2359: Theory Topic 09 Multimedia Systems

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2359 Theory Topic 09Multimedia Systems

• Mr C Johnston
• ICT Teacher Sidney Stringer Community Technical
  College, Coventry
• (www.computech.me.uk)

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What I Need To Learn

• Describe voice output, sound, video, animation
  and how they are used in multimedia systems,
• Identify typical applications where multimedia is
  particularly beneficial.

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Topic Tasks

• Read pages 69 (start at the //Multimedia Systems
  Header) 71,
• Copy the first four blue boxes from these pages
  into your book as revision notes,
• Complete this topics sheet and stick it into your
  book for your revision notes,
• Complete this topics homework.

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Multimedia Systems

• A multimedia system combines text, graphics,
  sound, animation and video,
• Often multimedia systems come on a CD or DVD ROM
  as they have very large data files,
• They also need a computer with lots of memory, a
  fast processor, powerful graphics card and a
  sound card to run.
• Typical uses for multimedia include
  presentations, reference material, and
  educational software known as Computer Aided
  Learning Software (CAL),
• Multimedia makes the materials being shown more
  interesting and makes them come alive by using a
  variety of media including video and sound
  instead of just plain text.

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Computer Aided Learning (CAL)

• Computer Aided Learning is software which helps
  you learn a subject,
• It is starting to become more popular in schools,
  with many different different subjects being
  covered for all ages,
• Advantages
• Individual tuition using a wide range of methods,
  media and feedback,
• Can go over material again and again including
  repeating tests,
• Keeps students interested for longer due to the
  different media and generally improves students
  performance
• Disadvantages
• May fail to listen to teacher during lessons as
  too into the software,
• Teacher and student may not communicate so
  problems are not known also loose the value of
  group conversation and social interaction,
• Can be expensive but costs are decreasing.

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Voice Output

• Computer software which generates spoken words by
  joining words together,
• Useful for people who are partially sighted and
  used by directory enquires to tell caller the
  phone number,
• Advantages
• Great when user cant see the computer screen
  because they are too far away or visually
  impaired,
• Saves somebody repeating themselves over and over
  again.
• Disadvantages
• Quality of sound is getting better but still
  sounds electric and unnatural,
• Sound files used for voice output are large and
  take up a lot of memory.

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Sound

• Sound brings multimedia presentations to life by
  with a voice commentary or music,
• It is also useful in CAL software as student can
  learn through all senses not just sight,
• Advantages
• Valuable audio feedback can be given to the user,
• Sometimes audible alarms can be given when
  necessary.
• Disadvantages
• Other users can be distracted by the noise,
• If sound is overused it can be annoying for the
  computer user,
• Accents / pitch of the voice can also annoy the
  users.

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Video and Animation

• Video clips and animation are a series of picture
  frames played in sequence at a certain speed.
• Both are used in multimedia presentations and CAL
  systems, and video images are used in video
  conferencing systems,
• Advantages
• Realistic moving images can be created to add
  interest to computerised presentations,
• Disadvantages
• Can be expensive due to the equipment and
  software required,
• Some lower specification machines may not be able
  to play the sequences smoothly and images
  playback can be jumpy and jerky.