COM 205 Multimedia Applications

1. COM 205Multimedia Applications St. Joseph’s College Fall 2004

2. Chapter 13 Tools For the World Wide Web

3. Web Servers • 1. The “server” is actually software. • a) Various servers are available that run on various platforms. • b) The most common server packages include • (1) Apache • (2) Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) • (3) iPlanet

4. Web Servers • 2. The server plays a pivotal role in content delivery. • 3. The speed and capacity of the server has a major effect on performance. • a) This is especially true when the server is delivering streaming content. • b) Speed and capacity is affected by the server hardware. • c) Plan carefully for capacity.

5. Web Page Makers and Site Builders • A. Learn HMTL • 1. Although site building tools seem to remove the need to learn HTML, some knowledge is still important. • 2. An HTML document can be created or edited using only a text editor. • B. Site building tools • 1. Various tools help you create Web pages in a WYSIWYG editing environment. • 2. The markup created by editors is often complicated and bloated. • 3. Inspite of this, these tools can be timesavers.

6. Web Page Makers and Site Builders • 4. Common site building tools include • a) Adobe GoLive • b) Macromedia Dreamweaver • c) Microsoft FrontPage • d) Myrmidon • e) Netscape Composer • C. HTML translators • 1. Many programs such as word processors incorporate HTML translators. • 2. The markup created by translators is often bloated and proprietary.

7. Web Browsers • 1. The most common Web browsers are • a) Internet Explorer • (1) The AOL “browser” uses Internet Explorer as its enabling technology. • b) Netscape Navigator • (1) Paradoxically, AOL Time Warner now owns Netscape. • (2) Netscape recently released version 6, but its market share still pales to Internet Explorer’s. • 2. Some alternate browsers, are • a) Opera • b) Emacs • c) iCab

8. Web Browsers • 3. Web browsers have increasingly grown to support plug-in technologies such as FLASH and Java. • 4. Web browsers often vary from the HTML standards. • a) Support for features such as cascading style sheets (CSS) is inconsistent The majority of visitors to your web site will be using Internet Explorer or Netscape with plug-ins. You should be sure that your content looks good in both of them.

9. Web Browsers and Plug-Ins • Plug-ins and delivery vehicles • 1. Plug-ins add capabilities to the Web browser. • a) Plug-ins are also sometimes called helper applications. • 2. If your content requires a plug-in, don’t forget that users must have the plug-in installed. • a) Provide a link to help the user obtain the plug-in. • b) Decide whether requiring a plug-in is worthwhile. • 3. Types of plug-ins include • a) Text ( such as Adobe Acrobat Reader) • b) Images ( such as Macromedia Shockwave which allows the display of vector graphics.

10. Web Browsers and Plug-Ins • Plug-Ins • c) Sound • Plug-ins such as RealPlayer, QuickTime, and Windows Media Player can play music. • d) Animation, video, and presentation • 1. RealPlayer, QuickTime, and Windows Media Player also play animations and video. • (2) Flash and Shockwave are used for animation and presentation. • (3) Microsoft PowerPoint can be used for online presentations

11. Vaughn’s Bandwidth Rule Bandwidth = Satisfaction File size • Satisfaction with the Internet is a function of connection speed and the size of the data elements accessed

12. Beyond HTML • 1. Programming technologies can be used for online content delivery, such as • a) Common Gateway Interface (CGI) programming • b) PERL • d) Java • e) JavaScript • f) PHP

13. Beyond HTML • 2. You can interact online with conferencing tools such as • a) BeingThere • b) CU-SeeMe from White Pine • c) LiveMedia from Netscape • d) Netmeeting from Microsoft • 3. 3-D worlds • (1) Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) • (2) Macromedia Director/Shockwave Player • (3) Apple QuickTime • (4) Java