Understanding Distributed Multimedia : Technologies and Applications

Multimedia means the simultaneous use of two or more forms of media, such as text with sound or moving images with music.

Distributed multimedia is still in its infancy, but it is one of the fastest growing technology areas.

It involves many disciplines including video and audio coding, real-time software, communication networks, mobile communications, rapid access databases and terminals.

It has an impact on industry, science, education, commerce and the home.

After a brief summary of the historical background of multimedia, this report reviews the various technologies that enable distributed multimedia systems to be implemented in a wide range of applications.

Four contemporary case studies cover distributed multimedia applications in areas ranging from security surveillance in transport, remote learning, a railway route finder on the World Wide Web to a multimedia Fieldbus application - remote access to an electron microscope.

Evolving technologies are reviewed to indicate the advances that are expected in the near future and how these will enhance multimedia systems.

A glossary of terms is provided with an extremely useful categorized list of references.