Flash the Software October 27, 2006

AIM:

Over a decade, the web technology has been growth dramatically fast. From the simple browsing text pages to the pages with animation, motion graphics, video and more, we can see the changes. Within these 10 years, to make web-pages become so interactive, this is it, Macromedia Flash.

COTENT:

From a software that supports simple static text and low resolution images support for web, until today uses by over 97% internet users, Macromedia Flash has become one of the vital software for web and web design. It is consistently improved by time to time. Like in the 2nd version, it started to provide simple scripting and timeline control functions; in 4th version, the scripting was developed to the point that could enable dynamic interactive content; and now, the latest version 8, it includes video codec for video playback. The best example would be the Website, Youtube, it has become the biggest site for online videos which are all rely on Flash support. For the multimedia project, we need to produce an interactive CD-ROM with animation and videos. We find that, by using flash, it is extremely easy for video playback with build-in video player.

Furthermore, when working with the project, we notice that Flash provides us convenience to create animation, especially vector graphics, which enable to rescale size without losing qualities.

Although it has a lot of advantages, however, the main criticism is all the content created by Flash, such as mini game, advertisements, or webpage, which have to run by flash-player plug-in. And also, if the website is made by totally in Flash, it will be comparably difficult to be found by search engine. Another issue would be, the things that created by Flash will not be able to select and copy, like texts, by comparing with HTML webpage, texts can be highlighted and copied to other documents, but Flash will not allow users to perform that such actions.

In the future, it can be predicted that Flash will dominant in the whole World Wide Web, and also in multimedia product. At the moment, Flash has also getting involved with game player, such as PSP, which also provide flash plug-in for users to browse on the web. Also, Flash will be developed which able to corporate with other programming scripting.

Wi-Fi with Multimedia October 24, 2006

AIM:

Just a decade ago, we were already satisfied on using 56K Dial-up for Internet connection and LANs as a computer network for home, office or small group of building. At that time, we could read news, check email, surf the net, or even sharing files in the office through the local network.

However, because of the growth of technology, it seems we can do more than we expected, and bringing more convenience to us, which is “Wi-Fi”.

CONTENT:

Wi-Fi is used to describe the technology of wireless local area network (WLAN) based on the IEEE 802.11 specification. With Wi-Fi, users enable to use the devices to connect to the Internet wirelessly when the access point is found. Devices can be computer, PDA, mobile phone, etc.

Because of the convenience, now even game players are using Wi-Fi to allow users to play online. Such as Sony PSP, they allow users to go to the Internet, download videos, or connect with other players by just using Wi-Fi.

Advantage of Wi-Fi:

- By comparing with old networking, Wi-Fi allows LANs to connect without cabling, or space constraint, so that Wi-Fi devices can connect anytime even in outdoor.
- It is widely used, so the price of Wi-Fi becomes more economical and cheap.
- It can also support roaming, which can move from 1 access point to the other 1 around the area.

Disadvantage of Wi-Fi:

- Although Wi-Fi can connect the network anywhere, but it has the limited range of connection.
- Too many connection access points in the same area will make confusion.
- Power consumption is higher than some other standards.

CONCLUSION:

In obvious, Wi-Fi is a huge invention for multimedia. It gives users more flexibility and convenience to interact with multimedia or use on multimedia product. Although it has some weaknesses, such as limited range of connection, high power consumption, etc, but it still giving us more opportunities to get to know more on multimedia.

REFERENCE:
1.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi#Advantages_of_Wi-Fi”
2.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless”
3.”http://web.uncg.edu/dcl/icampus/access/glossary.asp”
4.http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/Wi_Fi.html”

Multimedia Product with HCI Theory October 24, 2006

AIM:

Interactive CD-ROM has been selected as the multimedia product for the development of Acupuncture project. As the meaning of interactive, it refers to the definition of HCI – Human Computer Interaction, ”about how users and computer work together with interaction”. Therefore, it has to make sure the HCI theory in order to design the most appropriate interfaces to users.

CONTENT:

When design the interface, it has to firstly understand the human perspective on the computer that includes:

- what users expect and need
- what physical abilities and limitation they may have
- how their perceptual systems work
- and what they find attractive and enjoyable when they use computers.

Also the objectives of HCI are:

- Methodologies and processes for designing interfaces
- methods for implementing interfaces
- Techniques for evaluating and comparing interfaces
- developing new interfaces and interaction techniques
- developing descriptive and predictive models and theories of interaction

Therefore, as the multimedia product is designed for students and general people who want to achieve general knowledge about acupuncture, the content should be simple and easy to read. It cannot just contain texts and images, but also some interactive animation to draw their attentions, otherwise, the product will be no different to a normal text book.

At this stage of technology, sound and visual effects are the only interaction that users can have. Therefore, on the interface design, it will be developed according to those factors. For example, mouse over buttons’ effects, animation with sound, videos with clickable virtual player, etc.

Furthermore, when design the interface, it should be simple and user-friendly which provide the feeling which they are controlling the computer, but not the other way around. So that users can be more comfortable to use the multimedia product.

REFERENCE:

1.”http://www.wikipedia.org/HCI”
2.MMS 9008 Lecture 1 Slide P.10

Multimedia and Streaming Technology September 6, 2006

AIM:

Nowadays, multimedia and streaming technology have formed an essential interactive relationship between each other. Just like, Internet allows site designer to streamline their applications and improve the interactive experience. According to Dan Vendrell mentioned an issue about multimedia and streamline in 1997, which stated, “the biggest downfall has been probably always be bandwidth”(D.Vendrell, 1997). In the following it will discuss about the issue of multimedia and streaming technology.

CONTENT:

He also mentioned “The technology for this is getting better, but it seems to be human nature that we create things to match the available capacity”. It was concerned in 1997 that the hi-speed Internet wasn’t in common and the cost was expensive, people were still using 56k dialup. They would not speed half an hour to download a small video and stuffs online.

The issue can be debated when we come back to present. Firstly, the streaming technology develops very quickly in recent years. It was used commonly in 56k dial-up Internet during 1990s, and ADSL 512kb broadband is in common use now.

Second of all, online streaming technology has improved a lot during these few years. For example An oneminute quicktime video with H264 codec, 400K streamline, can be compressed into 4 to 5 Mb which only takes 2 minutes to download.

Internet, or online has become a vital part of our lives now, we seems cannot survive without it. Because it forms a great communication tool for us, such as, online messaging, videos, music sharing, etc, therefore, ISP has to provide a cheaper and faster Internet connection due to the trend.

CONCLUSION

Limitation in bandwidth and compression technology was a big concern for multimedia designer in 1997. However, due to the development on technology of computer, the concern seems to be resolved.

Future Development of the Project in Multimedia August 16, 2006

In the current situation of the project, it has been decided to produce a multimedia interactive CD-ROM as the multimedia product. The multimedia product contains general knowledge about acupuncture and use of acupuncture. For the future development of the multimedia product, it has many alternatives for changes. Because our current target audience is mainly focus in Australia, it is possible to make it be globalise, the only problem we would concern is the sponsor issue in overseas. If it is the case, the interactive CD-ROM can be produced in different translation for different people of countries to use, so that more people can get to know this Chinese natural medicine.

It has also been suggested that the interactive CD-ROM can be created in different version with different level of knowledge contained. the current CD-ROM contains general knowledge of acupuncture, it could possibly have e.g. intermediate knowledge in acupuncture, or acupuncture in advance, etc, so that they can be educational material for student in higher educational level.

On the other hand, the interactive CD-ROM can have a more cartoonish way of interface for children to introduce them about acupuncture, the content of the CD-ROM can contain more cartoon animation or images to draw their interest and attention.

Although the multimedia interactive CD-ROM has been selected as the multimedia product for educational use. However, in the future development, the content of acupuncture can possibly be uploaded in website, such as webCT student web service, etc, so that students can download the file from the Internet in anytime at any place when they need. Furthermore, in order to have a broader target audience, it can be developed as a website for more people to know about acupuncture.

Multimedia Design Principle August 9, 2006

Nowadays, because of the rapid growth in multimedia technology, no matter which type of media, such as audio, video, graphics, etc, they all seems can be converted to digital format and delivered to users. However, users are impossible to achieve those raw files without appropriate design. Therefore, design is essential for the Multimedia technology.

Multimedia design is a process that aims to provide the best visual representation for different media types to users, in order to provide a friendly but exciting multimedia environment to them. Multimedia design consists of web design, CD design, graphic design, video design, visual identity design, etc.

The principle of multimedia design is about the interaction between human and computer in different media types (multimedia). By designing or planning a user-friendly, easy to use and understanding interface, such as metaphor, which allow users to understand how to communicate with multimedia in a easier and quicker way. For example, a website which provides email form facilities, designer can design a letterbox icon which users can easily recognise the location of the email form.

Therefore, in the acupuncture interactive CD-ROM project, in order to allow users to use the CD-ROM effectively and efficiently, it would be designed with a user-friendly and easy understanding interface in the CD-ROM by using macromedia director, and also flash and video clips will be available in the tutorial section. Moreover, the interactive CD-ROM will also provide some icons in metaphor so that users can easily identify the use of the page.

Reference:

1. “http://people.bath.ac.uk/mapfn/hci98/mmhci98.htm”
2.”http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/skaalid/page/design/webdsgn.htm”