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CHAPTER 5 The term "ambient sound" refers to a variety

of sounds, both in the background and as
AUDIO - A multimedia application may require sound effects. These include:
the use of speech, music and sound effects.  Message reinforcement: The sounds of
These are called audio or sound element of the environment that you hear in real
multimedia. Speech is also a perfect way for life, such as the roar of the crowd at a
teaching. Audio are of analog and digital types. sporting event, can be used to
Analog audio or sound refers to the original sound reinforce the message that you are
signal. Computer stores the sound in digital form. trying to get over to others.
Therefore, the sound used in multimedia  Background music: The use of music at
application is digital audio. the beginning and end of a
presentation helps establish a
conducive environment for the
 Audio describes any sound or noise in a range audience to take in and digest the
the human ear can hear. An audio signal is information being presented. Sound
measured in hertz and on a computer is effects: Sound effects are used in
generated using a sound-card and heard presentations to enliven the mood and
through speakers or headphones. add effects to your presentations, such
as sound that is attached to bulleted
 Any digital information with speech or music lists.
stored on and played through a computer is Sound effects are also used to make
known as an audio file or sound file. One of presentations more interesting.
the most common audio file formats used
today is MP3. Clicking the triangular button on CHAPTER 9
the following embedded player plays a short FINAL PROJECT
MP3 file in your browser. VIDEO COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENT
(Combining all the multimedia elements)
HOW AUDIO IS CREATED
To record a voice or music played outside a
computer, an audio file is created using VIDEO - The term video refers to the moving
a microphone to record the sound it detects. picture, accompanied by sound such as a picture
The sound is converted to a digital signal the in television. Video element of multimedia
computer uses to create the audio file. Audio application gives a lot of information in small
files can also be created using software duration of time.
running on a computer. For example, a person
could use an audio program, like Audacity, to DIGITAL VIDEO
record the sound played in a video file. MP3 is  Moving Images that have been captured or
the most common audio file extension. created electronically by a computer.
Digital video is useful in multimedia
USE OF AUDIO IN MULTIMEDIA application for showing real life objects.
There are two distinct ways that you can
incorporate sound into a multimedia History of Digital Video
presentation. In point of fact, there are just Some Important Milestones:
two main classifications for sounds:  1986 – Professional digital video introduced
 Solidity of the content  1990 – Quicktime format introduced as a
 Ambient sound consumer digital format by Apple
computers
Audiences are provided with information  1995 – Professional and consumer digital
through the use of content sound, such as videotape (DV) format released
dialogue in movies or theatre performances.  1996 – DVD (Digital Video Disks) players
The following are some examples of sounds introduced
that can be found in multimedia:  1996 – WRAL-TV becomes the first
 Narration: While an animation is television station to broadcast in HDTV
playing out on the screen, the (high-definition television)
narration provides information about  2009 – All television stations nationwide in
the animation. the US began broadcasting exclusively in a
 Testimonials: These might be audio or digital format (DTV)
video sound tracks that are utilised in
movies or presentations. Uses of Digital Video
 Voice-overs: They are utilised for the Digital Media is Used In: Education, Information,
purpose of providing concise Entertainment, and Advertising.
directions, such as how to navigate a
VIDEO IN MULTIMEDIA
multimedia application.
Characteristics of Video
 Music: Communication can take place
 Analog - A non-digital representation of
through the medium of music (as in a
information in a continuous flow, rather
song).
than as individual pieces of data.
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 Digital - A representation of information as  Medium Shot (Mid Shot) - Shot shows

individual pieces of data. some part of the subject in more detail
 Aspect Ratio - Dimension of width to while still giving an impression of the
height. whole subject. Example, camera framing
 Frame Rate - Speed at which video frames of a person from waist up to top
appear; Measured in frames per second of head.
(fps).  Wide/Long Shot - Shot shows subject and
 Streaming - process of transmitting location in its entirety. Example – camera
audio/video files over the Internet that framing of a person from head to toe.
begin playing as the remaining data is  High Angle Shot - Shot composed by
temporarily transferring to your computer. shooting the subject from above normal
User friendly because video can be viewed eye-level High angle shots make the
as the file is loading without having to wait subject look small, weak, afraid, or
for the completed file to load. dependent.
 Low Angle Shot - Shot composed by
COMMON FILE FORMATS shooting the subject form below normal
 MOV (Movie) eye-level Low angle shots make the
Developed by Apple computers for the subject appear tall, powerful,
Quicktime video player; commanding, strong or scary.
Best used for streaming;
Also known as Quicktime or movie format
 WMV (Windows Media Video) CHAPTER 10
Developed by Microsoft for streaming Applications of Multimedia
video
 AVI (Audio Video Interleave) Following are the common areas of applications
Developed by Microsoft for Windows of multimedia.
media player;
Not good for streaming Multimedia in Business - Multimedia can be
 MPEG-2 (Motion Picture Experts Group) used in many applications in a business. The
Standard file format for DVD multimedia technology along with communication
 MPEG-4 (Motion Picture Experts Group) technology has opened the door for information
Standard file format for Blu-ray disk; of global wok groups. Today the team members
Uses a greater compression and achieves may be working anywhere and can work for
a higher quality video on the Internet various companies. Thus, the work place will
 FLV (Flash video) become global. The multimedia network should
File format used to deliver video over the support the following facilities:
Internet using Adobe Flash Player  Voice Mail
 Electronic Mail
CAMERA MOVEMENTS  Multimedia based FAX
 Pan - Camera remains stationary and the  Office Needs
movement is from side to side (left and  Employee Training
right). Directions are “pan right” or “pan  Sales and Other types of Group
Presentation
left”.
 Records Management
 Tilt - Camera remains stationary and the
movement is up and down. Directions are Multimedia in Marketing and Advertising -
“tilt up” or “tilt down”. By using multimedia marketing of new products
 Truck - Camera physically moves side to can be greatly enhanced. Multimedia boost
side (left and right). Directions are truck communication on an affordable cost opened the
right or truck left. way for the marketing and advertising personnel.
 Dolly - Camera physically moves towards Presentation that has flying banners, video
or away from the subject. Directions are transitions, animations, and sound effects are
“dolly in” or “dolly out” some of the elements used in composing a
 Zoom - Uses the mechanics of the camera multimedia-based advertisement to appeal to the
lens to make the subject appear closer. consumer in a way never used before and
Directions are “zoom in” or “zoom out”. promote the sale of the products.

CAMERA COMPOSITIONS Multimedia in Entertainment - By using multimedia

 Rule of Thirds - Mentally dividing the frame marketing of new products can be greatly enhanced.
(what you see in the viewfinder) into Multimedia boost communication on an affordable cost
thirds, both vertically and horizontally. opened the way for the marketing and advertising
Subject should occupy two thirds of frame personnel. Presentation that has flying banners, video
(horizontally and vertically). transitions, animations, and sound effects are some of
the elements used in composing a multimedia-based
 Close-Up - Shot used to single out the
advertisement to appeal to the consumer in a way
more important part of the subject. never used before and promote the sale of the
Example – camera framing of a person’s products.
face
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Multimedia in Education - Many computer games

with focus on education are now available. Consider an
example of an educational game which plays various
rhymes for kids. The child can paint the pictures,
increase reduce size of various objects etc apart from
just playing the rhymes. Several other multimedia
packages are available in the market which provide a
lot of detailed information and playing capabilities to
kids.

Multimedia in Bank - Bank is another public place

where multimedia is finding more and more application
in recent times. People go to bank to open
saving/current accounts, deposit funds, withdraw
money, know various financial schemes of the bank,
obtain loans etc. Every bank has a lot of information
which it wants to impart to in customers. For this
purpose, it can use multimedia in many ways. Bank
also displays information about its various schemes on
a PC monitor placed in the rest area for customers.
Today on-line and internet banking have become very
popular. These use multimedia extensively. Multimedia
is thus helping banks give service to their customers
and also in educating them about banks attractive
finance schemes.

Multimedia in Hospital - Multimedia best use in

hospitals is for real time monitoring of conditions of
patients in critical illness or accident. The conditions
are displayed continuously on a computer screen and
can alert the doctor/nurse on duty if any changes are
observed on the screen. Multimedia makes it possible
to consult a surgeon or an expert who can watch an
ongoing surgery line on his PC monitor and give online
advice at any crucial juncture.

In hospitals multimedia can also be used to diagnose

an illness with CD-ROMs/ Cassettes/ DVDs full of
multimedia-based information about various diseases
and their treatment. Some hospitals extensively use
multimedia presentations in training their junior staff of
doctors and nurses. Multimedia displays are now
extensively used during critical surgeries.

Multimedia Pedagogues - Pedagogues are useful

teaching aids only if they stimulate and motivate the
students. The audio-visual support to a pedagogue can
actually help in doing so. A multimedia tutor can
provide multiple numbers of challenges to the student
to stimulate his interest in a topic. The instruction
provided by pedagogue have moved beyond providing
only button level control to intelligent simulations,
dynamic creation of links, composition and
collaboration and system testing of the user
interactions.

Communication Technology and Multimedia

Services - The advancement of high computing
abilities, communication ways and relevant standards
has started the beginning of an era where you will be
provided with multimedia facilities at home. These
services may include:

 Basic Television Services

 Interactive entertainment
 Digital Audio
 Video on demand
 Home shopping
 Financial Transactions
 Interactive multiplayer or single player games
 Digital multimedia libraries
 E-Newspapers, e-magazines