. Laser beam is used to store data on CD-ROM.
(a) True (b) False

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 Introduction to Multimedia 19

TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS

1. Hypertext is where the text of the document is linked in between for an easy access.
2. Animation is created using frames and running them.
3. Technology has used text and graphics to make communication difficult.
4. Multimedia is widely used to create Games.
5. Hardware to be used for multimedia should be such that you are not short of memory or hard disk
space.
6. Sound files are not available in computer under Windows.
7. MIDI means Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
8. For video you can use available video clips or shoot your own.
9. Touch screen does not allow you to get information by just touching the screen.
10. Digital cameras are used to take digital pictures which can be transferred to computers.
11. Printers are mainly of two types: Impact and Non-impact.
12. DVD means Digital Verify Disc.

MATCHING COLUMNS

Match the matter in Column A with the matter in Column B.

Column A Column B
A. Graphics 1. Combination of more than one media
B. Text 2. High speed printer using laser beam
C. CD-ROM 3. Optical Character Reader
D. Multimedia 4. Public places information provider
E. Laser Printer 5. Line drawing and images
F. OCR 6. Moving images
G. Multimedia Kiosks 7. Alpha numeric characters
H. Animation 8. Optical disk to store data

FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH APPROPRIATE WORDS

a. Graphics b. Microphone c. Multimedia d. OCR

e. Dot Matrix Printer
1. Computer activity where more than one media is involved is called ________________.
2. Printer which uses dots to print characters is called _______________.
3. Sound is recorded through _____________.
4. Text having line drawings and images is called ______________.
5. Device which converts text into computer media is called _______________.

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 20 Introduction to Multimedia

DESCRIPTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What do you understand by Multimedia?

2. Define the terms: Hypertext and Hypergraphics.
3. What is the process of Animation?
4. How is multimedia used in Education and Training?
5. How is multimedia used in Science and Technology?
6. What role does multimedia play in development of games?
7. What is Flight Simulator?
8. What type of Hardware and Software is used for creating Multimedia?
9. What are sound files known as?
10. What is the difference between MIDI and Digital sound formats?
11. What is OCR used for?
12. What is the use of scanners?
13. How is Digital Camera used?
14. Describe the various types of printers used.
15. Describe the various types of multimedia networking used.
16. What is the use of Touch screen?
17. Describe the various types of Optical disks available?
18. Describe the working of speakers.

ANSWERS TO OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

Multiple Choice Questions

1. c 2. a 3. b 4. a
5. b 6. b 7. a 8. c
9. a 10. b 11. b 12. b
13. a 14. b 15. a
True False Questions
1. T 2. T 3. F 4. T
5. T 6. F 7. T 8. T
9. F 10. T 11. T 12. F
Matching Columns
A. 5 B. 7 C. 8 D. 1
E. 2 F. 3 G.. 4 H. 6
Fill in the Blanks with appropriate words
1. c 2. e 3. b 4. a
5. d

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