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Deborah Morley
Charles S. Parker
15th Edition
Understanding Computers
Today and Tomorrow
Comprehensive
Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning
Chapter 10
Multimedia and
the Web

Learning Objectives
1. Define Web-based multimedia and list some advantages and
disadvantages of using multimedia.
2. Describe each of the following multimedia elements—text,
images, animation, audio, and video—and tell how they
differ.
3. Briefly describe the basic steps and principles involved with
designing a multimedia Web site.
4. List the various tasks involved with developing a multimedia
Web site.
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition
2
2

Learning Objectives
5. Explain how markup languages, scripting languages, and
other tools are used today to create multimedia Web pages.
6. Discuss the possible use of Web-based multimedia in the
future.
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 3

Overview
• This chapter covers:
– What Web-based multimedia is and how it is used today
– The advantages and disadvantages of using multimedia
– Basic multimedia elements commonly found on Web
pages
– Steps and principles in designing a multimedia site
– How a multimedia Web site is developed and the software
used during this process
– The future of Web-based multimedia
4

What Is Web-Based Multimedia?
• Multimedia
– The integration of a variety of media, such as text, images,
video, animation, and sound
• Web-Based Multimedia (also called rich media)
– Multimedia (sound, video, animation) located on Web
pages
• Multimedia Sites
– Are interactive
– Often contain elements that users interact with directly
– Display information as requested by the Web page visitor

What Is Web-Based Multimedia?
• Fast computers and broadband Internet connections make
Web-based multimedia much more feasible than in the past
• Vast majority of Web sites today include multimedia
(advertisements, TV shows, podcasts, user generated content)
• Why Learn About Web-Based Multimedia?
– Multimedia is an integral component of the Web
– Businesses and individuals need to understand the
characteristics of the various types of multimedia
elements and the impact of adding them to a Web site

Web-Based Multimedia Applications
• Information Delivery
– Photos of products, video clips and podcasts, and users’
manuals are used to convey information
– Important component in Web-based training (WBT)
• E-Commerce
– Online catalogs, samples of movies and music, etc.
– Virtual Reality (VR)
• The use of a computer to create three-dimensional
environments that look like they do in the real world
(i.e., homes for sale)
• Augmented Virtual Reality - overlaying computer
generated images on top of real time images

• Entertainment
– Online TV/movies and games are available through TV
network sites
• Social Media and Virtual Worlds
– Photos and videos on many social networking sites
– 3D Virtual Worlds (Second Life)

Advantages and Disadvantages of
Web-Based Multimedia
• Advantages
– Can deliver some content that could not be delivered
otherwise
– Can address a variety of learning styles
• Visual learners
• Auditory learners
• Kinesthetic learners
– Material more interesting and enjoyable
– Many ideas are easier to convey in multimedia format

Advantages and Disadvantages of
Web-Based Multimedia
• Disadvantages
– Time and cost of development
– The cost of hosting and delivering the multimedia needs to
be considered
– The impact on visitors that have slow Internet connections
or low bandwidth caps

Inside the Industry Box
Military Virtual Worlds
– U.S. military simulations traditionally take months to develop
– Virtual world simulations can be developed much more
quickly and requires
less personnel and
skills
– MOSES is a simulation
created using an OpenSim
grid
– Can be secured behind
firewall

Multimedia Elements
• Text
– Used to supply basic content, and
to add text-based menus and
hyperlinks
– Serif Typeface
• Small lines on edges of letters
• More readable, used for large
bodies of text
– Sans Serif Typeface
• No lines on edges of letters
• Used for titles, headings, Web
page banners

Multimedia Elements
– Different typefaces can convey widely different feelings
– Important to select a typeface that matches the style of
the Web site
– When a consistent text appearance is required (such as for
a logo) an image containing the text is used instead
• Images (Graphics)
– Digital representations of photographs, drawings, charts,
and other visual images
• Images are static and are available in many formats—
TIF, BMP, GIF, JPEG, and PNG
• Clip art consists of pre-drawn images
• Stock photos are also available online

Multimedia Elements

Multimedia Elements
– GIF
• Graphic Interchange Format
• Commonly used for Web page images
• Used with logos, banners, other nonphotographic
images
• 256 colors max
• Uses lossless file compression
• Can be transparent
• Can be interlaced

Multimedia Elements

Multimedia Elements
– PNG
• Portable Network Graphics
• Format designed specifically for use with Web page
images in 1996
• Uses lossless compression
• Can compress more efficiently than GIF
• Can use specific color palette of 256 colors or true color
palette of 16 million colors
• Can also be transparent and interlaced

Multimedia Elements
– JPEG
• Joint Photographic Experts Group
• Standard format for Web page photos
• Uses lossy file compression
– Image quality is lost during compression
• Can use true color
• Can be progressive
• The amount of compression is specified when the file is
saved

Multimedia Elements

Multimedia Elements
– Choosing a Graphic Format
• GIF or PNG—typically used for line art (clip art, logos,
navigation buttons, etc.)
• JPEG—typically used for photographs
• Use thumbnail images
when very large
images are required

Multimedia Elements
• Animation
– A series of graphical images are displayed in succession to
simulate movement
– Java Applet
• A small program inserted into a Web page that
performs a specific task
– Animated GIF
• A group of GIF images saved as an animated GIF file
that is inserted in a Web page
• Displayed one after another to simulate movement

Multimedia Elements
• For more complex animations, developers can use
JavaScript or another scripting language
– Flash, Silverlight
• Many Wed-based animations require a plug-in
• Animation and interactivity can also be achieved using
programming languages
– Audio
• All types of sound including music, spoken voice, sound
effects
• Can be recorded using a microphone or MIDI instrument,
captured from CDs, or downloaded from the Internet

Multimedia Elements
– Often played when an event occurs on a Web page or
when the visitor clicks a link
– Streaming audio is used to speed up delivery
– Common audio file formats include:
• Waveform (.wav)
• Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer 3 (.mp3)
• Audio Interchange Format File (.aiff)
• Advanced Audio Coding (.aac or .m4a)

How It Works Box
MP3 Compression
– Patented compression method; MPEG Audio Layer 3
– Typically compresses a CD-quality song to 1/10th of its size
– Used with Internet music downloads
– Uses perceptual coding and Huffman coding

Multimedia Elements
– Video
• Begins as a continuous stream of visual information,
which is then broken into separate images (frames)
when the video is recorded
• Video data, like audio data, is usually compressed
• Streaming video is recommended to speed up delivery
• Common video file formats include:
.avi .mp2 .mov
.flv .mp4 .wmv

Quick Quiz
1. The most common file format for Web page photographs is
__________.
a. GIF
b. JPEG
c. PNG
2. True or False: Delivery speed is one potential disadvantage of
using Web-based multimedia.
3. A small image that is linked to a larger version of the same
image is called a(n) __________.
Answers:
1) b; 2) True; 3) thumbnail image

Multimedia Web Site Design
• Web Site Design
– The process of planning what a Web site will look like and
how it will function
– Good planning is very important
• Basic Design Principles
– Web pages should be interesting and exciting applications
• Provide information of value or interest
• Provide a stimulating experience
– Pages should load quickly and be easy to use

Multimedia Web Site Design
• Plan for all needed delivery methods and devices
– Features that require a specific browser
– Features that require little used plug-ins
– The size of the page content
• Different devices, browsers, and screen resolutions
affect how Web pages display
– High-bandwidth items
• Watch image file size (use thumbnails)
• Use links to audio, video, and other high-bandwidth
items
• Use streaming audio and video

Technology and You Box
Responsive Web Design (RWD)
– Focuses on building sites that are compatible with a variety
of devices
– Can create multiple
versions of your site
yourself or use a flexible
site that adjusts to each
visitor’s device
– Can create a desktop site
and use a service to
generate mobile versions

Determining the Objectives and
Intended Audience of the Site
• One of the first steps in designing a multimedia application or
Web site
• Objectives of the site affect its content
– Main purpose
– Supplemental activities and social media tie-ins
• Intended audience affects the appearance (such as the style,
graphics, fonts, and colors) of the site
• Once the objectives and audience have been identified, you
should have a good idea of the main topics to be included in
the site

Using Flowcharts, Page Layouts, and
Storyboards
• Flowchart
– Used during the Web design process to illustrate how the
pages in a Web site relate to one another
• Page Layout
– Illustrates the basic layout and navigational structure of a
Web site
– Typically two are created: one for the home page and one
for the rest of the pages in the site
• Storyboard
– Ordered series of sketches showing each page or screen in
an animation sequence

Using Flowcharts, Page Layouts, and
Storyboards

Navigational Design Considerations
• Users should be able to get to most pages on the site within
three mouse clicks
– Using site maps and drop-down menus with larger Web
sites will help
• Navigational items should be placed in the same location on
every page
• Break long pages into multiple pages
• Add a text name to images
• A link to the home page should appear on every page
• Include identifying information on each page to indicate
which page is currently displayed

Navigational Design Considerations

Access Considerations
• Device Compatibility
– The device being used to access a Web site affects how the
site will appear and how functional it will be
– Develop a plan for mobile access of your site
• Assistive Technology
– Hardware and software specially designed for individuals
with physical disabilities
• Screen readers and Braille displays
• Alternative text (alt tags)
– Also watch reading level of site

Access Considerations

Quick Quiz
1. Which of the following is most often used to illustrate what a Web
page will look like?
a. Flowchart
b. Storyboard
c. Page layout
2. True or False: In order for a screen reading program to identify an
image-based hyperlink, alternative text must be assigned to that
image.
3. A Web page that contains links to all the main pages on a Web site is
called a(n) __________.
Answers:
1) c; 2) True; 3) site map

Multimedia Web Site Development
• Web Site Development
– The process of creating, testing, publishing, and
maintaining a Web site
• Occurs after the site is designed
• Can be performed in-house or outsourced
• Creating the Multimedia Elements
– Usually several different software programs are used
• Image editing and animation software
• Audio and video editing software
– Each element should be saved in the appropriate size,
resolution, and file format

• Creating the Web Site
– Markup Language
• Uses symbols or tags to describe what a document
should look like when it is displayed in a Web browser
– JavaScript or other scripting languages can be used to add
dynamic content
– Web site authoring software is often used to create an
entire site

• Hypertext Markup Language
(HTML)
– The original markup language
– Uses HTML tags to indicate
where effects and elements
belong in the Web page
– Some tags are paired
– The computer and browser
being used still determines
exactly how the Web page will
display

• Extensible Markup Language (XML)
– A set of rules for exchanging data over the Web
– Addresses the content but not the formatting
– Uses XML tags to identify data
– Allows data to be extracted and reused as needed
• Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML)
– A newer version of HTML based on XML
– Controls the appearance and format of a Web page like
HTML
– Stricter rules than HTML

• HTML5
– Newest version is designed to replace the previous
versions of both HTML and XHTML
– Includes new tags and features that support the creation
of more complex and dynamic Web pages
– Is open standard
– No proprietary software or plug-ins required
– New tags include <video> and <audio> for media,
<canvas> that creates a bitmapped surface to work with,
and section tags to identify the parts of a Web page
(<header>, <article>, <nav>, etc.)

• Cascading Style Sheets (CSSs)
– Used to specify the styles used with a Web page or an
entire Web site
– Specified in an Internal style sheet (head section of Web
page) or in an External style sheet
• Normally used in an external style sheet and connected
to web pages through a link statement in the head
section of the desired pages
• Styles are applied to all of the linked Web pages at one
time
– Improves consistency and efficiency

• Wireless Markup Language (WML)
– Used to create Web pages to be displayed on WAP-
enabled wireless devices, such some older mobile phones
• Scripting Languages
– Used with Web pages with lots of dynamic content
• Allows the inclusion of scripts (instructions) in the Web
page code
• JavaScript, VBScript, Perl

• AJAX
– Creates faster, more efficient interactive Web applications
– Only requests new data from the server, not the entire Web
page, when the page is updated
– Interactive Web pages built with AJAX run faster
– Normally require less bandwidth than conventional Web
applications

• ActiveX
– Set of specifications for reusing software components that
can be sued to integrate multimedia and other interactive
elements into Web pages
– Extends OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) to integrate
content from two or more programs
– Allows a variety of types of Windows files to be viewed via
Web pages
• Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) and X3D
– A language used to create 3D Web pages
– Successor is X3D

Trend Box
Push Technology and xRTML
– Conventional Web pages
have the user pull data from
the server
– Push technology delivers
content automatically as it
becomes available
– One emerging option for Web
sites and apps for all devices is
xRTML
– Delivers data in a timely
manner and saves data
transfer costs

• Web Site Authoring Software
– Used to create Web pages and entire Web sites
(Dreamweaver)
– Appropriate JavaScript or other code is automatically
generated
– Allows you to create an entire cohesive Web site, not just
individual pages
– Allows you to easily include forms and database
connectivity
– Often includes tests for broken links & accessibility tests
– Web site builder – cloud versions

Testing, Publishing, and Maintaining
the Site
• Web site should be thoroughly tested prior to publishing
– All hyperlinks should be clicked to ensure they take the
user to the proper location
– Complex animations (such as games and tutorials) should
be tested individually
– Proofread each page or screen carefully
– Use Web page code validators built into Web site
authoring programs or online validator services
– Consider a “stress test”

the Site

the Site
• Once thoroughly tested, Web site is ready to be published
– Identify Web server
– Upload files
• After publishing, the Web site must be maintained
– Update content and check links on a regular basis
– Site should be evaluated on a regular basis to locate areas
needing improvement

The Future of Web-Based Multimedia
• Web-based multimedia will be more exciting and more
embedded into everyday events
• Web-based content, cloud services, and home entertainment
devices will likely continue to converge to allow seamless
access to desired content on the user’s device of choice
• Technology will evolve to support mobile multimedia
• Usage of multimedia applications that are tied to a
geographical location or current status and that involve user-
generated content will also likely continue to grow

Quick Quiz
1. Which of the following markup languages is most often used to
create Web pages?
a. HTML
b. JavaScript
c. WML
2. True or False: Web site authoring software can typically be used to
create all of the Web pages on a site, including adding animated
elements, video clips, etc.
3. The HTML code __________ would begin to bold Web page text.
Answers:
1) a; 2) True; 3) <b>

Summary
• What is Web-Based Multimedia?
• Multimedia Elements
• Multimedia Web Site Design
• Multimedia Web Site Development
• The Future of Web-Based Multimedia

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