Traditional CD Multimedia Systems Cannot Compete against the Online Multimedia - Term Paper Example

 Traditional CD Multimedia Systems Cannot Compete Against The Online Multimedia. Table of contents 1. Introduction 1 2. Advancement of technology 1 3. Application and advantages of online multimedia 2 3.1 Learning environment 3 3.2 Broadcast media 5 3.3 Healthcare industry 5 3.4 World of music 6 3.5 Journalism and multimedia 7 3.6 Podcasting 7 3.7 Online Videos 8 4. Advantages of online multimedia system over the traditional CD 9 5. Conclusion 10 References 11 1. Introduction Multimedia is a combination of some or all forms such as text, data, images, photographs, animation, audio and video which can be converted from different formats into a uniform digital format and delivered by computers (Ramaiah, 1998). A multimedia system can store, process, record and deliver all types of information in the same way as the computer. A multimedia system requires a powerful PC with high-end graphics processor, a sound card, a CD drive, multimedia extensions and drivers for playing digital audio and video. The digital media has an advantage as the user can use it according to one’s convenience of time, pace and requirement. In a digital format there is flexibility in combining, transmitting, manipulating and customizing the elements of the multi media according to individual needs. Technology has advanced and the reach of broadband is far beyond expectations due to which traditional CD multimedia systems cannot compete against the online multimedia. 2. Advancement of technology When CD was first introduced with multimedia, it brought the power of interactive searching to users and the library staff in general (Day, 1994 cited by Bradley, 2006). The entire library could be stored at one place and could be viewed at any computer from anywhere. The process was hastened by networking CD-ROM drives. This allows access from the desktop and it is no more necessary to visit a library. This however posed a challenge as training the end users was important. This technology decreased the cost of storage space. Information was readily available through the CDs and these became the method of data delivery. With time this too was gradually replaced by online availability of data. The access became through internet which made the CDs redundant. Online vendors could provide access through the internet. The digitalization of multimedia documents and environments helped overcome the difficulties of mixed media and also facilitated the integration of languages. Text, graphics, sounds and images, once digitized could be modified, edited and intermixed. It became possible to make exact copies of the individual and create indices that helped locate information but more importantly it facilitated transmission via communication networks (Martin, 2000). This means it became possible to access documents from any part of the world and navigate through one information source to another. This in turn implies that a document is no more a finite object that exists in one time and place. A single fragmented document, which itself has been constructed through extensive search of several other documents, has multiple locations distributed through out computers all over the world. It can be found in cyberspace and can be accessed from any point of connection. 3. Application and advantages of online multimedia Multimedia today is being used by different people for different purposes. It is used for instruction, training and technical presentations, for personal and video conferencing, public information points for libraries, hospitals, tourist sites and monuments, and product information catalogues (Ramaiah, 1998). It is also used as a reference tool like directories and encyclopedia, entertainment, leisure and home, at conferences and trade shows. Tourism is one such area that has fully exploited the full strength of multi media for developing tourist information systems for public and libraries. 3.1 Learning environment Colleges and universities are no more limited to a given geographical market area. Their market is limited to those who have internet access. Institutions are establishing extensive partnerships with vendors and with other institutions to enrich their online curricular offerings (Morrison, 2003). This gives them a comparative advantage in a competitive environment. Colleges and universities are becoming virtual with substantial online instructional capability. Their assessment system is designed to ensure that those who receive degrees are qualified to perform at the implied level. Enrollment too is no more restricted annually but is a continuous ongoing system. Distance education programs have now become standard in most colleges and universities (Moyo & Cahoy, 2003). The academic libraries are as equipped to serve the remote students as regular students. Interactive internet technologies have helped to create online learning environments that support learning communities. It has been found that there is little or no difference in students’ performance between video instruction and face-to-face instruction (Volery & Lord, 2000). Nevertheless, distance learning has certain challenges. The network setup should allow for both synchronous and asynchronous exchange; the access should be convenient and the network should require minimum time for document exchange. Because of online technology, the students may feel isolated and hence along with the distributed learning, the instructor’s role is also important. The instructor should be available to the students for clarification or even just to be in touch. The instructor should also have a good command over the technology to help the students out of such situations. Students should possess the basic skills necessary to undertake online multimedia training. The use of images in the teaching and learning process need not be emphasized. Subjects like medicine, biology, fine arts, and archaeology have always integrated the use of images into the teaching process (Mowat, 2002). With the availability of visual materials other subjects are also incorporating the use of images in the teaching process. It makes learning more memorable because as more senses are involved in the experience, it is more likely to be remembered. With online facility added to this facility, the learning experience is enhanced. It is now possible to have online tutorials, virtual field trips, and case studies through visually rich content that can be presented in an interactive and engaging way. The internet also paves the way for full multimedia productions. The digital environment has made it possible for instructors and learners to communicate in virtual interconnected spaces and engage in online real time seminars and tutorials (Wang, 2003). However there are certain constraints. The internet bandwidth may not be robust enough to support the multimedia. If one has to depend on telephone lines or internet service provider, the user charges may be steep. Besides, there could be technical difficulties that hamper the communication. 3.2 Broadcast media Through the use of online multimedia, the broadcast media have played a vital role in constructing and supporting nationality, nation states, and the public sphere (Kerr, 1998). The emergence of new media has led to blurring of boundaries between industrial sectors, media platforms and information nodes. This does not lead to the end of the traditional broadcasting media. Application of new technology only augments the services. Online presence has only helped to add value to existing content activities and create new revenue streams by exploiting the potential of technology to enable new services to be developed for the audiences. Internet is a new delivery mechanism as it helps to serve an audience beyond the strict transmission parameters established by traditional terrestrial and satellite transmission systems. An online presence helps to determine how many people are accessing the site and the advertisers decide on their plans accordingly. The broadcast companies can also offer digitized versions of all daily newspapers. The service can be available beyond the library opening hours and the library can work in close association with the readers as they receive a feedback which helps them to improve upon their services. Online archives can be collected and protected. Selective audience can be allowed access to the archives or against payments or membership. 3.3 Healthcare industry It is not just the broadcasting industry but the healthcare industry has benefited too with online multimedia technology. Today online patient data has become essential in a distributed patient care environment. Clinical images can be stored through out the medical facility. The patient data is displayed in an integrated fashion which facilitates medical decision making (Dayhoff, Kuzmak & Meldrum, n.d.). From individual workstations data can be refreshed and there is no repeated information. Access can be from any site or location and simultaneously more than one user can access the data. There is no loss of patient information, radiology images and Video clips such as echocardiogram, cardiac cath films, barium swallows are readily available. In short, the multimedia patient record can be combined with traditional patient record components. Data from different sources and different specialties can be integrated. The interface is user friendly and with a little training the people at the work stations can successfully handle the patent data. Because of the application of online multimedia telemedicine has also become a possibility. It saves on time and costs apart from increasing efficiency. The internet is a major technical advancement that has reshaped the lives of the people, the organizations and the communities. 3.4 World of music Even in the world of music, the artists can find their own audience by distributing and promoting their music electronically. Groups like Internet Underground Music Archive, (IUMA) allow the users to log in and download songs, musician bios and artwork (Maurer, 2008). Choices of music formats are available and interactions with the artists are also possible. Because of online multimedia technology it is possible to capture and manipulate digital audio, video, and graphics. Music can be digitally recorded in mono and stereo format and then compressed and encoded. It is also possible to play two different songs at the same time. It is also possible to call for all the rock bands played in the last six months and the search would bring up just those results. These make the CDs redundant as it is possible to download or collect music directly off the net in real time. 3.5 Journalism and multimedia In the multimedia world the role of the journalists has changed too. According to Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, a journalist plays the role of the authenticator, sense-maker, navigator, and forum-leader (Reportr, 2008). Journalists should be able to authenticate facts and they should be able to provide links to the sources mentioned in their story. There are apprehensions that this would drive the readers away from the story but this fear is unfounded. The people will go to the links anyway and hence if the journalists provide this link it would add value to their work and build up the role of the journalists as a navigator. Journalism has shifted from being a product to a service and hence the news outlet has shifted from being a final destination to being a part of the network. In the competitive environment the journalists have no alternative but to adapt to the demands of the society. 3.6 Podcasting Online multimedia technology like podcasting has helped to keep the radio technology alive. Podcasting is a technology through which a user can enjoy selected programs from a private internet radio show (Mathew, 2005). Radio programs can be streamed as audio files that can be saved on the computer. These are then used to produce radio shows and published on the internet. This technology is now used as the latest medium for communication and spreading news, views, messages, music and products. Audio files are being attached to blogs which allows them to share information or interesting programs. Even technology giants like Microsoft and Yahoo have been eyeing this technology which promises high potential. This technology does not necessarily require an iPod but can be equally easily accessed through the personal computer and a music player that supports MP3 files. Today even video files can be transmitted as podcasts. Available software enables the user to download the material to the computer and one can listen at one’s convenience. In the traditional radio channel the listener is forced to listen to whatever is transmitted whereas in podcasts he can choose what he wants to listen to. Podcasts is even used by churches to transmit their sermons from their morning service. Apple has an online music store called iTunes which was initially launched in the US and Europe but is now also available in Asia (Mathew, 2005). podcasts have geown in popularity to the extent it has even reached India. Drawbacks will persist – for instance porn podcasts have found their way to the internet – but then porn material is available on other sites too. It has now become easy to upload and download as most developing nations too offer high bandwidth internet connection. Hence podcasts have replaced the traditional multimedia system. 3.7 Online Videos Online videos are being used by marketers and businesses as a promotional strategy as they help to create a personal interaction between a business and its customers. In an era when people are perpetually short of time, it is more convenient for them to click on a link and watch a video than read through some text (Bytecaster, 2008). Besides, the combined audio and visuals in the video have a larger impact on the audience. They have the ability to capture emotions and the ability to demonstrate complex processes or solutions that are difficult to explain (Johnson, 2008). It would be tough to communicate these through words or pictures alone. Videos are uploaded on YouTube (a venture of Google) and links are provided on blogs or corporate websites. Nearly 48 percent of internet users have visited the online video sites like YouTube and over the years there has been a dramatic increase in the use of this technology. The reason as cited by Johnson is the broadband technology. Online videos are accessible by nearly every computer user – both from home and work. Online videos are even available on news and sports, music and movies, commercials and even educational content. Research suggests that 63% of respondents accessed online videos at least once a week. Online video for the B2B community is a new way to open dialogue with customers. Streaming videos are also produced and published but the target audiences’ needs have to kept in mind. 4. Advantages of online multimedia system over the traditional CD Videos are even advertised through search engines and are a very powerful marketing tool. Making videos too is convenient with all support and software available on the internet. To upload a video or download it, one does not have to physically sit at the computer. The program to download can be started and one can either keep working at the computer or come back later to view it. It thus allows the flexibility of viewing and downloading. A CD with the same product advertisement could not reach as many people at the same time, with minimal costs as it is possible through online videos. The CDs have another disadvantage that a slightest scratch on the surface of the CD can render the CD ineffective. Networking is not possible through the traditional CD system. 5. Conclusion While there are a few disadvantages in the online system, the advantages and benefits derived far outweigh the disadvantages. Today sophisticated computers and gadgets, software and technology are readily available on the internet. Broadband and the necessary bandwidth too are available in most developing nations. With advancement in technology the costs for such usage has shrunk while the speed has increased. This makes the systems user friendly and more and more users availing of technology can be found. The traditional multimedia through the CDs is certainly not as effective as it does not allow for corrections, editing, modifying and making the material available through the network to people across the globe at the same time and in real time. The online multimedia technology is way above the traditional system. 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