Aree A. Mohammed Computer Science Department aree.ali@univsul 2010-2011

1. Multimedia Technology Chapter 1Introduction to Multimedia Aree A. Mohammed Computer Science Department aree.ali@univsul.net 2010-2011

2. 1.4 Overview of Multimedia Software Tools • The categories of software tools briefly examined here are: 1. Music Sequencing and Notation 2. Digital Audio 3. Graphics and Image Editing 4. Video Editing 5. Animation 6. Multimedia Authoring

3. Music Sequencing and Notation • Cakewalk: now called Pro Audio. – The term sequencer comes from older devices that stored sequences of notes (“events”, in MIDI). – It is also possible to insert WAV files and Windows MCI commands (for animation and video) into music tracks (MCI is a ubiquitous component of the Windows API.) • Cubase: another sequencing/editing program, with capabilities similar to those of Cakewalk. It includes some digital audio editing tools. • Macromedia Soundedit: mature program for creating audio for multimedia projects and the web that integrates well with other Macromedia products such as Flash and Director.

4. Digital Audio • Digital Audio tools deal with accessing and editing the actual sampled sounds that make up audio: – Cool Edit: a very powerful and popular digital audio toolkit; emulates a professional audio studio — multitrack productions and sound file editing including digital signal processing effects. – Sound Forge: a sophisticated PC-based program for editing audio WAV files. – Pro Tools: a high-end integrated audio production and editing environment — MIDI creation and manipulation; powerful audio mixing, recording, and editing software.

5. Graphics and Image Editing • Adobe Illustrator: a powerful publishing tool from Adobe. Uses vector graphics; graphics can be exported to Web. • Adobe Photoshop: the standard in a graphics, image processing and manipulation tool. – Allows layers of images, graphics, and text that can be separately manipulated for maximum flexibility. – Filter factory permits creation of sophisticated lighting-effects filters. • Macromedia Fireworks: software for making graphics specifically for the web. • Macromedia Freehand: a text and web graphics editing tool that supports many bitmap formats such as GIF, PNG, and JPEG.

6. Video Editing • Adobe Premiere: an intuitive, simple video editing tool for nonlinear editing, i.e., putting video clips into any order: – Video and audio are arranged in “tracks”. – Provides a large number of video and audio tracks, superimpositions and virtual clips. – A large library of built-in transitions, filters and motions for clips  effective multimedia productions with little effort. • Adobe After Effects: a powerful video editing tool that enables users to add and change existing movies. Can add many effects: lighting, shadows, motion blurring; layers. • Final Cut Pro: a video editing tool by Apple; Macintosh only.

7. Animation • Multimedia APIs: – Java3D: API used by Java to construct and render 3D graphics, similar to the way in which the Java Media Framework is used for handling media files. 1. Provides a basic set of object primitives (cube, splines, etc.) for building scenes. 2. It is an abstraction layer built on top of OpenGL or DirectX (the user can select which). – DirectX: Windows API that supports video, images, audio and 3-D animation – OpenGL: the highly portable, most popular 3-D API.

8. • Rendering Tools: – 3D Studio Max: rendering tool that includes a number of very high-end professional tools for character animation, game development, and visual effects production. – Softimage XSI: a powerful modeling, animation, and rendering package used for animation and special effects in films and games. – Maya: competing product to Softimage; as well, it is a complete modeling package. – RenderMan: rendering package created by Pixar. • GIF Animation Packages: a simpler approach to animation, allows very quick development of effective small animations for the web.

9. Multimedia Authoring • Macromedia Flash: allows users to create interactive movies by using the score metaphor, i.e., a timeline arranged in parallel event sequences. • Macromedia Director: uses a movie metaphor to create interactive presentations — very powerful and includes a built-in scripting language, Lingo, that allows creation of complex interactive movies. • Authorware: a mature, well-supported authoring product based on the Iconic/Flow-control metaphor. • Quest: similar to Authorware in many ways, uses a type of flowcharting metaphor. However, the flowchart nodes can encapsulate information in a more abstract way (called frames) than simply subroutine levels.

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

11. Importance of Multimedia Business Use and Applications Sales / Marketing Presentation Trade show production Staff Training Application Company Kiosk

12. Importance of Multimedia Education Use and Applications Courseware / Simulations E-Learning / Distance Learning Information Searching

13. Importance of Multimedia Entertainment Use and Applications Games (Leisure / Educational) Movies Video on Demand Online

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

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

16. Multimedia Products Briefing Products Reference Products Database Products Education and Training Products Kiosk Entertainment and Games

17. Multimedia Products Briefing Products 1 • Small, straightforward, linear products used to present information quickly and concisely. • Characteristic of briefing product: • Short Development Cycle • Limited Number of Presentations • Usage of text to present information with limited use of graphic, audio and video. • Have few navigational controls. (mouse click and button press to move from one page to another) 1/2

18. Multimedia Products Briefing Products 1 • Good briefing presentation depends on: • The understanding of the presented subject. • Seamless integration of content. • Consistent layout • Example: • Corporate Presentation • Sales Presentation • Educational Lectures 2/2

19. Multimedia Products Reference Products 2 • Often used for answering specific questions or for general browsing of information. (stored on CD/ DVD ROM) • Characteristic of reference product: • Used by wide range of user (small – adult) • Have navigational menu, book marking, searching, printing utility • 2 Basic classes of reference product: • Generalized Content (dictionary/encyclopedia) • Broad treatment of content at a limited depth • Detailed Content • Focus on specific area and provide extensive information. 1/2

20. Multimedia Products Reference Products 2 • Good usability and success depends on: • The developers understanding the body of information and how the end user will want to access it. • Help function should always available to explain how to access and use the information • Examples are electronic forms of: • Encyclopedia • Dictionaries • Cookbooks, Historical, Informative 2/2

21. Multimedia Products Reference Products 2 • Example: 2/2

22. Multimedia Products Database Products 3 • Similar to reference product in a sense that large amount of information are made available to the end user. • Focus on storing and accessing the actual data (multimedia data such as text, graphic, audio, animation and video) • Characteristics of Database Products are: • Manages multimedia data (large data) • Descriptive finding methods • Content based search • Simultaneous access • Online database • Relational consistency in data management. 1/2

23. Multimedia Products Database Products 3 • Examples are: • Google Search • Google Earth 2/2

24. Multimedia Products Education and Training Products 4 • Similar to textbook or training manuals but have added media such as audio, animation and video. • Make up a significant share of the multimedia market ranging from pre-kindergarten to postgraduate offerings from technical to corporate training products. • 2 categories of reference product: • Instructor Support Products • Standalone or Self-Paced Products • Combination Products • Shares the same characteristics as Reference Product 1/2

25. Multimedia Products Education and Training Products 4 • Example 2/2

26. Multimedia Products Kiosk Products 5 • A product which is usually stationed at public places and allow the user to find information interactively and also other types of transaction. • Characteristics of Kiosk Products:- • Limited target users and usage. • User friendly and easily used by user. • Fast response. 1/2

27. Multimedia Products Kiosk Products 5 • Categories of Kiosk • Point Of Information • Provide certain information (example map, timetable etc) • Point Of Sales System • Allow users to purchase or make orders • Example of Kiosk Products:- • Instant Photo Booth • Banking Kiosk (money deposit, cheque) • University Information Kiosk 2/2

28. Multimedia Products Entertainment & Games 6 • Most popular • Shipped in the form of Interactive CD / DVD ROM. • Characteristics of E & G Products:- • Immersive. • Requires constant feedback and interaction with the user. • Challenging and sometimes intriguing for user • Enabled online play for more than one user experience.