Components to build multimedia systems

A multimedia system is built from hardware, software, networks and content. Together these components capture, store, process, transmit and present several media (text, graphics, audio, video, animation) in an integrated way.

 Capture --> Computer system --> Storage
 devices     (CPU, RAM, cards,       |
             OS, software)      Network
                  |                  |
                  v                  v
            Output devices <---- Remote users

1. Capture (input) devices

They convert real-world media into digital form: keyboard and mouse (text, control), microphone with sound card (audio), digital camera, camcorder and video capture card (images, video), scanner and graphics tablet (images, drawings).

2. Computer system (processing)

• Processor and memory: a fast CPU, large RAM and often a GPU are required because audio and video processing and compression are heavy.
• Expansion cards: sound card, graphics card, video capture and TV tuner cards.
• Operating system: with multimedia support such as real-time scheduling, device drivers and media APIs.

3. Storage devices

Multimedia data is large, so high-capacity storage is needed: hard disks and RAID for fast access, optical discs (CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray), flash drives and memory cards, and tape for archives.

4. Communication networks

Used to deliver multimedia to remote users: LAN, WAN, Internet, wireless networks and broadcast networks. They need high bandwidth, low delay and jitter, and QoS support for streaming and conferencing.

5. Output (presentation) devices

Monitor or projector for images and video, loudspeakers and headphones for sound, printers for hard copy, and VR headsets or touch screens for interaction.

6. Software

• Media editing tools: image editors (Photoshop), audio editors (Audacity), video editors, animation tools.
• Authoring tools: put media together with interaction (Flash, Director, PowerPoint).
• Compression software/codecs and player software.
• Database and application software.

7. Content and people

Text, audio, video and graphics data, created by designers, programmers, artists and subject experts. Without good content the hardware has no use.

Example configuration

A basic multimedia PC for education has: a Core i5 or better CPU, 8 GB RAM, a graphics card and sound card, 1 TB hard disk and DVD writer, webcam with microphone, colour scanner, 24-inch monitor, speakers and headphones, broadband Internet, Windows or Linux with media players, plus software such as Photoshop, Audacity and Flash for creating the content.

Summary of roles