Skill Area 321:Hardware and Software

requirements for Multimedia Application

Multimedia and Web Design (MWD)

321.1.1 – Identify various hardware components

321.1.2 – Install related hardware components

321.1.3 - Use Various related hardware components

321.1.4 – List the uses of supporting software packages

321.1.5 – Install supported software packages

321.1 Set up necessary hardware and software to run multimedia application (10hrs)

• Hardware and software is important tomultimedia production.

• We will be confining to Microsoft Windowsplatform only.

• Other platforms include Apple Macintosh,Silicon Graphics, Sun Microsystems and evenmainframes.

Introduction

• MOST IMPORTANT! – must have a decentcomputer.

• A decent computer means that you shouldhave adequate hardware

• To develop a multimedia project, youusually need a fast (high specifications)computer

• High specs include the speed and storagespace of the computer

Hardware Components

• Hardware components is divided into 5

categories:

» System Devices

» Memory and Storage Devices

» Input Devices

» Output Devices

» Communication Devices

Hardware Components (cont)

• Essential components for a computer

• Devices include:

»Microprocessor

»Motherboard

»Memory

System Devices

• Microprocessor– Heart of the computer.

– Microprocessor is the one that performs thecomputer operations.

• Motherboard– Device in the computer that contains the

computer’s basic circuitry and othercomponents.

– Contains computer components likemicroprocessor, memory, basic input/outputsystem (BIOS), expansion slots andinterconnecting circuitry.

System devices (cont)

• RAM (Random Access Memory)– Primary memory that locates the operating

system, application programs and data incurrent use.

– It is called “random access” any storage locationcan be accessed directly or randomly.

– Much faster than the hard disk, floppy disk andthe CD ROM.

– RAM is a short term memory storage device,hard disk is the long term memory storagedevice.

Memory and Storage Devices

• Hard Disk– Stores and provides access to large amounts of

data on electro magnetically charged surface.

– Contains a part called disk cache which isresponsible for improving the time it takes toread from or write to a hard disk.

– Other type of hardware cache inside a computeris cache memory.

– Cache stores something temporarily.

Memory and Storage Devices (cont)

• Compact Disc (CD)– Small medium that can store data

pertaining to audio, video, text and other information in digital form.

– Are Read-Only devices, however newer technology allow users to record as well.

Memory and Storage Devices (cont)

• CD-ROM (Compact Disc, Read-Only memory)– Can store data in the form of text,

graphics and sound

– There are a few types of CD ROMs:•CD Recordable (CD-R)

Once data recording is completed, it becomes CD-ROM which data cannot be deleted or edited.

•CD-Rewritable (CD-RW)

Memory and Storage Devices (cont)

• Keyboard– is the primary text input device for your

computer.

– Its role became limited to dealing with text and for some commands only.

– Contain certain function keys, such as escape key, tab, cursor movement keys and shift and control keys

Input Devices

• Mouse– A small device that you move across a pad in

order to point to a place on a display screen andthus execute a command by clicking it.

– Is an integral part of any personal computer. Acable connects the mouse to the computer.

Input Devices (cont)

• Microphone– is another input device that can interpret

dictation.

– Also enable us to input sound like the keyboard is used for text.

Input Devices (cont)

• Digital camera– A device that records stores photographic

images in digital form that can be fed to acomputer as the impressions arerecorded and stored in the camera to beloaded into the computer.

Input Devices (cont)

• Printer– a device, which on receiving the signal from

computer transfers the information to paper

• Monitor– is a device for display.

– It is just like a television set and is measureddiagonally from two opposing corners of thepicture tube.

– The standard monitor size is 14 inches. Verylarge monitors can measure 21 inches diagonalor greater.

Output Devices

• Amplifier– An electronic device that increases the power of

a signal.

– Amplifiers are used in audio equipments. They are also called power amplifiers.

– Speakers with built-in amplifiers have become an integral part of the computers today.

– Important for any multimedia project.

Output Devices (cont)

• Modem– A device that modulates digital

signals going out from acomputer or other digitaldevice to analog signals andthen demodulates the analogsignal to convert it to a digitalsignal to be inputted in acomputer.

– Modems help your computer toconnect to a network.

Communication Devices

• Video capture– Is one of the most important hardware to be

used for multimedia work on a personalcomputer.

– Video-capture results will depend on theperformance and capacity of all of thecomponents of your system workingtogether.

– Video capture from analog devices like videocamera requires a special video capture cardthat converts the analog signals into digitalform and compresses the data.

Other Hardware Devices

• Sound Card– A device that attaches to the

motherboard to enable the computer toinput, process, and deliver sound.

– The sound card generates sounds;records soundfrom analog devices by converting themto digital mode and reproduce sound fora speaker by reconverting them to analogmode.

Other Hardware Devices (cont)

•Video Adapter– Device that provides extended capability

to a computer in terms of video.

– The better the video adapter, the better is the quality of the picture you see.

– A high quality video adapter is a must while designing a multimedia project.

Other Hardware Devices (cont)

• Basic tool set for building multimedia project can be divided into FIVE (5) categories:

1. Painting and drawing tools

2. 3-D Modeling and animation tools

3. Image editing tools

4. Sound editing tools

5. Animation video and Digital movie tools

Multimedia Design Software

• A computer application used for theproduction (including composition, editing,formatting, and possibly printing) of any sortof printable material.

• Other word processing applications include:– Microsoft Office Word– WordPerfect– OpenOffice.org Writer– AbiWord– Kword– LyX

Word Processors

• A program that allows you to create graphicfigures and other things.

• Graphic Packages Applications include:– Photoshop

– Illustrator

– Paint Shop Pro

– MS paint

Graphic Packages

• A program used to edit and modify audio clips.

• Audio Software Packages examples include:– Audacity

– WavePad Sound Editor

– GoldWave

– Power Sound Editor

– Wavosaur

Audio Software Packages

Is the program that captures and edit the videofrom a source such as a camcorder or VCR andthen “capture" it in the computer.

Manipulates the source video and combine it withother elements to create a finished video.

Editing software is non-linear, meaning you cantake a single scene out of the original video andmove it into any location onto the new videoproject.

Video Software Packages

• Video Software packages examples include:

– Adobe Systems•Premiere Elements (Mac OS X, Windows)

– iMovie (Mac OS X)

– Sony Vegas Movie Studio (Windows)

– Windows Movie Maker (Windows)

– Clesh (Java on Mac OS X, Windows, Linux)

Video Software Packages (cont)

• Is the program that allows graphics tobe created, manipulated and editedinto an animation where charactersare brought to “life”.

Animation Software

• Animation softwares include:– 2D Animation Software:

•Toon Boom Studio 4

•Animationish

•Flip Boom

•Flash

•After Effects

•CreaToon

•Toon Boom Digital Pro

Animation Software (cont)

• 3D animation software: – 3D Studio Max

– Maya

– Lightwave

– Blender

– Anim8tor

– Swift 3D

Animation Software (cont)

• Application that allow users to record/write text, video, sound and graphics into CD/DVD thus storing information into the device.

• Examples of CD/DVD burner software:– NCH Express Burn

– CDBurnerXP

– Nero Burning ROM

CD/DVD-Burner Software

• Is the package that allow users to design and create projects and then publish the project onto the web.

• Examples of web publishing software:– Blogger

– Adobe dreamweaver

– iWeb (Apple Macintosh)

– Muse

Web Publishing Packages

• Adobe Dreamweaver CS4

• Adobe Flash CS3

• Notepad ++

• Adobe Photoshop

• Sound Editing Application

• Video Editing Application

Software to be installed