---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Multimedia: Introduction (1 of 6) SunFLASH Vol 40 #25 April 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This set of 6 articles explains the tecnologies of Multimedia technology. -johnj ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Introduction to Multimedia 2. Sun's Multimedia Direction 3. Key Multimedia Concepts 4. Audio 5. Video 6. ISDN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Introduction to Multimedia Multimedia technology will ultimately take the disparate technologies of the computer, the telephone, the fax machine, the CD player, and the video camera and combine them into one powerful communication center. Technologies that were once analog - video, audio, telephony - are now digital. The power of multimedia is the integration of these digital technologies. At some point in the future, Sun Workstations" will be connected via Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) phone lines to workstations around the world. The implementation of ISDN will make possible an international phone system that will serve as a global network. If as the saying goes, the "network is the computer", then the "computer" is about to become very large. This will geometrically expand the number of ways that we can exchange information. We'll exchange electronic mail with people on other networks, in other companies, in other countries. We'll fax information to them directly from our workstations. We'll be able to set up a video-conference from our workstations with people on the other side of the world who aren't even on the same network. They'll be able to see us and hear us, and we'll be able to see and hear them at the same time. We'll develop documents with audio and video components that we can then send anywhere. There is even the future possibility that we'll be able to speak into our computers and mail a translated audio message electronically to a recipient in another country speaking another language! This booklet describes some key concepts for multimedia. It talks about Sun's multimedia directions, and describes some of the more technical aspects of audio, video, and ISDN technologies. Before looking at multimedia in more detail, let's take a look at how multimedia technology can benefit a company's business. The following scenario will become more and more common in the months and years ahead. Let's say that you run a major credit card company that employs thousands of people, and that you have recently succeeded in getting your company to adopt multimedia technology. What kinds of changes might you see that tell you that your efforts have paid off? o Service time per customer reduced, and an additional increase in customer satisfaction When a customer calls in, a window displays on the service representative's screen with complete information about the customer: records of the last series of transactions, images of credit card slips, and a variety of other pertinent information. A service representative can raise a customer's credit limit by creating a document on-line with the customer's request and credit information, and forwarding it over the network to a credit agent in another city. The agent can send the customer a fax of the request. Based on the information in the database, the service representative can propose other services to the customer. For instance, for a customer that travels often the agent can discuss new travel discounts. o A decrease in travel time and expenses and an increase in the level of communication Now you as CEO can hold meetings with your executives by simply setting up a videoconference on your workstation so you can all see and hear each other. You can discuss current issues, examine and mark up documents together, and even share a whiteboard - all on your own workstations. Your company's high-level executives also like the way that multimedia keeps them in touch with each other when they do travel. Via phone lines, they can check back with the main office to receive voice or electronic mail messages. They can even pull important information from their workstations and have it faxed to them or read to them over the phone, using a text-to-speech application. o A decrease in the amount of time required to train new employees, less money spent on training efforts, and an increase in customer satisfaction A series of modular multimedia presentations were developed in-house incorporating text, still images, full-motion video, graphics, and audio. New employees can now learn their jobs interactively at their workstations by viewing presentations specific to their work. Because the modules are developed in-house, they can also be easily updated to accommodate the latest information. The above scenarios might seem like a slice of life from the next century, but these scenarios are really a lot closer than that. To learn more about multimedia and the plans Sun has for incorporating multimedia into its products, read on! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.