MULTIMEDIA

Q1. Explain the types of multimedia authoring

system.
ANS. Multimedia Authoring Tool is a development
environment where one can merge a number of media
into a single application. Typically a multimedia
presentation contains at least one of the following
elements:
Video or movie clip
Animation
Sound (this could be a voice-over, background music or
sound clips)
Image
Authoring systems can also be defined as process of
creating multimedia application.
Multimedia authoring tools provide the framework for
organizing and editing the elements of a multimedia
project.
Types of multimedia authoring system:
1. Icon based authoring system
Each part is represented an icon (symbolic picture).
Each icon does a specific task, e.g. plays a sound.
Icons are then linked together to form complete
applications.
Can easily visualize the structure and navigation of the
final application.

2. Dedicated authoring system

Dedicated authoring systems are designed for a single
user consisting of single track for playback.
In the case of dedicated authoring system, users need
not to be experts in multimedia or a professional
artist.
Dedicated authoring systems are extremely simple
since they provide drag and drop concept.
It does not provide effective presentation due to single
stream.
 Examples of Dedicated authoring systems are Paint,
MS PowerPoint etc.

3. Telephone Authoring Systems

There is an application where the phone is linking into
multimedia electronic mail application.
Telephone can be used as a reading device by
providing full text to-speech synthesis capability.
The phone can be used for voice command input for
setting up and managing voice mail messages.
Digitized voice clips are captured via the phone and
embedded in electronic mail messages.
As the capability to recognize continuous speech is
deployed, phones can be used to create electronic
mail.

4. Programmable authoring system

Structured authoring tools were not able to allow the
authors to express automatic function for handling
certain routine tasks.
 But, programmable authoring system has improved in
providing powerful functions based on image
processing and analysis and embedding program
interpreters to use image processing functions. E.g.
Visual Basic, Net beans, Visual Studio

5. Timeline Based Authoring

It has an ability to develop an application like movie.
It can create complex animations and transitions.
All the tracks can be played simultaneously carrying
different data.
Best to use when you have a message with a
beginning and an end.
Played back at a speed that you can set.
Other elements (such as audio events) are triggered at
a given time or location in the sequence of events.
Jumps to any location in a sequence.
Example of Timeline Based Authoring system is Flash
software.
Q2. Discuss the difference among multimedia,
interactive multimedia, hypertext and
hypermedia.
ANS. MULTIMEDIA
Derived from the word “Multi” and “Media”
Multi
• Many, Multiple,
Media
• Distribution tool & information presentation – text,
graphic, voice, images, music and etc.
Multimedia is a combination of text, graphic,
sound, animation, and video that is delivered
interactively to the user by electronic or digitally
manipulated means.

Components of Multimedia
1. Text
Characters are used to form words, phrases, and
 paragraphs in the text.
Text appears in all multimedia creations of some kind.
The text can be in a variety of fonts and sizes to match
the multimedia software’s professional presentation.
Text in multimedia systems can communicate specific
information or serve as a supplement to the
information provided by the other media.

2. Graphics
Non-text information, such as a sketch, chart, or
photograph, is represented digitally.
Graphics add to the appeal of the multimedia
application.
In many circumstances, people dislike reading big
amounts of material on computers.
As a result, pictures are more frequently used than
words to clarify concepts, offer background
information, and so on.

3. Animations
 A sequence of still photographs is being flipped
through.
It’s a set of visuals that give the impression of
movement.
Animation is the process of making a still image appear
to move.
A presentation can also be made lighter and more
appealing by using animation.
In multimedia applications, the animation is quite
popular.
The following are some of the most regularly used
animation viewing programs: Fax Viewer, Internet
Explorer, etc.

4. Video
The term video refers to a moving image that is
accompanied by sound, such as a television picture.
Of course, text can be included in videos, either as
captioning for spoken words or as text embedded in
an image, as in a slide presentation.
 The following programs are widely used to view videos:
Real Player, Window Media Player, etc.

5. Audio
Any sound, whether it’s music, conversation, or
something else.
Sound is the most serious aspect of multimedia,
delivering the joy of music, special effects, and other
forms of entertainment.
Decibels are a unit of measurement for volume and
sound pressure level.
Audio files are used as part of the application context
as well as to enhance interaction.
Audio files must occasionally be distributed using plug-
in media players when they appear within online
applications and webpages.
MP3, WMA, Wave, MIDI, and RealAudio are examples
of audio formats.
The following programs are widely used to view videos:
Real Player, Window Media Player, etc.
INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Interactive media, also called interactive multimedia.
Computer-delivered electronic system that allows the
user to control, combine, and manipulate different
types of media, such as text, sound, video, computer
graphics, and animation.
Interactive media integrate computer, memory
storage, digital (binary) data, telephone, television,
and other information technologies.
Their most common applications include training
programs, video games, electronic encyclopaedias,
and travel guides.

Types
1. Distributed interactive media
The media which allows several geographically remote
users to interact synchronously with the media
application/system is known as Distributed
Interactive Media.
Some common examples of this type of Media include
 Online Gaming, Distributed Virtual Environment,
Whiteboards which are used for interactive
conferences and many more.

2. Commercial interactive media

Interactive medias assist in commercial ventures, such
as those incorporating media using virtual and
augmented technologies.
Virtual tours is one demonstrated way in which
interactive media is able to meet commercial needs
and provide alternative revenue for business.
Studies show that through the use of immersive,
interactive media business are expected greater
marketing impacts.

3. Informational interactive media

Media in which information is provided in interactive
means.
An example would be Geographic Information
Systems, like those built upon the ArcGIS framework
 which provides users with the means to interact with
locational data in various ways such as collecting,
storing and manipulating.

HYPERTEXT
It refers to the system of managing the information
related to the plain text.
It involves only text.
It becomes a part of the link.
It is the part of hypermedia.
It allows the user to traverse through text in a non-
linear fashion.
It allows users to move from one document to another
in a single click.
The user can click on the hypertext or the ‘goto’ links.
It helps the user move to the next document.
It also helps the user move from one page of a
document to the other page.
It doesn’t provide a great user experience to the user.
HYPERMEDIA
It refers to connecting the hypertext with media such
as graphics, sounds, and animations.
It involves graphics, image, video, and audio.
It can be understood as the improved version of
hypertext.
Text with multimedia is a part of the link.
It allows the user to click on the text or any other
multimedia to move from one page to another page.
It gives flexibility of movement.
It attracts more number of users.
It provides a better user experience.
Example includes reading an article on a website, and
click on an image takes the user to its associated
page.

Q3. Write a short note on:

(a) Components of MIDI
MIDI:-
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) is a
technical protocol that governs the interaction of
digital instruments with computers and with each
other.
MIDI contains information about the pitch, velocity,
notation and control signals for different musical
parameters such as vibration, volume, etc.
It also contains information for an instrument to start
and stop a specific note.
Each MIDI command has its own unique sequence of
bytes.

Components:
1. Synthesizer:
This is the device that plays the midi soundtrack.
It can either be a software synthesizer or a real midi
compatible instrument.
2. Sequencer:
A sequencer takes in Midi data(via a sequence) and
commands different instruments to play the notes.
It arranges events according to start time, duration
and channel to be played on.

3. Channel:
Midi supports upto 16 different channels.
We can send off a midi event to any of those channels
which are later synchronized by the sequencer.

4. Track:
It is a sequence of Midi events.

5. Sequence:
It is a data structure containing multiple tracks and
timing information.
The sequencer takes in a sequence and plays it.

(b) MORPHING :
Morphing is an animation function which is used to
 transform object shape from one form to another is
called Morphing.
It is one of the most complicated transformations.
This function is commonly used in movies, cartoons,
advertisement, and computer games.
The Word "Morphing" comes from the word
"metamorphosis" which means change shape,
appearance or form.
Morphing is done by coupling image warping with
colour interpolation.
Morphing is the process in which the source image is
gradually distorted and vanished while producing
the target image.
So earlier images in the sequence are similar to source
image and last images are similar to target image.
Middle image of the sequence is the average of the
source image and the target image.

(c) FLASH:
 Flash is an abbreviation for flash memory.
Flash, also known as Adobe Flash is a multimedia
graphic software that is used to create animations.
The animations are made for so many purposes, for
example, movies, games, desktop presentations,
web applications, etc.
Flash is compatible with all web browsers and is one of
the most popular technologies on the internet.
It was created by Macromedia, and initially, it was
created for web applications only.

Q4. What is digital video? Explain the use of

digital video in developing multimedia
applications.
ANS. DIGITAL VIDEO
Digital video is an electronic representation of moving
visual images (video) in the form of encoded digital
data.
This is in contrast to analog video, which represents
 moving visual images in the form of analog signals.
Digital video is audio and video mixed together to
make a production. the data gathered used to create
a video, rather than a series of photos put together.
Digital video can be stored on digital media such as
Blu-ray Disc, on computer data storage, or streamed
over the Internet to end users who watch content on
a desktop computer screen or a digital smart TV.
Today, digital video content such as TV shows and
movies also include a digital audio soundtrack.
Digital video have many advantages such as easy
copying, multicasting, easy sharing and storage.
Video recorded on tape is used on a computer on
media player.
The uses of digital video:
1. Home:
Digital video is so easy to shoot, edit, and store that it
is quickly becoming the popular choice for home
video use.
 People can download their video right onto their
computers, compress the files, and burn them on
DVD, it is fast, easy, and convenient, so you will see
much more home videos, from baby's first steps, to
Christmas.

2. Fun:
Digital video is fun, and because of its ease of use
people use it to shoot silly clips, short videos, etc.
People use it to ask friends to dances, to record
sporting events, and all sorts of other things like this.

3. Education:
Many classrooms now use digital video to show
students things they can't experience in the
classroom.
For example, the teacher of a science class may visit a
sewage processing plant and record the process,
then bring the video back and play it in class to teach
students.
 It is also used to record classes and post them online
for those who missed class and do not want to get
behind.

4. Weddings:
Digital video is easier to edit, and thus the wedding
videographers are turning to it as they make video of
your special day.