Collaborative Media Technologies - Essay Example

Collaborative media technologies can be used in the planning, design, development and delivery of multimedia projects. Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Abstract 3 Planning multimedia project 4 Collaborative tool for designing 5 Collaborative tool for development 6 Collaborative tool for delivering project 7 Conclusion 8 References 8 Abstract The current collaborative media techniques for sharing facilitates a user in finding out media items, for instance recordings, music, pictures, play lists, video games. In addition, it also involves media devices or players (devices those are able regarding storing, receiving and playing media), which are downloaded and accessed. The collaborative media contemporaneously finds out a users media preferences based on media and recommended media for possible sharing to others through determined preferences (Diercks-O’Brien & Sharratt, 2002). While the previous limitations in accessing media and sharing methods are now resolved through the implementation of the contemporary collaborative media and associated sharing and recommendation methods, because, the contemporary collaborative media methods utilize agents on media players/devices to enlarge the extent of media sharing situations (Lamoureux & Rehak, 2007). The method supports a client in finding out media items and which are appealing to the user. The collaborative media commendation and sharing method contemporaneously find out a users media preferences foundational on media stored on a group of media devices as well as suggest media for potential sharing foundational on these assessable regarding user preferences (Diercks-O’Brien & Sharratt, 2002). The emergence of new technology for the development, designing and planning has offered a huge number of advantages to developers. In addition, at the present, we have a lot of applications those are helpful in collaboration and mutual data sharing. A project is a collection of various similar activities. All the activities are involved with each other, especially in multimedia projects. So the collaboration is the main thing in the successful implementation or completion of a multimedia project. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the new and more effective aspects of the collaboration technology and it’s utilization for the better project development and implementation. This paper presents a detailed analysis and investigation of the collaborative media technologies that can be used in the planning, designing, development, and delivery of multimedia projects. Planning multimedia project According to Kellerman (2009) a multimedia project is a substantial task that requires effective planning, management and organization of tasks. In this scenario we need to pay greater attention to management and handling of the multimedia project. A successful outcome relies on the time as well as effort that we spend in planning the project in an effective manner throughout project development to attain its intended objectives (Kellerman, 2009). In case of planning of a project we need to pay more attention on the project topic, purpose, audience, approach, and metaphor. This will be more helpful regarding the project analysis and investigation to plan the project in a better way (Diercks-O’Brien & Sharratt, 2002). In case of better planning of Kukreja (2009) stated that online collaborative planning technology facilitates people to plan the multimedia projects and tasks together on the peer base. Everybody can mutually assign tasks, contribute and track the progress of the project through utilization of the online collaborative planning technology (Kellerman, 2009) & (Lamoureux & Rehak, 2007). In addition, online collaborative planning technology is a combination of project management systems, collaborative and groupware software. In this scenario we have tools like “Wrike” that facilitate users to manage projects as well as project tasks in a better way. Furthermore, the implementation of such tools can facilitate and contribute to project to decentralize control as well as responsibility intended for general plans of project (kukreja, 2009). Another online collaborative tool for the multimedia project management is Mindomo. This tool is available at http://www.mindomo.com/. This tool can facilitate in better planning and management of the multimedia project. In addition, the Mindomo helps in organizing the ideas, and work at the same place, because all the project team are connected through a single project management platform. The next main significance of this technology is to facilitate in the everyday problems because we can have a better insights into the associations among various parts of the problem as well as able to create an ideal solution regarding the overall planning of the project. This tool also helps in project tracking. In this scenario Mindomo offers the facility of Gantt chart and other planning facilities those are utilized to take better project plan1. Collaborative tool for designing Twiddla is another web based collaborative designing system that helps in effective designing and sharing of the multimedia project designs. This tool is available on the following link http://www.twiddla.com/. In addition, the facilities and tools offered by this online collaborative designing system are very effective in handling and working on a multimedia project designs1. Twiddla’s main effectiveness for designing a system is obtained through the availability of tools such as graphics, mark up websites, photos, brainstorming, and ideas sharing on a blank canvas. In addition, by using this tool we can get a great facility of browsing web by our coworkers/project team/friends or make a conference call in a more productive way. Furthermore, this technology is not having some plug-ins for working, facility of downloads and firewall voodoo. This system is more user-friendly working environment1. Twiddla offers better browsing, websites sharing, real-time whiteboard sharing, files sharing and real time chatting. All these functionalities made the Twiddla a real-time online collaboration tool that is offering attractiveness in accessibility and simplicity. Another main feature of Twiddla is that it is free and there is no need to pay any cost for web-based meeting and collaboration1. Collaborative tool for development Presently the emergence of the outsourcing and virtual team’s concepts offered new challenges to project management field, especially in multimedia projects. In this scenario we need a tool that offers better facilities of the project development through different project developers and team at the same work place. I have researched and found that GForge is a new and more effective web based collaborate tool that offers collaborative multimedia development. This tool is available at following web link http://gforgegroup.com/. GForge offers a greater facility regarding project spaces to multimedia technology developers. Here we have controls access by means of role based access controls. In addition, the GForge is a web based collaborate technology that offers enhanced collaborative features like that online mailing lists, message forums, trackers, wikis as well as mixes in advanced procedure controls similar to event-driven workflow2. GForge offers various distinct project spaces those can be established and organized into hierarchies. GForge presents indication pages and permits us to look all through our multimedia projects as well as develop reports and Gantt charts2. In addition, the main feature of GForge is the hierarchy of the project structures that can allow us to arrange group projects in a tree format, develop project reports, and control access to different project areas3. GForge is a free and unlimited user version and its community edition is supportive up to 15 users for advanced server support and development. In addition, GForge Group provides online development space of 75MB to each system developer3. Below I have presented the image of GForge technology that shows its facilities3: Figure 1- GForge facilities Source: [http://gforgegroup.com/es/] Collaborative tool for delivering project The development of new multimedia technology is a really hard task; on the other hand its successful delivery is also a tough and challenging job. In case of collaborative environment this goes harder for the overall development. Therefore, we need efficient technology for the overall technology development. After extensive research on collaborative tools for delivering project I have found that Nexus Point Solutions Ltd has developed a new project collaboration portal for project development and collaboration especially in case of the multimedia projects. In this scenario the new technology offered by the Nexus system presents next-generation project collaboration, which offers easy and effective control over delivery of the projects (Nexus , 2009). This new technology offers modern and up-to-date services, communication, and better control over the technology platform for their deliverance (Nexus , 2009). Conclusion This paper has presented a comprehensive analysis of the different collaborative technologies that are used in the media technologies planning, design, development and delivery of multimedia projects. This paper has offered an overview of different technologies, their effectiveness, and quality of services regarding the planning, design, development and delivery of multimedia projects. I hope this report will offer an insight into the collaborative technologies analysis. References Diercks-O’Brien, G., & Sharratt, R., 2002. Collaborative Multimedia Development Teams in Higher Education. http://www.ifets.info/journals/5_1/diercks.html [Accessed 25 January 2010]. Kellerman, A., 2009. Planning a multimedia project. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/multimedia_education/11762 [Accessed 25 January 2010]. kukreja, k., 2009. Project Management 2.0 Tools -Part 4:Collaboration Planning Tools. http://project-and-program-management.com/?p=632 [Accessed 25 January 2010]. Lamoureux, T., & Rehak, L., 2007. Review of Collaborative Tools for Planning and Engineering. http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA475372&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf [Accessed 25 January 2010]. Nexus ., 2009. Nexus launches next-genetation Incite project collaboration tool. http://www.pacetoday.com.au/Article/Nexus-launches-next-genetation-Incite-project-collaboration-tool/475533.aspx [Accessed 25 January 2010]. Read More