Transcript Multimedia, Web Authoring and More

Multimedia, Web
Authoring and
More
Overview
• Advanced applications
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Multimedia
Web authoring
Graphics programs
Virtual reality
Artificial intelligence
Project managers
Multimedia
Multimedia integrates all kinds of
information. Pages are linked by buttons.
Story boards show logic, flow and
structure. Authoring programs create
presentations.
Multimedia
• Also called hypermedia
• Integration of a variety of media such as
video, music, voice, graphics and text
• User participation, or interactivity, is an
essential and unique capability
• Branching out from an entertainment
vehicle into business, education and the
home
Multimedia
• Links and buttons - presentation usually a
series of linked pages
• Buttons - for navigating from one page to
another
Storyboards
• Used in project preplanning
• Record logic, flow and structure
• Specify content, style, design and links
Multimedia Authoring Programs
• Macromedia Director
• Authorware
• Toolbook
Web Authoring
Creating Web sites is called Web
authoring. Graphical maps present
overall site design. Web authoring
programs support design and HTML
coding.
Web Site Design
• Determining overall content to be
communicated
• Overall theme broken into component parts
• Site design often graphically depicted, with
lines indicating links
• Incorporating various multimedia elements
HTML Code
Common Web Page Editors
• Microsoft FrontPage
• Adobe PageMill
• Corel WebSite Builder
Graphics Programs
Desktop publishers mix text and graphics.
Image editors modify bitmap image files.
Illustrators modify vector files. Graphics
suites bundle separate programs.
Desktop Publishing
• Mixing text and graphics to create
professional quality publications
• Unlike word processors, focus is on page
design and layout
• Popular programs
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Adobe Framemaker
Adobe Pagemaker
Corel Ventura
QuarkXPresss
Image Editors
• Create and modify bitmap image files
• Bitmap images are composed of thousands
of colored dots or pixels
• Artists use this programs to correct or
change colors, or to add special effects
• Popular programs
– Adobe Photoshop
– Corel Photo
– Macromedia xRes
Illustration Programs
• Modify vector images
• Images are collections of various objects,
such as lines, rectangles and ovals
Illustration Programs
• Used by
– Artists for creating line art
– Engineers to create 3-D models
• Popular programs include Adobe Illustrator,
CorelDraw, Macromedia Freehand,
Micrografx Designer
Graphics Suites
• Bundling of separate but complementary
graphics programs from a vendor
• Cost savings over pricing for separately
purchased packages
• Popular suites
– CorelDraw
– Corel’s Graphics Pack
– Micrografx’s ABC Graphics Suite
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality creates simulated environments.
VRML is a programming language to produce
virtual reality applications. Virtual reality
authoring programs are used to create
applications.
Virtual Reality
• The simulation of alternate physical realities
and experiences
• Special interactive sensory equipment (such as
headgear and gloves)
• Specially written software
• VRML
Virtual Reality
– Virtual reality programming language
– Used to create 3-D animated scenes
– Viewed with VRML capable browsers
• Virtual Reality Authoring Programs
– Have migrated from high-cost versions on
workstations to affordable PC - based packages
– Popular editions - Cosmo Worlds, Platinum
VRCreator and V-Realm Builder
Virtual Reality
• Applications
– Numerous and will grow exponentially over
time
– Viewing molecular structure
– Flight simulators
– Surgical training
– Spaceship repair
– Nuclear disaster cleanup
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence attempts to simulate
human thought processes and actions. Two
areas are robotics and knowledge-based
(expert) systems.
Artificial Intelligence
• Computers’ traditional strength is in
structured problem solving, humans,
unstructured
• Attempts to mimic human thought
processes and actions
– Reasoning
– Learning from past actions
– Simulation of vision and touch
Knowledge-Based (Expert) Systems
• Capture the knowledge of a human expert
• Provide advice to decision makers
• Systems use knowledge bases, which
combine facts, rules and user input
• Respond to user interaction
• Fuzzy logic allows users to respond in more
natural, human like ways
Knowledge-Based (Expert) Systems
• Some areas of use
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Medicine
Geology
Chemistry
Military science
Photography
Knowledge-Based (Expert) Systems
• Some examples
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Oil Spill Advisor
Bird Species Identification
Midwives Assistant
Grain Marketing Advisor
Senex
Robotics
• Robots
– Computer controlled machines mimicking
human motor activity
– Reprogrammable for numerous tasks
– Often used for dangerous, repetitive tasks
Robotics
• Three types
– Industrial - assembly line factory work, e.g.
painting, polishing, cutting, welding
– Perception systems - use video cameras or
pressure sensors to inspect, sort or place parts
– Mobile robots - transport supplies, equipment
and mail
Project Management
Project management software allows you to
plan projects, schedule people and control
resources.
Project Management
• Project - one-time operation with multiple
tasks to be completed within a certain time
period
• Project Managers
– Plan, schedule and control people, resources
and costs
– Display beginning and ending task dates
– Important tools - Gantt and PERT charts
Project Management
• Gantt charts
– Use bars and lines
– Have two parts
• Table listing information about tasks
• Bar chart displaying durations and start and stop
dates
Project Management
• PERT charts
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Program Evaluation Review Technique
Represent projects with boxes and lines
Displays timing and relationships among tasks
Shows critical path - sequence of tasks that take
the longest to complete