Brief description
This module will provide students with an overview of the techniques and technologies required for the design, storage and delivery of multimedia material in distributed information systems. Through practical sessions, it will provide experience of the capture and delivery of such material.
Aims
The module, building upon prior learning obtained through study of module
CS25610, will specifically address techniques and technologies required for
the design, storage and delivery of multimedia in distributed information
systems. The module will address
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digital representation of multimedia information;
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capture, storage, tranmission and rendering of multimedia information;
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hyperlinking with multimedia systems;
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HCI issues associated with multimedia systems;
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hardware and software technology and tools for multimedia systems design and deployment;
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accessibility issues of multimedia presentations;
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Internet support for multimedia.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
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explain problems and describe solutions related to the delivery of multimedia presentations such as portability and accessibility;
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describe and critically evaluate the different models of multimedia presentations;
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design a multimedia system taking into account implications of interactivity;
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explain the problems, techniques and difficulties associated with the digital representation of multimedia information;
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describe hardware and techniques to capture and edit various forms of media for insertion within a multimedia system;
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explain the limitations (and solutions) imposed if a distributed multimedia system operates over a network such as the Internet.
Syllabus
1. Introduction - 2 Lectures
An overall introduction to the module. What is "multimedia?" A review of typical interactive multimedia systems and their particular characteristics and challenges.
2. Aspects of Multimedia Systems - 8 Lectures
Different models: page based (hypermedia), scene based (VRML, QuickTimeVR), time line based (QuickTime), synchronisation based (SMIL). Accessibility issues.
3. Multimedia Design Techniques - 4 Lectures
Story boarding, planning, delivery tools, stress and robustness testing.
4. Multimedia Technologies - 4 Lectures
Hardware and software tools, capture and editing of media material, compression and storage techniques, analogue and digital multimedia, architectures, databases, markup languages, virtual reality. Standards for the storage and transmission of media materials.
5. Network based Multimedia Systems - 4 Lectures
Multimedia communications, Web and other Internet support for multimedia systems and transmission of media streams. Emerging standards and protocols for communication with network based multimedia systems.
Reading Lists
Books
** Recommended Text
Nigel Chapman and Jenny Chapman. (2000)
Digital multimedia.. John Wiley & Sons ISBN 0471983861
Clark Dodsworth Jr.. (1998)
Digital Illusion: Entertaining the future with high technology. Addison-Wesley ISBN 0201847809
Ben Shneiderman.. (1998)
Designing the user interface: Strategies for effective human-computer interaction. Addison-Wesley ISBN 0-201-69497-2