Hardware Components of a Multimedia System

Objectives w Describe why hardware standards are important w Describe the MPC standard and specify its significance

3Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Objectives (continued) w Describe the multimedia hardware components for playback and development systems w List and describe the major multimedia hardware peripherals

4Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Presentation Outline w Former barriers to multimedia development w The multimedia personal computer The playback system The development system

5Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Former Barriers to Multimedia Development w Lack of standards for playback systems w No means for delivering large amounts of data to playback systems

6Hardware Components of a Multimedia System The Standards Barrier w Titles might run only on a certain subset of multimedia computers w Development of industry multimedia standards removed this barrier

7Hardware Components of a Multimedia System The Delivery Barrier w 15 seconds of video requires 15 megabytes of storage w Floppy disks hold less than 2 megabytes of storage w The CD-ROM removed this barrier

8Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Macintosh Computers w Apple Computer controlled specifications w Developers knew what the playback system would have w Less than 10% of the market

9Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Windows Computers w MPC specifications developed in 1991 by group of companies w Level 2 MPC specifications developed in 1993 w Level 3 specifications developed in 1995

10Hardware Components of a Multimedia System MPC Minimum Standards

11Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Processor

11Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Processor

11Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Processor

11Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Processor

11Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Processor

11Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Processor

11Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Processor w Determines speed of processing and data transfer w Fast data transfer important for multimedia

12Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Memory w Random-access memory (RAM) is temporary w Contents of RAM are lost when the computer is turned off w Read-only memory (ROM) is permanent

13Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Monitor and Video Card w The monitor provides the primary feedback to the user w Quality of display depends on screen resolution and the number of colors

14Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Screen Resolution w Resolution: number of dots displayed on the monitor w Dots are called pixels, or picture elements w The more pixels, the sharper the image

15Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Video Card w Color information is associated with each pixel w How many colors are possible is determined by the number of bits used to store the color information w Bits are binary digits (0 or 1) w 4 bits can represent 16 colors; 8 bits can represent 256 colors

16Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Audio Card w Plays digital sounds w Number of bits determines quality of sound w 16-bit sound is now standard

17Hardware Components of a Multimedia System CD-ROM drive w Compact Disc Read-Only Memory w CD-ROM drive reads CD-ROM data and transfers it to the computer w Speed is determined by the transfer rate and the seek time

18Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Transfer Rate w How fast is data from the CD sent to the computer? w Measured in kilobytes per second (Kbps) w A kilobyte is about 1000 characters of data

19Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Seek Time w How long does it take to go to a particular location on the disc? w Measured in milliseconds (ms) w Much slower than hard drives

20Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Upgrade Kits w Components that upgrade a desktop computer to an MPC system w Usually contain CD-ROM, audio card, speakers, and software

21Hardware Components of a Multimedia System The Development System w High-end equipment Provides higher-quality results Saves money by reducing personnel time w Development software available for Macintosh and Windows

22Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Processor w Windows Minimum: 486DX 66 MHz Desirable: Pentium 100 w Macintosh Minimum: MHz Desirable: Power Mac 100 MHz

23Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Memory w RAM Minimum: 16 MB Desirable: 32 or 64 MB w Hard drive Determined by number of programs and amount of data Minimum: 1gigabyte (1 billion bytes, or 1 GB)

24Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Video Capture Card w Fits in the computer w Digitizes video signals from cameras, TVs, VCRs, etc.

25Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Monitor w 20-inch monitor recommended w Two monitors ideal: one for working on the title, one for displaying the title

26Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Peripherals w Scanner w External storage w CD recorder w Digital camera w Microphone w Video sources (video camera, VCR, videodisc player)

27Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Scanner w Creates digitized images, usually from printed material w Types Flatbed Handheld Slide

28Hardware Components of a Multimedia System External storage w Provides backup of hard drive w Allows portability of large amounts of data w Types Removable large-capacity disks External hard drives

29Hardware Components of a Multimedia System CD Recorder w Price has dropped dramatically w Uses Create small numbers of CDs for testing Create CD to be sent to manufacturer Backup and archive data

30Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Digital Camera w Operates like a regular camera w Pictures can be transferred directly to the computer w Accompanying software allows pictures to be edited

31Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Key Terms w audio card w binary w bit w CD-ROM drive w development system w digital camera w external storage w gigabyte (GB) w kilobyte (KB) w megabyte (MB) w millisecond (ms) w monitor

32Hardware Components of a Multimedia System Key Terms (continued) w Multimedia Personal Computer (MPC) specifications w pixel w playback system w processor w RAM w resolution w ROM w scanner w upgrade kit w video card