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Emerging Technology in Multimedia

This unit addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcomes:

A student:

H1.2 identifies appropriate equipment, production and manufacturing techniques and describes the impact of new and developing technologies in industry.

Extract from Engineering Studies Stage 6 Syllabus © Board of Studies NSW 2008.

Introduction

‘The future is here!’ This is often uttered when a new technological application emerges from the familiar processes we encounter in daily life and work.

Computer technology has rendered our lives seemingly helpless without a mobile phone that allows us to do everything from taking photos to watching the news and even making phone calls, or without a talking navigator to ensure we don’t get lost.

Multimedia is the term used to define many computer applications requiring graphics, animation, sound, video and interactivity and new software capability is constantly evolving to enable new and exciting experiences.

Multimedia is, itself, an emerging technology which utilises a range of constantly changing hardware and software interfaces.

There is a really useful glossary of multimedia terms at:
http://webschoolsolutions.com/terms/terms.htm

Activity 1

Visit the web sites given in the following table and write a brief description for each of the multimedia technologies listed.
Click here to download a copy of this table.

Term	Link	Explanation
Siftable	http://siftables.com/
haptics	http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid183_gci212226,00.html
Blu-ray	http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci810790,00.html
Mpeg -7	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-7
e-paper	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_paper

Answer

Activity 2

1. The iPoint 3D interactive control system will allow the user to see and manipulate objects in 3D without touching them.
   Go to the web sites below to read information about this new development:
   
   
   • http://emergingtechnologies.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=etn&rid=14436 and
   • http://www.fraunhofer.de/EN/press/pi/2009/02/PressRelease02-19-09.jsp and
   • http://www.techshout.com/gadgets/2009/23/ipoint-3d-gesture-based-3d-display-coming-soon/
     
     
   List some of the applications that could be utilised with this technology.
   
   
2. A 3D webcam is now available called a ‘Minoru’ and you can see some information about it at:
   
   
   • http://emergingtechnologies.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=etn&rid=14291 and at;
   • http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/12/30/review_webcam_3d_minoru/
     
     Suggest some practical applications for this technology.
     
     
3. Have a look at the 3D camcorder details at:
   
   
   • http://gizmodo.com/5220145/panasonic-camcorder-packs-two-lenses-for-full-hd-in-3d
     
     What are the features of this camera?

Answer

Activity 3

Have a look at the information on ‘haptic feedback technology’ at:

• http://www.intomobile.com/2008/07/09/new-nokia-patent-application-gives-insight-in-to-haptic-feedback-technology-more-details-on-haptikos.html

Explain how this feedback system would work.

Answer

You should think about how these emerging technologies might be utilised by multimedia applications such as those for your major project.

Resources

Use the following links to find more information about emerging technologies for Multimedia:

You can subscribe to an online newsletter to keep you up to date with new developments at:
http://lists.becta.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/technews

General information:
http://www.techworld.com.au/section/software/multimedia

http://www.extremetech.com/

http://emergingtechnologies.becta.org.uk/upload-dir/downloads/page_documents/research/technews/tn_0903_v3_0.pdf

Motion capture technology:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_capture

Erasable paper:
http://emergingtechnologies.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=etn&rid=14260

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/22545/

http://emergingtechnologies.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=etn&rid=14345

Siftables:
http://emergingtechnologies.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=etn&rid=14474

Haptics information:
http://www.artificialmuscle.com/news/press_releases/2009_01_08.html

http://emergingtechnologies.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=etn&rid=14512

http://www.richardbanks.com/trends/?paged=2