9.4.4.1 characteristics of multimedia systems

Students learn about:

Students learn to:

multimedia systems as information systems that include combinations of the following media, including: text and numbers audio images and/or animations video hyperlinks the differences between print and multimedia, including: different modes of display interactivity and involvement of participants in multimedia systems ease of distribution authority of document the demands placed on hardware by multimedia systems, including: primary and secondary requirements as a result of: bit depth and the representation of colour data sampling rates for audio data processing as a result of: video data and frame rates image processing, including morphing and distorting animation processing, including tweening display devices as a result of: pixels and resolution the variety of fields of expertise required in the development of multimedia applications, including: content providers system designers and project managers those skilled in the collection and editing of each of the media types those skilled in design and layout those with technical skills with the information technology being used

use multimedia systems in an interactive way and to identify how they control the presentation of information identify multimedia software appropriate to manipulating particular types of data compare and contrast printed and multimedia versions with similar content summarise current information technology requirements for multimedia systems distinguish between different approaches to animation including path-based and cell-based through practical investigations describe the roles and skills of the people who design multimedia systems

Term	Explanation
combinations of media	In order for media to be classifed as true multimedia there needs to be a combinations of audio, text, video and animation to provide interactivity between the media and the user?.. example: the new iPhone 4 from the Apple website and this SMH article from the review onn the technology part of their website
text and numbers	Letters, numbers and other characters whose meaning and format is nt specified, it has no meaning untill a person reads and interprets it.
hypertext	Transparent linkage of textual documents to other related documents on the World Wide Web. - Cornell University
hyperlinks
audio	Digital audio is audio that has been converted into a series of ones and zeros that can be understood by a computer. Computers cannot understand analog data - it must first be converted into digital data. When analog sound is converted to digital, it is generally saved as a wave file. Digital, or digitized, sound is easier to reproduce and manipulate without loss in quality than analog. - Industrial Audio Software
images	Any image stored as numerical values on optical or magnetic media. - Archival Advisor
animations
video	A series of framed images put together, one after another, to simulate motion and interactivity
printed output
multimedia display	A combination of multiple media types, including text, graphics, animation, audio and video.
differences between print and multimedia
different modes of display
interactivity	Interactivity involves two-way communications. Traditionally that two-way communication is live between instructor and student
involvement of participants
ease of distribution
authority of document
demands placed on hardware by multimedia systems	Hardware of a multimedia system places limits n the quality and size f the multimedia product that can be produced or displayed. For this reasono a multimedia system makes use of the latest technology such as a fast processor (or processor's), high resolution screen, quality speakers and the latest in disk drives.
primary storage capacity
secondary storage capacity
bit depth
bit depth and the representation of colour data	This refers to the color or gray scale of an individual pixel. A pixel with 8 bits per color gives a 24 bit image. (8 Bits X 3 colors is 24 bits.) - Photoshop Element user Wikipedia: colour bit depth source: http://current.com/1i7b64c source: http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/29218103 Calculate the file size of an image: Horizontal pixels x Vertical pixels x bit depth _____________________________________________ 8 (convert to bytes) x 1024 (convert to Kilobytes Kb) .
sampling
sampling rates for audio data	Also known as the sampling frequency which is refered to the rate at which the number of samples are taken per second and converted into digital form. Also note that the sampling frequency must be at least twice the amount of the analog sound. A typical rate would be at 44.1khz per second which is slightly more than twice the audible human frequency range. - Ne0mic http://current.com/1i7b64c has a great explanation of sampling rates and bit depth and is the source for the images that follow: Sample Rate = the number of samples taken per second, i.e. the vertical lines in the images directly above and below Sample Size = Number of bits used to make up a sample of the audio captured-i.e. the horizontal lines below Calculating the size of an audio file: Sample Size (bit depth) x Sample rate (measured in kHz) x Time (in seconds) x No. of Channels (1 for Mono or 2 for Stereo) _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8 (convert to bytes) x 1024 (convert to Kilobytes KB) X 1024 (convert to Megabytes MB) .
processing as a result of video data and frame rates
video data	calculate the size of video data: Frame (image size) x Frames per second (fps) x Time (in seconds) __________________________________________________________________________________ 8 (convert to bytes) x 1024 (convert to Kilobytes KB) x 1024 (convert to Megabytes MB) x 1024 (convert to Gigabytes GB) .
frame rates (fps)
image processing	Transformation of an input image into an output image with desired properties. - Machine Vision Online
morphing	The process of changing a component from one shape to another. Tutorials from Morpheus Software for morphing two images: http://www.morpheussoftware.net/morpheusmorph/tutorial/tutorial.php freeware for morphing: http://www.photo-freeware.net/winmorph.php
distorting	To change the way something looks by twisting it out of its proper or natural form or by exaggerating some of its features freeware for distorting: http://www.photo-freeware.net/winmorph.php
animation processing
tweening
display devices
pixels	Pixels is an abbreviated term (Picture Element) that has a numerical value between 0-255. There are three color channels (red, green and blue)
resolution	The number of pixels per square inch on a computer-generated display
fields of expertise required in the development of multimedia applications	Typical multimedia expertise that may be used in a large miltimedia project
content providers
system designers
project managers
those skilled in the collection and editing of each of the media types
those skilled in design and layout
those with technical skills with the information technology being used
multimedia software appropriate to manipulating particular types of data
current information technology requirements for multimedia systems
path-based animation	Is where the first (original) cell or frame is drawn and the last cell or frame is drawn. The software then fills in the gaps between (tweening) these two frames, giving the appearance of movement.
cell-based animation	Is where each cell is reproduced and variations are made to the next cell. This continues until there is a series of cells. Each cell is slightly different from the previous. It gives the appearance of movement, thus animation.

An example of how advertising can be powerful for newspapers online using multimedia >>

John Travers, of education.au in his blog:The Magic Toolbox on edna.edu.au

"I was recently engaged in discussion about the weakening of newspapers in an internet world, and there was some talk about income and market effectiveness of online versus paper newspapers. The experience (right) made me think about the power of online adversising and online news distribution. I opened up the online New York Times this evening and....


Forget about the Apple content: just look at the quality of the insertion of the animated movie into the web page. Amazingly fluent and eye-catching. The power of this advertising seems to me to be very impressive. The future of online newspapers looks good to me, bearing in mind my previous post about reading a newspaper via a mobile device. But maybe we will all be reading the NY Times or the Guardian rather than local publications?"

John's blog is worth a look for other insights into current multimedia trends.




Extract from April W's blog on edna.edu.au on 'Text Precision'

"I found the following digital story fromYouTube really facinating. I consider books to be accurate and precise in their information, but I find that this video challenges that idea. Text is editable and we are able to edit even faster digitally, than with books. Previously you had to wait for the next edition to make any changes to a book. Now you can open your website/wiki etc. click edit and away you go.

As a student, I have frequently been warned about using information from websites: make sure its credible. I think since starting tertiary education I have been warned on this at least 10 times. But what about books? I can think of only one instance where a tutor mentioned to be aware of a books intent.
Anyone can publish a book, its just a matter of money (BTW did you know that when a new book is published, a copy must be given to the State Library?) so how is this different from the web? Its seems as though we are taught to be more sceptical and analytical of the web because its the newest way to impart information, rather than the 'expertness' of the information that it contains."



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