BCT 2207 Multimedia Authoring Tools
BCT 2207 Multimedia Authoring Tools
plications
Lecture 2:
Hardware & Software
Tools
Outline of Lecture
1. Definition and Example of a Multimedia System
2. Categories of multimedia systems
3. Categories of multimedia devices
4. Evolution of multimedia PC
5. Authoring tools
6. Classification of authoring tools
7. Multimedia development process
What is Multimedia?
• Multimedia: a working definition
• A combination of two or more categories of information
having different transport signal characteristics
• Typically, one medium is a continuous medium while an-
other is discrete
• Image, audio, video and graphics are examples of media
What is a Multimedia System?
• A system that in-
volves: production/authoring tools
• generation compression and formats
• representation
• storage
file system design
• transmission networking issues
•
•
search and retrieval database management
Delivery of multi-
media information server design, streaming
Example: A Course-on-Demand
System
On-line facilitator
Courseware
developer
Multimedia Network
Database
Database server
user
A Course-on-Demand System
Authoring Metadata
Integration Software
Tool DB
DB Application
Network
Server
Java Client
User
Interface Media
Server
Multimedia Systems
Sources
Filters
Sinks
Sources (Analog Input)
• Microphone
• Video Camera
• Photographic Camera
Filters (Analog Processing)
• Speaker
• Video Display
• Video Tape Recorder
• Audio Tape Recorder
2. Digital Media Devices
Capturing devices
Processing devices
Presentation devices
Capturing Devices (Input)
• Keyboard
• Image Scanner
• OCR device
Processing Devices
• Video Encoder/Decoder
• Audio Encoder/Decoder
• Digital Video Effects Device
• Digital Audio Effect Device
Presentation Devices (Output)
• Printer
• Monitor
• Projector
3. General Purpose Devices
Apple Macintosh
• Popularized the graphical user interface
• Popularized computer graphics
• Native sound file formats (aiff & mid)
• Native digital video file format (QuickTime)
IBM Compatible PC
• Original emphasis was on business computing
*
Evolution of Multimedia PC
• The personal computer has gone through
several stages in its short lifetime.
• Early systems supported only alphanumeric
data and employed a simple command line
interface.
• Next generation supported text and simple
graphics, which could be accessed via a
menu-driven interface.
Evolution of Multimedia PC
Memory 2 MB 4 MB 8 MB
E- Learning
Web pages
Artistic visualizations
Classifying multimedia authoring
tools
• There are two primary ways of classifying
multimedia authoring tools:
by metaphor
1. Time-based
2. Card-based or Page-based
3. Icon-based, event-driven (logic flow)
4. Theatrical-based
1. Time-Based Metaphors
• In time-based authoring programs, the elements
of the program are organized along a time line.
Events may be precisely synchronized by
coordinating the time, speed and display length
of each one.
• Developer side.
• It is also for the end user expectation – the type of
hardware platform.
• Several types of hardware components that need to
be considered:
Memory and storage device
Input devices
Output devices
Communication Device (optional)
Output device
• The size of the monitor also should be
considered because larger monitor gives the
user larger view and this makes creating
graphics easier.
• Projectors suitable in briefing or educational
multimedia products where the information is
displayed to a large number of viewers.
• Note that displaying information with projectors
may not be the same as displaying on monitors
because information such as text must be large
enough and have contrast color so that it is
easier to read.
6. Software requirement
Multimedia Designer
• Deals with visual aspects of the project, graphic design,
illustration, animation, interface design and image
processing.
• Maintain the flow of the information, clear and consistent
navigation.
Multimedia team
Audio/Video specialist
• Focus on the audio and video production - shooting,
capturing and editing video, digitizing and audio
recording.
Multimedia programmer
• Responsible for integrating all the multimedia elements
using authoring system or programming language to
create a functioning and useful multimedia product.
Testing