Digital Media and Multimedia Applications

MIDTERM EXAM STUDY GUIDE

The exam will consist of questions from lectures, course web pages and the multimedia web page assignment.

1. Digital Compression - Dr. Coleman's Lecture notes and class discussion. Pay attention to definitions and conversions. Class notes may be used during this part of the exam.

Additional References:

• Data Compression Book- Nelson & Gailly, 2nd Ed., 1996 (pp 326-332)
• Data and Image Compression: Tools and Techniques - Held, 4th Ed., 1996 (pp 47-71)
• Graphic File Formats- Murray and vanRyper, 2nd Ed., 1996 (pp 153-203)
• JPEG Still Image Compression Standard- Pennbaker and Mitchell, 1993 (pp 9-55)

2. Alias | Wavefront - Basics (i.e. How it is launched, Discussion of some the options in power animator, and tool palette etc.). -- Be familiar with how it works. Also, there will be questions from the Alias|Wavefront handout, "Introducing Alias".

3. Multimedia Concepts - Dr. Harris

Reading Assignments:

• Heath - Chapters 1, 2 and 3
• Class Handouts

Topics

• What is multimedia? History of?
• CD-ROM example of Data Storage
• Authoring Process Overview
• Why Digital Audio? Video?
• Lossy vs. Lossless Compression - Examples
• Analog to Digital - How is this conversion made.
• Sampling and Sample Rate
• Nyquist's Rate - Example CD, MD and voice
• File Formats - Why JPEG? Tiff, Quicktime, etc. ?

4. Major Media Corporations - Dr. Shurn's notes. Know who the corporations are and their major products, divisions and subsiduaries.

5. Media Formats - Dr. Shurn's (Kwesi Ames) notes. Know the various file formats, their origin and when it makes sense to use a particular type.

6. Hollywood Special Effects - Keith Hunter. Know the various companies, the types of persons that they hire like modelers and lighters, what it takes to get a job. Also, know some of the projects done by Rythm & Hues. Here are some sample questions. The answers can be obtained from class notes or the Rythm & Hues web site.

• What's one of the most important detail type components to modeling?
• What are 2 ways to start modeling in the computer?
• What's one of the most important detail type components to lighting?

7. Color and Perception - Dr. Lee Notes

• Color is one of the design elements in aesthetic theories.
  
• The use of colors in presentations are often subjective.
  
• The top 4 most popular colors for adults are: blue, red, green and white. The top 4 most popular colors for children are: yellow, white, pink and red.
  
• Color has three basic uses in presentations. They are: identifying, contrasting, and highlighting.
  
• Color has the power of influencing viewers' emotions, perceptions, moods and actions.
  

8. New Media Products - Prof. Tuckers Notes.