The Need Of Multimedia Software Computer Science Essay

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Multimedia is well-defined as the combination of graphics, text, audio, video and animations. It combines text, graphics, animations, audio, photo images and video into a single collaborative presentation in combination with the help of computing technology. Multimedia offers different users with control and contact. Multimedia is ideal for many tasks including training programs, education and presentations in meetings or lectures.

Multimedia has become inevitable. It is used in various areas including advertisement, art, education, entertainment, medicine, business and many more. A few areas which make use of multimedia applications are:

Creative industries: - Multimedia is used vastly in the creative industry for many purposes such as entertainment, fine arts, journalism and media and software services.

Education: - Computer based training courses are developed for education purposes using multimedia.

Medicine: - Doctor’s training can be carried out in the medicine field with the help of multimedia which can provide virtual surgeries or simulations which show how the human body is conceited by diseases.

Engineering: - Software engineers use multimedia to create simulations for trainings such as in military training.

Some software’s used in multimedia include:

Magic Music Maker: - It is a commercial digital music editor.

Capture Fox: - It is an add-on for Mozilla Firefox which captures screen shots and records voices which makes it useful for creating screencast videos.

AceMedia: - It is a multimedia content management software package.

Show Man: - It is show control software used to link together and operate multiple entertainment control systems in a coordinated manner.

A2. Explain different stages of multimedia application development.

An application is a collection of programs that satisfies a user’s requirement. A multimedia application development usually resides of the following phases:

Planning & Costing: This is the first stage of multimedia application development. The development of an application begins with an idea. Before starting to develop the application, necessary planning must be carried out including the decisions such as what art, music, video and other expertise will be required to perfect the application. Also, in this stage the estimated budget and cost is allocated.

Design & Production: This stage implements the plan for the application development and creates the application.

Testing: This stage is vital, as it ensures that the product is "bug free". In this stage, the product is also tested to see if it meets the objectives of the client. The performance of the application is also tested.

Delivering: This is the final stage of application development which is the delivery of the application to the client. In this stage, the product implementation and maintenance is also carried out.

Section B

B1. Explain different applications of Multimedia

Multimedia in Education: Multimedia is a combination of several media so its use in the field of education is widespread. Multimedia is often used for imparting education via charts, graphs, videos and models etc… Nowadays, the use of multimedia in education industry is not partial to that orthodox technique, but rather the use of audio and visual media. Multimedia integrates all of them together. A software package called ‘Computer Aided Instruction’ is available. This software provides a user friendly, interactive method of education.

Multimedia in Training: There are various intelligent tutoring systems available, which trains people in many areas from mathematics to complicated surgeries. These applications are adept in decision making and judging the proficiency of a trainee in the respective field as these packages are just like experts.

Science & Technology: Multimedia is widely used in the science and technology field. The application of multimedia in this industry is beneficial for researchers. It is useful for people such as surgeons, as they can use scans of the human body to practice complex surgical treatments such as reconstructive surgeries.

Multimedia in Business: Multimedia is vital in the field of business as it is used to demonstrate products, send instant messages and one of the most important applications in business; voice and live video conferencing.

Multimedia in Games: Games are perhaps the most exhilarating applications of multimedia. For example the live internet multi-player games have become very popular. The combination of audio and video effects makes various types of games more enjoyable.

B2. List Different Input/Output devices used in Multimedia Application.

Input Devices

Input devices are hardware components that allow a user to interact with the computer. Common input devices include:

Keyboards: - Keyboards are the most commonly used method of interaction used to communicate with the computer system. It allows users to type in letters, numbers, and symbols and also performs certain tasks using shortcuts.

Pointing Devices: - Pointing devices are hardware components that allow a user to input data to a computer with the help of a hardware device which points to certain location on a monitor. The most common pointing device is the mouse. Other pointing devices include trackball, touchpad, touchscreen and light pen etc…

Imaging and Video Input Devices: - These devices are used to input video and images to the computer. The most common device used to input images to computers is the flat-bed scanner. Devices used to input video to the computer include webcam, camcorder etc…

Audio Input devices: - These devices are used for capturing audio. Devices used include microphones.

Touchscreens: - Touch screen uses the location of the user’s finger when it touches the screen

Output Devices

Output devices are hardware components that are used to display the result that a computer provides to the user.

Audio Devices: - These devices output sounds or audio from the computer. Most computers are equipped with built-in internal speakers which are capable to output audio without additional hardware or software.

Speakers: - Speakers are also used for the output of sound, but they are mostly externally connected to the computer.

Monitors: - Monitors are the most common output devices. Monitors display the output from the computer to the user.

Video Device: - When a video digitizing board is installed in a computer, television picture can be displayed on the computer monitor.

Projectors: - Projectors are used when the material has to be shown to more viewers than that can huddle around a computer monitor.

Printers: - Printers are used to output hard copies of a file. From storyboards to presentation outlines to production of collateral marketing materials.

B3. Explain The Use of Communication Technologies in Multimedia Services.

Many multimedia applications are developed in workgroups involving of designers, artists, programmers, and musicians etc… who work in an office or building. In an office or workgroups, the computers used by the workgroup members are connected together most frequently via a local area network or LAN. Occasionally nevertheless, the client’s computers are remote and entail other means for good communication. Communication amongst the client and the workgroup members are essential for effectual and precise accomplishment of projects. Also, if data transfer is needed, it requires a network connection. In workplaces, for the communication between clients and services providers, it is vital to use high quality equipment’s and acceptable software. Some of the devices used for communication are:

Modem: - Modems, which can be connected to the computers externally via Ethernet port, or internally as a separate board.

Cable Modems: - Unlike regular modems, cable modems send and receive data usually irregularly. They receive more than they send.

ISDN: - Integrated Services Digital Network (ISBN), is used for higher transmission speeds.

B4. Explain About Multimedia Video

Video combines pictures and sounds and brings products and services alive. It combines all the elements of multimedia which makes it effective but high cost. Analog signals are converted to digital signals by means of a video card which converts analog video signals to digital format. A video like animation is made up of frame. Individual pictures are put in each of these frames to create the illusion of movement. Higher frame rate means higher quality and ergo, smoother video which means the file size is higher. Higher file sizes require greater storage. And bigger and faster computers or greater primary memory is required for video with higher file sizes. Some video file types include:

MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group): - The MPEG standards consist of different Parts. Each part covers a certain aspect of the whole specification. MPEG has standardized the following compression formats and ancillary standards:

AVI (Audio Video Interleave): - In 1992, Microsoft introduced a multimedia container format known as AVI. It contains both audio and video in its file container that allows simultaneous audio and video playback. AVI files also support multiple streaming video and audio.

MPEG-4: - MPEG-4 is a multimedia container format which is universally used to store digital video and audio streams, but it can also be used to store still images or subtitles. MPEG-4 also allows streaming videos over the internet.

B5. Explain about the broadcasting video standards

There are four types of broadcasting video standards that are commonly in used around the world: NTSC, PAL, SECAM and HDTV.

NTSC: - NTSC stands for National Television Standards Committee. These standards were brought into action in 1953 by National Television Standards Committee. It describes a way for encrypting information into the electronic signal that in due course creates a television picture. This standard is generally used in the United States and Japan in addition to many other countries.

PAL: - Phase Alternate Line or PAL is a method of adding color to a black and white television pictures. This standard is used in Europe, Australia, United Kingdom and South Africa.

SECAM: - Used in France, Russia and a few other countries, SECAM (Sequential Color and Memory) is a 625- line, 50 Hz system.

HDTV: - HDTV which stands for High Definition Television provides viewers with high resolution.