Video Integration in Multimedia Applications and the Use of Various Delivery Channels

Abstract

Multimedia applications, until now, were more or less based on standalone computer systems. In conjunction with the use of different delivery channels, these systems are being distributed more frequently. The extended use of the Internet as well as the introduction of digital video delivery offer the opportunity to establish new services. Especially in this changing context, current definitions of the term multimedia are no longer valid, and additional aspects have to be considered when analyzing multimedia systems. Against this background, this paper will present a general description of the different aspects of multimedia systems. Moreover, it will point out the user-centered approach that should be inherent to these systems, as well as technological issues resulting from this approach. — High-definition multimedia or the “CIIQ”-principle is one approach, described in detail in this paper, which follows this comprehensive view on multimedia and the user-centered approach. This principle considers the major aspects completeness, interaction, integration, and quality in the development and use of multimedia systems. Based on this description, the aspects quality, integration, and interactivity of multimedia systems will be discussed in more detail in conjunction with the use and integration of video data. It will be shown that video scaling and the use of compressed data are important factors determining the quality of video streams in distributed multimedia applications. Furthermore, the aspect integration leads to the discussion of the use and combination of various delivery channels. Conventional television, World Wide Web (WWW), and Interactive Television are keywords that are relevant today, and from them a question arises regarding the way combinations of these services and their used delivery channels can be reached. Using dynamically assembled delivery channels offer enhanced interactivity mechanisms; hence new approaches are discussed that lead to extended user interactivity and new applications. At the end of this paper, the discussions are summarized and relevant issues concerning multimedia authoring, standardization, and regulation will be discussed.