MindMap Gallery What is Multimedia Hardware and Software
This is a mind map about "What is Multimedia Hardware and Software".
Edited at 2020-12-23 09:58:45What is Multimedia Hardware and Software
NEED4: Authoring Systems
An authoring tool is a software package whichallow developers to :
Organize and edit the multimedia elements ofmultimedia project.
Design screen layouts(interface) using templates
Create interactivity
assembling diverse multimedia elements into asingle, cohesive product.
Types of authoring tools
Card and pagebased authoring tools
Elements are arranged like pages of a book orcards in a stack.
These tools contain media objects such asbuttons, text fields, and graphic objects.
It is easy to move from page to page becausemost programs use buttons and hot spotswhich allow the user to choose their own path.
LiveCode is an example of a cardbased system
Icon and objectbased authoring tools
Iconbased and objectbased tools provide avisual programming approach to organizingand presenting multimedia application.
Multimedia elements and interaction cues areorganized as objects in a flow chart.
Flow charts can be built by draggingappropriate icons from a library and thenadding the content.
Timebased authoring tools
The elements of the program are organizedalong a time line.
Best suited for messages with a beginning andan end.
Developer can coordinate the time, speed anddisplay length of each elements.
Adobe Flash and Adobe Director aretimebased development environments.
Objects
Authoring tools generally treat multimediaelements as objects.
Each object is assigned properties or modifiers.
Objects may contain scripts that specify arelated action.
Choosing an authoring tool
Editing and organizing features
Authoring systems include editing tools tocreate, edit, and convert multimedia elementssuch as animation and video clips.
The organization, design, and productionprocess for multimedia involves storyboardingand flow charting.
Visual flow charting or an overview facilityillustrates project structure at a macro level.
Programming features
Visual programming with icons or objects is thesimplest and easiest authoring process.
Authoring tools offer “very high level language”(VHLL) or interpreted scripting environment.
for navigation control and for enabling userinputs.
Example: Flash, Livecode, & Toolbook
Interactivity features
Interactivity gives the end user control over thecontent and flow of information in a project.
Performance tuning and playback features
Achieving synchronization is difficult, authoringsystem should facilitate precise timing ofevents.
Delivery, crossplatform, and Internet playabilityfeatures
These features should enable developers tobuild part of a project and then test itimmediately.
Delivery features
A runtime or standalone version allows aproject to be executed without authoringsoftware
Run time version not allow user to access andchange the contents.
Crossplatform and
It is important to use tools that facilitate easytransfer across platforms(example fromMacintosh to Windows).
Internetplayability features
Authoring systems provide a means forconverting their output to be delivered withinthe context of HTML or DHTML.
NEED3: Hardware
Production platforms
The most significant platforms for producingand delivering multimedia projects are theMacintosh operating system and MicrosoftWindows.
The Macintosh and the Windows PC offer acombination of affordability and software andhardware availability
Windows vs. Macintosh
The Microsoft Windows operating system can run on assemblages of hardware from countless manufacturers.
Unlike Microsoft, primarily a software company,Apple is a hardware manufacturing company that developed its own proprietary software to run the hardware.
Apple Computer produces both the computerand the operating system.
Many developers believe that multimediaproject development is smoother and easier on the Macintosh than in Windows
Connections
Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)
is a standard interface for connecting amotherboard to storage devices such as harddrives and CDROM/DVD drives.
Universal Serial Bus (USB)
most popular connection used to connect acomputer to devices such as digital cameras,printers, scanners, and external hard drives.
is a plugandplay interface (withoutreconfiguration or adjustment by the user)
FireWire (IEEE 1394)
Introduced by Apple in the 1980s
For connecting devices to personal computer.
provides a single plugandsocket connectionon which up to 63 devices
Memory and storage devices
Sufficient memory must be allocated for storingand archiving files.
Memory requirements of a multimedia projectdepend on the project’s content and scope.
The two types of memory are random accessmemory (RAM) and readonly memory (ROM).
RAM
Volatile storage
enables the simultaneous running of manyapplications.
Storage that allows to read and write data asmany time as needed
ROM
is nonvolatile storage. The BIOS program thatboots up the computer resides in the ROM.
Hard disks
nonvolatile storage
Is rewriteable permanent memory.
have a high data storage capacity and datatransfer speed.
Flash or thumb drives
CDROM
DVD
Bluray discs
Input devices
An optical character recognition (OCR) device isused to convert printed matter into ASCII textfiles.
Barcode reader recognize the numericcharacters of the Universal Product Code (UPC)
Voice recognition systems recognize spokenwords and commands.
Microphones
Digital cameras
Output devices
Stereo
Monitor
Projector
Printer
NEED2: Multimedia Skills
Most of the time, multimedia project involves alot of people to be produced. Each person hastheir own specialized skills required to dospecific task.
Main roles in the team:
Project Manager
The leader of a project
oversee the entire project. Responsible foroverall development, implementation of theproject and day to day operations.
Multimedia Designer
Looks at the overall content of a project, createsa structure for the content.
Determines the design elements required tosupport that structure.
Interface Designer
in charge of designing each screen or pageinterface that lets the user access or modify thecontent – simplicity
Writer
Create characters and actors’ narrations.
Write text screens to deliver message
Audio/Video Specialist
Focus on the audio and video production shooting, capturing and editing video, digitizingand audio recording.
Multimedia Programmer
Multimedia programmers integrate all theelements of the project using an authoringsystem or programming language.
Planning & Costing
Scope / boundary of the project
consider how much time to develop the project.
consider the knowledge and skills needed.
Target users
some background research may conducted.
Set the contents
Content or information will determine the sizeof the project.
Consideration before determining the contentare:
Obtaining rights to use exiting resources.
Digitizing pictures, audio, and video.
Prepare time estimate and a budget.
Prepare a short prototype or proof of concept.
Perform each of the planned tasks to create afinished product.
Testing
Test your programs to make sure that theymeet the objectives of your project.
Every feature and function must be exercised,every button or link must be clicked
Two Phases of testing:
Alpha Testing
Often performed only by users within theorganization developing the software as a formof internal acceptance testing.
The application may be missing part of thecontent or functionality.
The main interest is to review the concept,format, user interface and the layout.
Beta Testing
The product is evaluated just before the finalrelease.
It is a fully functioning product and should berelative bug free.
Main interest is to find bugs or content errors.
The testing group should be represented by thereal users and should not include the peoplewho have been involved in the project.
NEED1: The Intangibles
The intangible assets in multimedia :
Creativity
In a multimedia project, being creative impliesknowledge of hardware and software.
Most precious asset
Organization
It is essential to develop an organized outlinedetailing the skills, time, budget, tools, andresources needed for the project.
Communication
Communication among the workgroup andclient is essential to the efficient and accuratecompletion of your project.
NEED3:Software
Text editing and word processing tools
Word processors such as Microsoft Word andWordPerfect are powerful applications thatinclude spell checkers, table formatters, andprebuilt templates for letters, resumes, purchaseorders, and other common documents.
OpenOffice is a free, downloadable wordprocessing program.
OCR software
Makes use of probability and expert systemalgorithms
Converts bitmapped characters intoelectronically recognizable text
Is very accurate and saves time and effort
Painting tools allow you to create and modifybitmap images.
Photoshop, Fireworks, and Painter are examples.
Drawing tools allow you to create and modifyvector graphics.
CorelDraw, Illustrator, and Canvas are examples.
Vector graphics are used by Adobe Flash toreduce download time and scaling problemswith web graphics.
Painting and drawing software features include:
An intuitive graphical user interface
Scalable dimensions
Multiple undo capability
Scalable text font support
Support for thirdparty special effect plugins
Layering capability
Painting features such as smoothingcoarseedged objects into the background withantialiasing.
3D modeling tools allow rendering of objectsin a threedimensional perspective.
VectorWorks, AutoDesk Maya, and Strata 3D areexamples.
3D graphics usually take a long time to render, so plan accordingly.
Image editing tools
Powerful tools for enhancing retouching,blurring, sharpening, lightening existingbitmapped images.
Many painting and drawing programs also serve as image editors.
Support third party plugin.
Sound editing tools
Cut, copy, paste, and edit certain segments ofthe music
Enable the user to see music as a waveform aswell as hear sound.
Animation, video, and digital movie tools