Introduction to Multimedia Table of Content Definition of

Introduction to Multimedia

Table of Content ◦ Definition of multimedia ◦ Classification of media types ◦ Types of Multimedia ◦ Linear & Non-linear Multimedia Systems ◦ Characteristics of multimedia system ◦ Benefits & Problems with multimedia applications ◦ Multimedia Applications

What is multimedia? ◦ The word multimedia is composed of two parts: the prefix multi and media. ◦ Multi = Plural, more than 1, many ◦ Media = Medium of communication

What is multimedia?

What is multimedia? Definition: Multimedia is the presentation of a computer application incorporating media elements such as text, graphics, animations, audio, and video. Multimedia is any combination of digitally manipulated text, graphics, sound, animation and video. GRAPHIC TEXT VIDEO AUDIO ANIMATION

Classification of media types Time/Space nature Sound Animation Video Continuous or time-based Photo Text Graphics Discrete or space-based Origin Captured from real world Synthesized by computer

Captured Versus Synthesized Media ◦ Captured media refers to information types captured from the real world (e. g. Still pictures, moving pictures, and sound). ◦ Synthesized media refers to information types synthesized by the computers (e. g. Text, graphics and computer animation).

Discrete Versus Continuous Media ◦ Discrete media refers to media involving space dimension only (e. g. Still images, text and graphics). Discrete media is also referred to as static media or non-time-based media or non-temporal (having no relation to time) media. ◦ Continuous (time based) media refers to time-based media (e. g. Sound, moving images, and animation). Continuous media is also referred to as dynamic media or time-based media or temporal media.

Multi-sensory system ◦ According to Dr. Albert Mehrabian, a specialist in interpersonal communication at the University of California, says: People recall 20% of what they see 40% of what they see & hear 70% of what they see, hear & do ◦ Multimedia allows for seeing, hearing and doing (multi-sensory system)

Types of Multimedia 1) Linear multimedia 2) Non-Linear multimedia: a. Interactive multimedia b. Hyperactive multimedia(Hypermedia) 10

Types of Multimedia ◦ Multimedia is linear, when it is not interactive and the users if it is a movie. just sit and watch as ◦ Multimedia is nonlinear , when the users are given the and can browse the contents at will. navigational control ◦ Multimedia is interactive when the end-user is allowed to when the elements are delivered. control what and ◦ Interactive Multimedia is Hypermedia , when the end-user is provided with the structure of linked elements through which he/she can navigate. 11

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

Multimedia is Multidisciplinary

Benefits of Multimedia ◦ Easy to use ◦ Enhancement of text only messages ◦ Improves traditional Audio-Video Presentations ◦ Goods for “computer-phobic” ◦ Entertainment as well as Educational ◦ Cost-effective ◦ Trendy

Disadvantages of Multimedia ◦ Expensive ◦ Not always easy to configure ◦ Requires special hardware ◦ Not always compatible

Where to use multimedia ? ◦ Business ◦ Government ◦ Education ◦ Broadcasting & Entertainment ◦ Research & Development ◦ Health

Business Interactive Multimedia Merchandising ◦ Online-shopping Kiosks ◦ Virtual shopping / home shopping http: //www. thevirtualmall. co. uk/ Desktop Videoconferencing ◦ Due to the high cost of transportation and the large amount of employee time spent traveling to meetings, videoconferencing is on the rise.

…continued Multimedia Travel Systems ◦ These systems enable the travel agents to show their customers about where they will travel, what will be their accommodation like, and what they will be able to do at their destinations. www. visitmalaysia. com. my Real Estate ◦ Multimedia systems enable buyers to visit hundreds of properties virtually, view on screen photos of homes, inspect floor plans, see street maps, and study neighborhood demographics. www. penangtimessquare. com

…continued Corporate Training ◦ Many corporations have used multimedia to reduce training cost and improve employee productivity. Advertising and Electronics Brochures ◦ The electronic brochure is an advertising and marketing tool that usually consists of single diskette or CD-ROM sent to targeted audiences. www. porsche. com Politics ◦ Multimedia in general and internet in particular are playing a big role in politics and virtual campaigning where every political candidate contesting in an election has a web site.

Education Computer Aided Learning ◦ To assist student through simulation for better understanding such as volcano eruption, corrosion, language pronunciation, etc. www. quiz-tree. com Virtual Campus ◦ Learning takes place in a virtual classroom using video conferencing and online lecture so that students all around the world can attend.

Broadcasting and Entertainment Interactive Movie ◦ Viewers can decide the direction of the plot of the movie and camera angle. On-demand News or movies ◦ News, movies and TV series can be watched on demand through web and mobile devices. http: //soccernet. espn. go. com

…continued 3 D or animated movies ◦ Movies created through advance 3 D technology and animation techniques. Video Games ◦ Advances in the field of multimedia have led to more attractive video and computer games being available now in the consumer market.

…continued Virtual Reality • Virtual Reality refers to the use of a computer to immerse the user into a simulated experience that it seems real. Virtual reality systems often use special hardware to enhance the experience, including visual displays. Cyber Sports ◦ Cyber Sports is the use of virtual reality to provide computer users with a realistic sports experience. Two new interactive virtual reality devices let you “Swing” and “Hit” balls at your PC.

Medicine Virtual Surgery ◦ Virtual surgery authoring system has been created for producing surgical training simulation. ◦ Surgeons can use 3 -D images created from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the human body to practice complicated procedures such as brain tumor removal and reconstructive surgery.

…continued Video Conferencing and Image Retrieval ◦ The use of imaging techniques (X-Rays, CT, MRI etc) is growing in health care. The collection, maintenance, processing and distribution of these records can be significantly improved by using computer based storage and multimedia networking. Once these records are integrated with the on-line patient information and easily shared by both local and remote physicians, it results in a large number of benefits like reduced cost and improved care.

Multimedia Research Topics and Projects • To the computer science researcher, multimedia consists of a wide variety of topics: 1. Multimedia processing and coding: multimedia content analysis, contentbased multimedia retrieval, multimedia security, audio/image/video processing, compression, etc. 2. Multimedia system support and networking: network protocols, ervers systems, Internet, operating (Qo. S), and databases. 3. Multimedia tools, end-systems and applications : hypermedia systems, user interfaces, authoring systems. 4. Multi-modal interaction and integration : “ubiquity” — webeverywhere devices, multimedia education including Computer Supported Collaborative Learning, and design and applications of virtual environments.

Current Multimedia Projects • Many exciting research projects are currently underway. Here a few of them: 1. Camera-based object tracking technology : tracking of the control objects provides user control of the process. 2. 3 D motion capture : used for multiple actor capture so that multiple real actors in a virtual studio can be used to automatically produce realistic animated models with natural movement. 3. Multiple views: allowing photo-realistic (video-quality) synthesis of virtual actors from several cameras or from a single camera under differing lighting. 4. 3 D capture technology : allow synthesis of highly realistic facial animation from speech.

Current Multimedia Projects 5. Specific multimedia applications : aimed at handicapped persons with low vision capability and the elderly — a rich field of endeavor. 6. Digital fashion : aims to develop smart clothing that can communicate with other such enhanced clothing using wireless communication, so as to artificially enhance human interaction in a social setting. 7. Electronic House call system : an initiative for providing monitoring services to patients in their homes interactive health 8. Augmented Interaction applications : used to develop interfaces between real and virtual humans for tasks such as augmented storytelling.

Where to use it? ◦ Multimedia is appropriate whenever a human user is connected to electronic ◦ information of any kind, at the “human interface. ” Multimedia ◦ enhances minimalist, text-only computer interfaces and yields measurable ◦ benefit by gaining and holding attention and interest; in short, multimedia ◦ improves information retention.