Search (37 results, page 1 of 2)

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Abstract

Considers the new Guidelines for bibliographic description of interactive multimedia published by the ALA in 1994. Examines the current and future status of the Guidelines and discusses the problems involved in applying them to the media coming into the library at La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia

Source

Cataloguing Australia. 22(1996) nos.1/2, S.17-20

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Abstract

Metadata describing multimedia can address a wide variety of purposes, from the purely physical characteristics of an item, to the circumstances surrounding its production, to attributes that cannot necessarily be determined by examining the item itself directly. These latter attributes, often dealing with "meaning" or interpretation of an item's content, are frequently deemed too difficult to determine and subject to individual and cultural variability. At the same time, however, research has shown that these abstract, interpretive attributes, which carry meaning, are frequently the ones for which people search. To describe an item fully, therefore, means to describe it at both the "syntactic" and the "semantic" levels. This article discusses the development of the semantic description schemes within the MPEG-7 standard from both a historical and an intellectual perspective, as well as the difficulties inherent in creating a descriptive schema that can fully capture the complexity of "narrative worlds."

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Abstract

Describes examples of interactive multimedia and some of the problems faced in cataloguing, particularly in the choice of a general material designation to summarize the essential nature of the work. Discusses the guidelines for bibliographic description of interactive multimedia

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Abstract

Describes the role of the Australian Bibliographic Network (ABN) Standards Committee. Discusses how the problem of cataloguing interactive multimedia came before the committee, the formulation of standards on ABN, and issues which must be taken into account in adopting a standard

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Abstract

Universal Multimedia Access (UMA) deals with seamless access to once-only-created content via any kind of terminal and any kind of network connectivity, which implies that the content should be adapted in order to fit a variety of terminal and network characteristics, as well as user preferences. The MPEG-7 standard offers some support for UMA within its section on Multimedia Description Schemes (MDS). Within the standard, several groups of tools serve this purpose. For instance, the Navigation and Access Tools provide some Description Schemes that allow the description of adapted content variations and summaries and allow for preprocessed content versions. Some support is also found in the Content Metadata Tools (Media and Usage Tools), for real-time ease in creation of online content versions and in limited support for session description, which is completed in MPEG-21.

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Abstract

Describes the establishment of the Task force on description of interactive media, under the auspices of the American Library Association's Committee on Cataloguing, Description and Access, which led ultimately to the development of the guidelines for bibliographic description of interactive multimedia. Notes the problems in identifying interactive multimedia and the level of detail often needed to describe them

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Abstract

Tests were carried out on 120 grade 6 students to compare Compton's Multimedia Encyclopedia on CD-ROM and its printe equivalent in terms of students' ability to recall information and to draw inferences from it. Between-subject varaibles were 3 presentation conditions (printed text with illustrations, text-on-screen, and multimedia-text, still images, and animation) and a retrieval condition (topic retrieved before viewing / topic presented without retrieval). Within-subject variables were text complexity (complex or simple), text type (descriptive or procedural), and measure (propositions recalled versus propositions inferred). Presentation conditions produced no significant main effect although text-on-screen resulted in somewhat higher recall and multimedia resulted in somewhat higher inference scores. Multimedia had the greatest effect in the case of simple topics, and especially the simple procedural topic

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Abstract

The subject of this book is the relationship between people and interactive media. Written by one of the world's leading experts on this subject, this book explores how hypermedia, groupware, and networks change the way in which people, gropus and organizations work and interact. Its wide-ranging focus discusses the emergence of new technologies and demonstrates by considering real-life case studies the impact each has had on the way we view and interact with colleagues and information. With its emphasis on actual examples of usage, the author provides both practitioners and students with a fascinating glimpse of the future of these media and their applications.

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Abstract

Reviews the current state of the art in the field of electronic publishing of periodical articles in full text, with particular reference to the experiences of Elsevier Science. Distinguishes between 4 types of full text electronic publishing: bibliographic data, for example CAPCAS, with SGML type electronic bibliographic records for articles in Elsevier journals; electronic access to an existing periodical on a single title basis, similar to the way in which Elsevier provides access to articles in the well established printed periodical Nuclear Physics; enhancement of an existing periodical through expanded hypertext links, in the same way that Immunology Today Online is provided with value added features impossible to emulate in a printed periodical; and the TULIP model, an Elsevier initiative which enables large scale full text document delivery of electronic periodicals via unedited ASCII full text created by OCR and cover to cover 300 dpi bitmapped page images. Pays tribute to other initiatives in the field, including: document delivery services such as UnCover and the British Library's Inside Information; Digital Libraries Initiative; Informedia Digital Video Library Project; Stanford Integrated Digital Library Project; California University at Berkeley Digital Library Project and Alexandria Digital Library Project. Discusses the future of the information and publishing industries in the light of these developments, noting the implications and problems likely to be encountered and the opportunities for new, multimedia publications

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Abstract

Considers whether an information system can be designed that is capable of meeting the needs of researchers students' for training and those of the general public for information. Tests a system for specialists to determine whether non specialist could use it and whether other uses could be found for such databanks. This multimedia information system based on natural language text searching uses hypertext, associating texts, images, maps and plans of the Greek site of Delphi. Discusses natural language searching, the respective and complementary contributions of automatic and manual indexing, image and document retrieval from other databanks and the different modalities of interactive searching. Defines the features of this type of information system and assesses the limits and the potential of such a product

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Abstract

Describes a hypermedia application that provides students reading German texts with advance organizers in the form of a movie clip designed to facilitate global comprehension and glosses for words in the form of text, graphics, video, and sound. Results of testing indicate that studuents not only reported the photograph and movie links as most helpful for learning vocabulary, but in fact chose them more than text. Performance on vocabulary tests showed that when links were accessed, words were recalled correctly approximately 75% of the time. Learner behaviour data showed that so called visualizers and verbalizers performed equally well on the vocabulary tests but accessed different modes of information (links) corresponding to their respective cognitive styles

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Abstract

Colours, icons, graphics, hypertext links and other multimedia elements are variables that affect information search strategies and information seeking behaviour. These variables are culturally constructed and represented and are subject to individual and community interpretation. Hypothesizes that users in different communities (in intercultural or multicultural context) will interpret differently the meanings of the multimedia objects on the Internet. Users' interpretations of multimedia objects may differ from the intentions of the designers. A study in this area is being undertaken

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Abstract

Describes the design and development of a multimedia guide to learning services. Gives details of the package which encompasses library and computing facilities, subject resources, floorplans and site personnel. Discusses the problems associated with introducing large numbers of students to learning services and explores the advantages of the multimedia approach. Outlines the multipurpose nature of the package and describes plans for future evaluation and developments

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Abstract

Starts from the premise that meaning is not an intrinsic property of information items. Approaches to 'meaning' in diverse humanities disciplines, including philosophy, psychology, and the history of arts and music, are drawn on to enhance the understanding of meaning in the context of multimedia information retrieval on the Internet. The approaches described include philosophy of language and meaning, psychology of language including repertory grids and semantic differential, iconography and levels of meaning, and representation of music. A consistent theme in all these disciplines is the recognition that meaning is context dependent and may be analyzed at a variety of different levels, with nomenclature and number of levels varying across disciplines. Identifies the strengths and weaknesses of searching and retrieval on the Internet with particular emphasis on subject content and meaning. It shows the limitations of searching using the most basic level of meaning, while attempting to cater for a wide diversity of information resources and users. Recommends enhanced retrieval interfaces linked to the needs of specific user groups and the characteristics of specific media on the Internet

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Abstract

In this article, we introduce a user preference model contained in the User Interaction Tools Clause of the MPEG-7 Multimedia Description Schemes, which is described by a UserPreferences description scheme (DS) and a UsageHistory description scheme (DS). Then we propose a user preference learning algorithm by using a Bayesian network to which weighted usage history data on multimedia consumption is taken as input. Our user preference learning algorithm adopts a dynamic learning method for learning real-time changes in a user's preferences from content consumption history data by weighting these choices in time. Finally, we address a user preference-based television program recommendation system on the basis of the user preference learning algorithm and show experimental results for a large set of realistic usage-history data of watched television programs. The experimental results suggest that our automatic user reference learning method is well suited for a personalized electronic program guide (EPG) application.

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Abstract

Multimedia retrieval is a complex and to some extent still unexplored area. Based on a full year of e-mail requests addressed to a large film archive this study analyses what types of information needs real users have and how these needs are expressed. The findings include that the requesters make use of a broad range of need attributes in specifying their information needs. These attributes relate to the production, content, subject, context and screening of films. However, a few attributes - especially title, production year and director - account for the majority of the attribute instances. Further, as much as 43 per cent of the requests contain no information about the context that gives rise to the request. The current indexing of the archived material is restricted to production-related attributes, and access to the material is, thus, frequently dependent on the archivists' extensive knowledge of the archived material and films in general.

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Abstract

Currently, there is no structured data standard for representing elements commonly found in transmedia fictional worlds. Although there are websites dedicated to individual universes, the information found on these sites separate out the various formats, concentrate on only the bibliographic aspects of the material, and are only searchable with full text. We have created an ontological model that will allow various user groups interested in transmedia to search for and retrieve the information contained in these worlds based upon their structure. We conducted a domain analysis and user studies based on the contents of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the Marvel Universe, and Star Wars in order to build a new model using Ontology Web Language (OWL) and an artificial intelligence-reasoning engine. This model can infer connections between transmedia properties such as characters, elements of power, items, places, events, and so on. This model will facilitate better search and retrieval of the information contained within these vast story universes for all users interested in them. The result of this project is an OWL ontology reflecting real user needs based upon user research, which is intuitive for users and can be used by artificial intelligence systems.

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Abstract

By referring to existing prototypes and systems, in this paper the advantages and disadvantages of computer and multimedia technologies in the development of reference works such as dictionaries and encyclopedias are discussed. Some positive aspects of multimedia reference works are the possibility of accessing the same entry through a number of keys and research mechanisms, the possibility of 'navigating' through the semantic structure of the work itself, and even crossing the borders between different underlying structures. Some systems permit users to select the type of information they desire regarding a certain entry. This characteristics is particularly valuable in educational systems since it relieves users of the not so trivial task of autonomously extracting the information they need from a text which, because of the need for both conciseness and thoroughness, can be cryptic. In addition, some of theses systems not only include texts and illustrations but also audiovisual material, tutorials, and multimedia sequences with different educational and informative aims. Finally, the cost of, and time taken in, producing works of this type (except motion video production!), are potentially less than for analogous printed works with consequent repercussions on distribution costs and the frequency with which works can be updated. The major limits of multimedia dictionaries and encyclopedias are practical ones, such as the scarce availability and standardization of suitable hardware platforms. Furthermore, hardware and software constraints impose compromises in terms of quality of images and audio, quality and quantity of motion video