Multimedia Models

Multimedia refers to the integration of objects external to the computer - sound (music, voice), and video with internal objects such as text, in an interactive computer system. Objects such as graphics and animation may exist in their original form either internal or external to the computer.

A Multimedia system supports multimedia.

Multimedia systems are used:

in business: at sales presentations, in data bases, and public kiosks

in education: for in-class presentations, and whome study

at home: for entertainment and study

The terms Multimedia and Hypermedia have numerous definitions. Often, Multimedia refers to the various objects while Hypermedia refers to their integration.

A number of models have been proposed for multimedia. Many have been influenced by the, now well accepted OSI 7 layer Reference Model for networks :

General Architecture of Hypertext Systems

The Dexter Hypermedia Model

The Amsterdam Hypermedia Model

Interactive Multimedia Association's Model

The HAM or Hypertext Abstract Machine, as described by Campbell and Goodman.

The Trellis model, a reference model by Stotts and Furuta.

The Formal Model by B. Lange, a reference model written in the specification language VDM.

The Tower Model, a more general object-oriented model by De Bra, Houben and Kornatzky.

Professor Edward Fox's Multimedia Course at Virginia Tech

Prof Cox's Multimedia Models

Send questions and comments to: Karen Lemone