CSE/ISE 334 Course Information

Course number:
CSE or ISE 334

Course title:
"Introduction to Multimedia Systems"

Course description:
This is a survey course of both electronic and digital media technologies. Students learn a wide variety of multimedia standards, formats, and data types; and develop proficiency with industry-standard tools for capturing, editing, and processing media. Relevance to software development, such as interface design or digital entertainment, is demonstrated through case studies. The nature of light and sound, and the biology of human perception are explored along with implications for digital representation of information. Intellectual property rights and other ethical issues related to media are discussed. Students work independently on lab exercises and build a final multimedia project that integrates the exercises.

Prerequisite(s):
U2 or higher status.

Number of credits:
3

Course topics:
What is Multimedia?
Conduits of information: print, broadcast, internet
Vehicles of expression: text, graphics, animation, audio, video, 3D
Multimedia systems approach

The Nature of Information
Analog Events, Digital Recordings
Waveforms
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Color models
Frequency and Amplitude, Pitch and Volume, Color and Brightness
Transducers
Sampling rate, quantization
Aliasing

The Biology and Psychology of Human Perception
Visible spectrum
Auditory range
Sensory bandwidth
Psychology of color
Pattern recognition

The Design of Information
Aspect ratio and figure-ground relationships
Iconography
Design of statistical and schematic data
Cartography

Computer-Human Interaction
Human factors
Modes of interaction

Intellectual Property
Copyright
Visual Artist's Rights Act
Trade Secret
Trademark
Patent
Work for Hire

The Future of "New Media"
Immersive technology
Media convergence
Ubiquitous computing
Computer-supported collaborative work

Pictures
Image capture
Rasterizing
Graphics formats
Digital color and palettes
Graphics compression

Text and Graphics
Vectors
Icons
Text formats, character sets, and fonts
Typography
Hypertext

Audio
Audio capture
Digital audio vs. MIDI
Audio formats
Audio compression

Animation
Animation principles
Frame rate
Rotoscopy
Interpolation
Kinematics
Animation formats

3D
3D modeling
Motion capture
Texture mapping
3D formats
3D animation

Video
Video capture
Analog video vs. digital video
Video formats and standards
Video compression

Recommended Textbook:

Digital Multimedia, 2nd edition
Nigel and Jenny Chapman
ISBN: 0-470-85890-7
John Wiley & Sons, February 2004

Course objectives:
Upon completion of the course students should demonstrate an understanding of multimedia standards and their perceptual limitations. Students should also be able to digitize and process audio and images, and compress and encode the files appropriately for a variety of delivery methods. They should be able to capture motion and render it realistically, and should also be able to model objects in 3D, render, and animate them. Finally students should be able to synchronize these diverse media elements in a linear presentation.

Computer usage:
Extensive use of Macintosh systems with OSX, computer peripherals, and cross-platform development tools. Software tools include Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Carrara, Comic Life, Garage Band, iPhoto, iWeb, iMovie, Final Cut and QuickTime.

Course webpage:
http://www.cvc.sunysb.edu/334/

or

http://130.245.140.250/334/

Course email:
cse334@cs.sunysb.edu

Academic Integrity:
Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Any suspected instance of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Judiciary. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/

Special Assistance:
If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services at (631) 632-6748 or http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/dss/. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.

Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Support Services. For procedures and information go to the following website: http://www.sunysb.edu/ehs/fire/disabilities.shtml

Help Desk:
If you need general computer help, you can use the Computer Science Help Desk. Services offered include setting up an account on a department server, using Windows NT, using a browser, and connecting to the campus network. The Help Desk office is located in the SBCS Office - Room 2110.

Course coordinator and instructor:
Tony Scarlatos
tony@cs.sunysb.edu