Unit 3-1 Competing Multimedia Standards

After completing this unit, you will be able to:

• Understand the competing standards of multimedia and comprehend what is meant by the phrase multi multimedia.
• Realize how lack of standardization retards the progress of multimedia development.
• Consider the level at which standardization would be appropriate.
• Know which multimedia formats will have the most longevity.
• Understand the basic architecture of the Microsoft MCI (Media Control Interface).
• Guage the market penetration of Apple's QuickTime.
• Know how Jini extends the concept of Sun’s Java to everyday appliances.
• Consider the expanding role of Sony’s PlayStation as a platform for educational multimedia

Reading

Read chapter 10 of the Multimedia Literacy textbook to study the concepts covered by this unit.

Online Activities

Instead of having one multimedia standard, consumers are faced with a complicated array of competing software and hardware platforms that the author describes as "multi multimedia." When you create an application, you must be careful to store your objects in formats that will have the most longevity and compatibility. Otherwise the time and effort you spend will have to be reinvested when the so-called standards change.

Follow the Multilit Web site links to see the competing multimedia standards and explore how the standards bodies are working to solve the problem of multi multimedia

Assignments

One of the major assignments in this course is the term paper that you will write on a topic of your choosing related to a multimedia trend or issue in your chosen field. The other large assignment in this course is the multimedia application that you will develop and publish to the Web, again on a topic of your choosing. The multi multimedia dilemma discussed in this unit could make an interesting topic to explore. Almost every unit of instruction in this course will expose you to potential term paper topics. After you choose your topic, remember to respond to the assignments that ask you to tell your instructor what topics you have chosen:

• A major part of your grade in this course is determined by a term paper that you write on a topic of your choosing related to a multimedia trend or issue in the field of education or communications. Your paper must be about six pages long and contain at least six bibliographic references if you are taking this course for undergraduate credit, or about twelve pages long with at least twelve references for graduate credit. Before you write the paper, you need to have your topic approved. Please tell what your paper is going to be about. Say why you have chosen this topic, tell how you plan to research it, and indicate how the writing of this paper will help you achieve the goals you had for taking this course. Your instructor will respond by writing a comment on this assignment to let you know if your topic is approved.
• The largest part of your grade in this course is determined by the multimedia application that you will create. Your application must have at least seven screens if you are taking this course for undergraduate credit, or at least fourteen screens for graduate credit. Before you develop the application, you need to have your topic approved. Please tell what your application is going to be about. Say why you have chosen this topic, and tell how you plan to design it. Describe your intended audience, tell how they will use your application, and indicate how developing this app will help you achieve the goals you had for taking this course.