This is an existing unit. This proposal is for a summer semester offering.Multimedia is a rapid developing technology. It is predicted that people will be living in multimedia world thanks to the many available digital technologies. This unit exposes and takes the advantages of state-of-the-art multimedia technologies for multimedia delivery. It is a core unit of both the Bachelor of Multimedia Computing course and the Bachelor of Computing: Multimedia Technology course.The unit serves as the advanced study for students who have completed GCO1821: Introduction to Multimedia Technology and would like to learn how to develope multimedia applications. It leads them stepping further into multimedia world. It continues to build on knowledge gained by students from the first level subjects.The unit lets students experience some practical and important multimedial applications, such as digital audio, digital video, animation, hypermedia delivery etc. The unit is being offered for Summer semester 2003, requiring a change to the offering. The proposal is also being put into the avatar for the first time.

FEC 4/04Addition of Summer A 2005 to frequency of offering.

FEC 3/04 The Unit Adviser field is populated for the first time. Prerequisites have been updated to reflect the level one programming unit alternatives in the BIT, and the examination has been extended to three hours. The change in exam time is intended to give students a less stressful exam experience rather than to increase the amount of work to be undertaken in this assessment component.

To provide students the opportunity to gain understanding and knowledge of the state of art, issues and technologies for building and developing multimedia applications, in this unit. Students can develop not only theoretical and practical foundations but also skills for creating complete multimedia applications.

The opportunity to acquire understanding of the concepts that underly multimedia technologies, and skills in multimedia development is important for graduates completing a degree in information technology and systems. All graduates completing this unit will achieve the capability of developing a multimedia/web-based application.

At the completion of this unit, students will have

Knowledge of:

1. Basic concepts of multimedia including file types, applications, compression and delivery issues;
2. Processes involved in the analysis, design and production of multimedia applications;
3. Legal, security and privacy issues related to multimedia applications;
4. Application and selection of different multimedia authoring tools in the development of multimedia applications;
5. Basic priciples of Internet and WWW in the context of web based multimedia development;
6. Multimedia elements (text, image, animation, audio and video) and 3D modeling techniques;
7. Basic programming techniques (such as javascript and CGI programming) to control different media such as audio, video, text and images
8. Fundamentals of Extended Markup Language (XML);
9. Database features which support multimedia applications.

Understanding of:

1. Processes of analysis, design and producing of a multimedia application;
2. Securities issues and corresponding services related to multimedia applications;
3. Multimedia elements and 3-D modeling techniques.
4. Development processes for functional specifications for multimedia/web-based applications based on user requirements;
5. Basic concepts of organizing multimedia elements for multimedia applications based on user requirements.

Skills in:

1. Analysis, design and production of real world multimedia/web-based applications;
2. Constructing applications comprising multimedia elements that include video and sound, javascript, CGI and XML programming;
3. Producing formal documentation for developing and implementing multimedia applications

The unit provides the basic concepts of multimedia, multimedia elements and security and privacy issues required for multimedia applications. This unit also introduces the basic processes of analysis and design for developing a complete functional specification for a multimedia/web-based application. In addition to this, it also provides an overview of the application of programming languages and detailed knowledge of multimedia authoring tools required for implementing a multimedia/web-base application. In particular, this includes:

• Basic concepts of multimedia
• Processes required for analysis, design and producing a multimedia/web-based application
• Legal, security and privacy issues in multimedia information
• Multimedia elements including 3-D modeling techniques
• Multimedia authoring tools
• Fundmental concepts of Javascript, CGI and XML programming languages required for multimedia application development

The unit provides the basic concepts of multimedia, multimedia elements and security and privacy issues required for multimedia applications. This unit also introduces the basic processes of analysis and design for developing a complete functional specification for a multimedia/web-based application. In addition to this, it also provides an overview of the application of programming languages and detailed knowledge of multimedia authoring tools required for implementing a multimedia/web-base application. Students will have hands-on experience on analysis, design and implementation of a multimedia/web-base application.

1. T. Vaughan, Multimedia: Making It Work, 6th edition, Osbourne/McGraw-Hill, 2004.
2. L. Elin, Designing and Developing Multimedia, Allyn and Bacon, 2001.
3. M. Hall, Core Web Programming, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1998.
4. J. Burger, Desktop Multimedia Bible, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1993.
5. N. & J. Chapman, Digital Multimedia, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 2000.
6. N. & J. Chapman, Digital Media Tools, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 2002.
7. F. T. Hofstetter, Multimedia Literacy, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1995.

On-campus Teaching

Four hours per week, consisting of two hours of lectures and two hours of tutorials, with additional contact initiated by the student. The subject content will be disseminated to the students through classroom lectures and tutorials, and through on-line study guides and course materials.

Distance Education

Unit Book and Reader including 12 study guides and provision for contact through electronic mail and news. Access to the University's computer systems via modem is compulsory for distance education students, in order to maintain effective communication with staff and other students, and also for the submission of assignments and the provision of supplementary study material.

All students will complete a range of hands-on development exercises detailed and posted on the Web page designated for this unit. These exercises are designed to enhance students' practical skills needed for completion of the assignments, while the study materials used by distance education students and the lectures offered to the internal students will address the theoretical aspects.

The on-campus and on-line lectures will put the various aspects of multimedia development into perspective. Tutorials and exercises will reinforce students' understanding through discussion and practice. Students will experience and practise the different multimedia application development techniques by implementing various case studies and applications. Macromedia software, javascript, CGI and XML programming will be used to illustrate these techniques. Students will be provided with study material in printed study guides and on-line web pages. Students will be supported through electronic newsgroups, email and on-line submission system.

Since the main aim of the unit is to provide knowledge and practical skills in multimedia applications development, a major feature of the units's assessment will be to demonstrate competence in multimedia applications development. Assessment will be designed to help students master the theoretical and the practical content of the unit. Assessment will consist of:

A three hour closed book examination representing 40% of the total marks. The exam may use true/false, multiple choice, short answer and short essay questions designed to test student comprehension of the unit material. The examination will test objectives provided in knowledge and understanding sections.

The final grade will be assigned using a formula that reflects student achievement in both the practical and theoretical components of the unit.

To successfully complete the unit students will have to achieve at least 50% of the total marks with a contribution to this total of no less than 40% of the possible marks from the assignments and the examination.

• Software Title: Macromdia Dreamweaver, Flash and Fireworks
• Vendor: Macromedia
• Version: 8
• OS: MS Windows XP (x) and/or LINUX ( )
• License Details: (A valid software license certificate/s or Vendor permission must be available upon request if the software is to be installed for teaching)
• Are we currently licensed: Yes (x) or No ( ) (If unsure, please check with your local IT support )
• If (Yes), who is the contact person for this software?: Shelley Street
• If (No), will the software license be arranged by: Staff member requesting the software ( ) or Technical Services* ( ) ? *If the latter is selected, please discuss your requirement/s with myself ASAP, prior to finalising your request, as there could be financial or resourcing implications.
• Is the software to be installed and accessed from a: Client/Workstation (x), or Server ( ) ?
• Type of license: Site License (x), Freeware ( ), FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) ( ), Shareware ( ), Lab based ( ) # of Licenses needed ____
• In what week will you commence using the software in class? Semester 1 (Week ___ ) and/or Semester 2 (Week _x_ ):
• Nominated Staff For Acceptance Testing Software: (Name: Dr. Gour Karmakar) (Phone: 26252) (Email: Gour.Karmakar@infotech.monash.edu.au)
• Additional Information: Special Requirements, Software Configuration/Installation Requirements, etc:

GCO1810 or GCO1811, GCO1815 and GCO1821