Part 2 – Distribution - File Types.

Stuart Matthews
Multimedia Technology
Part 2 – Distribution
File Types.
There are many different file types used to create and present interactive presentations. File formats for picture and image documents include .gif (graphics interchange format). GIF files are limited to 256 colours and supports up to 8 bits per pixel, as well as still images .gif files can be small animations. Transparency can also be used in .gif files. Most drawing and image applications can produce and use .gif files. Because of the limit of colours available on a .gif file the quality of the picture will not be as good as other file formats. Jpeg files are the most common file type used for pictures as they support much more colours than .gif files. Jpeg files allow adjustable compression meaning user can choose between picture quality and picture size. Jpeg files are the most commonly used in digital image capture devices like cameras and mobile phones. Jpegs are the most used file type for pictures on the web. Most drawing applications like Fireworks, Photoshop and Paint can produce and support jpeg files.
File types .swf (shockwave flash) and .fla (flash) are used by Flash to create interactive presentations and movies. Swf files use vectors in animations and are designed to keep files sizes down to allow publication on the internet. Fla files contain the source material for flash documents. Flash software can edit .fla files and export them as .swf files.
Ppt file types are Microsoft PowerPoint files for producing interactive presentations and can include text, pictures and sound files.
QuickTime files (.qt) are used by QuickTime player to display videos, animations, media clips, sound and music. .qt files contain one or more layer each of which stores a particular form of data, this can be sound, video, music or text. QuickTime player also supports other multimedia file types like .wav, .mp3 and .mpeg.
Html files (Hyper text mark-up language) are used for writing pages of the web. Html is the main language used for web pages. Html files can be written in many applications from simple text editors to custom software for writing web pages. Html files are read by web browsers to tell the browser how to place and display text, images, video and sound on a web page. CSS (Cascading style sheets) are used with html files to give more control over how the page is displayed. Using .css files allows the user greater control over the layout and look of the page or site.
Executable files (.exe) are used for running programs. Exe files contain binary information and are created in an IDE (integrated development environment). The finished program is then interpreted or complied to allow use of the program.
Mp3 (mpeg layer 3) files are generally used for music and sound. Mp3s are digital audio encoding formats using lossy data compression to reduce file size. The mp3s remove the very high peaks and low peaks of the sound without much loss of quality of the sound; this is possible as the human ear can’t hear the highest and lowest frequencies that are on a CD track. File sizes are generally 10 times smaller than that of a CD track. Many portable players have been produced to capitalise on the popularity of Mp3s.

Assessment 2 & 3 – Operating Systems

Stuart Matthews
Assessment 2 & 3 – Operating Systems

An operating is the main software component of a computer system. It is responsible for the management of activities and the sharing of computer resources. The operating system acts as a base for all other software on the computer and is responsible for controlling and operating all hardware. The operating system is the link between software and hardware and allows the user to use the computer. Operating systems allow the user to interact with them by the use of commands or a GUI (graphical user interface). GUI’s are commonly a display of icons and graphics navigated by a mouse.
The control panel on windows allows the user to setup how the hardware and software operates on the computer. The way the computer looks can be changed by using Colour Management and Display settings or the software supplied by the graphic card provider.
Fonts can be added, removed and edited for use in software programs operating on the computer like word processing, drawing and video software.
The user can setup how they interact with the computer by changing settings for the keyboard, mouse and any game controllers connected to computer. Different settings allow user to change the speed the mouse moves across the screen and how fast double clicks should be registered.
Power options allow the user to setup how hardware on the system operates and when display and hard drives should be shut down to save power. Screen savers can also be setup to protect display hardware.
Printers and scanners can be setup and allow the user to select print properties and how the computer interacts with the hardware. The user can view printer queues change printer setting and display printer preferences.
Programs and features allow the user to quickly view all software installed on computer and add or remove programs and software.
Most operating systems have their own security software built in and settings for these can be found in the control panel. User can see and change setting for firewalls, anti-virus programs and spy-bot programs.
Many programs allow the user to interact with speech; the operating system allows the user to setup how hardware like microphone and speakers interact with software.
Software on the computer is started by clicking on the icon in the operating system which then runs the software selected.
Memory must also be managed by the operating allowing multiple programs to be run at once without using memory already used.
Device drivers are used to allow the operating system and computer interacts with a hardware device. As each device is different a device drivers is usually included with a hardware device which means that a program can interact with it. Without a device driver the program couldn’t interact with the device.
Operating Systems usually include software for networking making it easier for the user to connect several computers together allowing sharing of files and folders.
Different operating systems available include Windows, OSX and LINUX. Most handheld devices like mobile phone and media players have an operating system installed.

Assessment 2 & 3 – Databases

Stuart Matthews
Assessment 2 & 3 – Databases
Databases are a collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system. The data is then organized into a structure according to a database model. The most common database model in use today is the relational model. The relational model uses tables to display the data allowing the user to select what data to display and what it contains by using queries.
A field is the data entry on a record. Fields are given a name and select options to determine how the fields uses the data. Fields can be given a files type based on the information the field will it contain. Text fields can contain letters, numbers and symbols. Number fields can contain up to 800 numbers. Other field types include date, time, calculation and summary. To save space the number of characters stored in each field should be minimized. Key fields allow information to be found by using unique fields.
Forms are used to put the data into a table making it easier to view and enter large amounts of information. All forms contain a number of fields each with its own name. The fields can be used to enter the data and the layout can be adjusted to make data entry easier for the user.
Reports can be used to quickly view information from table totals. The user can adjust the layout of how the data is displayed.
A query is a request for information from a database. Queries are the quickest way of searching for entries on a database to view or delete records. The layout of the query can be adjusted for the user to select and change entries quickly. Modifiers are used to select what information is displayed.
Macros can be used to automate database processes.

Assessment 2 & 3 – Video Editing

Stuart Matthews
Assessment 2 & 3 – Video Editing
Video editing is the process of arranging and modifying clips of video to form another video. The main goal of video editing is to remove unwanted footage, adding sound to video and creating a new piece of video. The term video editing can refer to linear video editing and non-linear video editing. Linear editing is mainly used for analogue editing and is the process of manually cutting and slicing pieces of video together to create a new video. Non-linear editing is mainly used for digital video editing and is the process of creating videos using computer software. The video editing software displays thumbnails representing clips of footage which can be dragged to a timeline allowing the user to change the arrangement of video.
Digital editing uses a timeline to arrange video making it easy to add effects and change the look of the video without changing the original or losing quality the more times it is cut and pasted. The software typically display a video window with play buttons, a time line showing video clips and a directory of available clips to add to timeline. Effects available include monochrome which gives the video the look of having been filmed with a coloured lens. Intensity and colour can be adjusted to change the look of the effects. Colour enhancement can be used to improve the quality of the video and allows the user to adjust brightness, colour and noise and add effects like blur. Transitions are used to merge clips together to make a more smooth transition rather than jumping from one clip to another. There are many different transition effects available and are easily applied to video clips using software. Transition effect are usually just dragged onto a timeline to apply the effect to the clips.
Video editing software also allows the user to edit the sound on the video. Sound is video is usually split over two layers to allow the use of a backing or sound effect track and a main track. Sound is video is usually record as stereo.
When the user is finished editing software it can then be exported to a suitable file format. The most popular file types include .wmv, .swf and .mp4. Export options allow the user the change the size quality to optimize the final file size of the video. Non-linear (digital) editing allows the user to easily package the the finished movie as CD, DVD, videotape or for publishing on the web. Codec for the video file will also be required for playback.
Hardware required for digital video editing includes a video capture device such as a camcorder, digital camera and even mobile phones can be used to capture video and a microphone. Another way to import video is by using a video capture card Video capture and video editing software will also be needed on the editing computer. The computer should have a large hard disk for large file sizes involved with video editing and a good amount of memory. Other useful hardware for video editing would be a dual monitor setup to allow more desktop space, handy for running multiple programs. Lan-C connections allow the user to control a camcorder from a computer keyboard.