Multimedia Compression & Communication

EC2037

Prepared by JhansiRani.R Assoct.Prof/ECE

Unit I Multimedia Components

Introduction Multimedia skills Multimedia components and their characteristics Text Sound Images Graphics Animation Video Hardware

What is Multimedia
The word Multimedia composed of two parts: Multi: more than 1 or Many Media: medium of communication

Definition
Multimedia is the presentation of the computer application incorporating media elements such as Text, graphics, animation, audio and video Or Multimedia is any combination of text, graphic, sound, animation and video that is delivered by computer.

Classification of media types

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 nontemporal media or space-based 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 temporal media.

Multi-sensory system
According to Dr. Albert Mehrabian, a specialist in interpersonal communication at the University of California, says:

Multimedia allows for seeing, hearing and doing (multi-sensory system)

Elements of Multimedia
TEXT GRAPHIC

VIDEO
AUDIO ANIMATION

Text
This includes both unformatted text, comprising strings of characters from a limited character set, and formatted text strings as used for the structuring, access, and presentation of electronic documents. Text is the most basic element of multimedia.

Images
These includes computer generated images, comprising lines, curves, and circles and digitized images of documents and pictures

Apple

Audio
This includes both low-fidelity speech, as used in telephony and high-fidelity stereophonic music as used with compact discs In multimedia, audio could come in the form of speech, sound effects and also music score.

Video
This includes short sequences of moving images (video clips) and complete movies/films. Is the technology of capturing, recording, processing, transmitting, and reconstructing moving pictures

Animation

The illusion of motion created by the consecutive display of images of static elements. In multimedia, animation is used to further enhance / enriched the experience of the user to further understand the information conveyed to them.

Graphics

Two-dimensional figure or illustration Could be produced manually (by drawing, painting, carving, etc.) or by computer graphics technology. Used in multimedia to show more clearly what a particular information is all about (diagrams, picture).

ex:

Examples
Text ASCII Code, JIS Code, EUC GraphicsBMP, PNG, GIF, TIFF, JPEG(2D & 3D), Open GL, VRML SoundMIDI, MP3, WMA, WAV Video. RMD, MPEG,WMV,FLV AnimationGIF Animation, Flash,3-D Animation, Virtual Reality

Importance of Multimedia
There are a number of fields where multimedia could be of use. Examples are: Business Education Entertainment Home Public Places

Importance of Multimedia
Business Use and Applications Sales / Marketing Presentation Online shopping Trade show production Staff Training Application Company Kiosk Desktop video conferencing

Importance of Multimedia
Education Use and Applications Courseware / Simulations Computer aided learning Virtual campus E-Learning / Distance Learning Information Searching

Importance of Multimedia
Entertainment Use and Applications Games (Leisure / Educational) 3-D Movies Animated movies Cyber sports Video on Demand Online news/movies

Importance of Multimedia
Home Use and Applications Television Satellite TV SMS services (chats, voting, reality TV)

Importance of Multimedia
Public Places Use and Applications Information Kiosk Public service Kiosk Smart Cards, Security

Multimedia Skills

Overview
Members of a multimedia team. Roles and responsibilities in a multimedia team.

Members of a Multimedia Team

A team of skilled individuals is required to create a good multimedia project. Team building refers to activities that help a group and its members function at optimum levels. The diverse range of skills required for a project is called the multimedia skill set.

Members of a Multimedia Team

A multimedia team consists of the following: Project manager. Multimedia designer. Interface designer. Writer. Video specialist.

Members of a Multimedia Team

A multimedia team consists of the following (continued): Audio specialist. Multimedia programmer. Producer for the Web. Computer programmers.

Roles and Responsibilities in a Multimedia Team

The project manager is responsible for: The overall development, implementation, and dayto-day operations of the project. The design and management of a project. Understanding the strengths and limitations of hardware and software. Ensuring people skills and organizational skills. Conveying information between the team and the client.

Roles and Responsibilities in a Multimedia Team

Multimedia designer - This team consists of: Graphics designers, illustrators, animators, and image processing specialists who deal with visuals, thereby making the project appealing and aesthetic.
Instructional designers, who make sure that the subject matter is presented clearly for the target audience.

Roles and Responsibilities in a Multimedia Team

Multimedia designer (continued): Interface designers, who devise the navigational pathways and content maps. Information designers, who structure content, determine user pathways and feedback, and select presentation media.

Roles and Responsibilities in a Multimedia Team

An interface designer is responsible for: Creating a software device that organizes content, allows users to access or modify content, and presents that content on the screen.

Building a user-friendly interface.

Roles and Responsibilities in a Multimedia Team

A multimedia writer is responsible for: Creating characters, actions, point of view, and interactivity. Writing proposals and test screens. Scripting voice-overs and actors' narrations.

Roles and Responsibilities in a Multimedia Team

A video specialist needs to understand: The delivery of video files on CD, DVD, or the Web. How to shoot quality video. How to transfer the video footage to a computer. How to edit the footage down to a final product using digital nonlinear editing system (NLE).

Roles and Responsibilities in a Multimedia Team

An audio specialist is responsible for: Locating and selecting suitable music talent. Scheduling recording sessions. Digitizing and editing recorded material into computer files.

Roles and Responsibilities in a Multimedia Team

Multimedia programmer, also called a software engineer: Integrates all the multimedia elements into a seamless project, using authoring systems or programming language. Writes codes for the display of multimedia elements, and to control various peripheral devices. Manages timings, transitions, and record keeping.

Roles and Responsibilities in a Multimedia Team

Multimedia producer for the Web: Web site producers put together a coordinated set of pages for the Web. They also co-ordinate updates and changes.

Summary
The diverse skills required to create a multimedia project is called the multimedia skill set. Team building refers to activities that help a group and its members function at optimum levels of performance. Roles and responsibilities are assigned to each team member in a multimedia project.