Unit 3: Multimedia
The Development Process
What is Multimedia?• An interactive piece of software using several
types of media:– Text– Graphics (photographs or illustrations)– Audio (synthesised or digitised)– Video– Animation
• Multimedia Applications can be:– Linear or non-linear– Simple or extremely complex– For example:
• PowerPoint presentation• Sophisticated and basic web pages• Multimedia games
The Development Process/Cycle
Maintenance
Design may change if application does not work as expected
Analysis
Design
Implementation
Testing
Documentation
Evaluation
Analysis Stage
• This stage is make it absolutely clear what the project is supposed to do.– The aims of the application– Who will be using it?– What will be in it?– How will it be distributed?– How much money can be spent?– How long have you got?– Input/output?
• At the end of the stage a requirements specification will be produced.
Design Stage
• Navigation structure?• The HCI (Human Computer Interface)• What does each screen look like?• What media elements will be
included?
Storyboards may beproduced for this.
Implementation Stage• Make it:
– Create and combine all the media elements using the pre-decided authoring software.
Testing Stage• Does each screen and link work as
expected?– If not can it be fixed or does it have to
have the design altered.
Documentation Stage
• Write the documentation:
– The technical guide• What are the hardware requirements
– The user guide• Advice on how to use the software and
provide users with any other help.
Evaluation Stage• Does it meet the specifications made
at the analysis stage?
Maintenance Stage• Fixing any bugs that have been
found after its released.• Adapting and updating the
application to suit clients needs.
Unit 3: Multimedia
The Development Process
The Development Process Mnemonic
Maintenance
Analysis
Design
Implementation
Testing
Documentation
Evaluation
A
Dance
In
The
Dark
Every
Monday
Text editor: • Application is created using plain text
– e.g. Creating simple web pages using HTML.
WYSIWYG editors: • Previewing applications under
development to check that What You See Is What You Get.– Eg PowerPoint to create a presentation
Methodologies used in creation of multimedia applications
WYSIWYG
Text Editor
WYSIWYG Vs Text Editors
Advantages Disadvantages
Text Editor Simple and places less demands on system.
Provides greater control over the application
Difficult to Visualise output
Dependant on programming or text-based commands knowledge
WYSIWYG Easy creation and editing of application
Ideal for beginners
Complex software that puts higher demands on system.
Software tends to be expensive
Authoring Software • Application can be customised using:
– Program code or scripting– Icon based setting up of properties (without the
need to learn programming code)
Presentation Software• Enables the creation of a sequence of slides• Allows hyper linking to different slides or
files
Methodologies used in creation of multimedia applications
• Who makes authoring software?– Macromedia
•Flash, Dreamweaver and Director
– Microsoft•FrontPage
– Adobe•GoLive
– Others•Mediator, HyperStudio, etc
Methodologies used in creation of multimedia applications
• Who makes presentation software?– Microsoft
•PowerPoint (Most common)
– Others•LiquidMedia•Cre8•Many others exist but not common
Methodologies used in creation of multimedia applications
Authoring Vs Presentation
Advantages Disadvantages
Authoring Advanced features give developer more control over final application
Difficult to learn, special training generally required
Can be difficult to debug complex application
Presentation Simple commands
Easy to learn
Limited features
Unit 3: Multimedia
The Development Process
Displaying Multimedia Data
Distribution Technologies
• Web Pages• Embedded into Web pages
– ActiveX Object– Visual Basic Script– Java Applet– JavaScript Program
Displaying Multimedia Data
Distribution Technologies (cntd)
• Stand alone Program (executable)• Multimedia file using player
software– Macromedia Flash or Shockwave– PowerPoint– QuickTime
Distribution Medium
• Web pages on the Internet• Web pages on an Intranet• CD-ROM• DVD• Digital Broadcast System
Displaying Multimedia Data
Embedded Data• Applications include files for sound, video etc• These are combined (embedded) into the
actual program file itself
Advantages DisadvantagesFile management is easier as there is only one file
Easier to implement security
File could be very large
Entire file must be downloaded before it can be played
Individual data items cannot be updated separately
Displaying Multimedia Data
Displaying Multimedia Data
Streamed data
• Data broadcast over a network– radio stations broadcast over the Internet– View film clips
• Played as it is received• No need to download entire file before
listening/viewing it• Requires a plug in e.g. Real Player
Codecs & Container Files
Codecs (Compressor/Decompressor)
• Main purpose is to reduce the file size while keeping as much quality as possible
• Enables faster downloads
• Often built into programs but sometimes require downloaded as a add-in
Codecs & Container Files
Container File
• Contains several compressed files.
• This can be transmitted over a network and the individual files regenerated at the receiving end
• Much more convenient than sending multiple files
• A ZIP file is an example of a container file