CS4984 Final - Spring 1995

Instructions

You should take this final now, and send in your answers to the instructor (4984i@fox.cs.vt.edu) by email as soon as you are done. That should take less than 2 hours. You can refer to your notes (on paper or online) and the readings (textbook, articles) and Internet items that are part of or referenced by the courseware. However, all answers should be in your own words, avoiding plagiarism. Be sure to have "4984", "FinalA", your name and student ID in the "Subject:" part of your message.

The Honor Code is in effect. All work on this exam should be your own. Also be sure to put your name and student ID at the top of your set of answers (in the body of the message). Do NOT send a copy of your answers to anyone else, or look at anyone else's answers.

Questions

Each question is worth 8 1/3 points. Budget your time accordingly. Use proper grammar and spelling, but focus on covering the key points of a comprehensive answer, not on flowery language or length.
  1. Briefly explain, in your own words, "memex" and its role regarding the field of hypertext.
  2. The anchor tag in HTML usually has at least one argument. Why is it necessary to have an attribute in addition to content? Also, list three other tags used in HTML that are clearly descriptive markup and explain why they would not be considered procedural markup.
  3. Consider the file system and operating system of either a 486-type system running DOS or a DECstation running UNIX. Briefly explain three situations in which these are not conducive to supporting a video-on-demand service, giving for each situation specific details of the problems and their causes.
  4. Briefly explain three characteristics of human vision (i.e., the human visual system, HVS) that allow some aspects of video to be ignored when capturing and digitizing. Hint: Be sure to explain about both human perception and electronic / computer processing issues.
  5. The Dexter, Amsterdam, and HyTime models differ in terms of their emphasis on data structures and representation, handling of multimedia streams, and concern over composite components. Please briefly distinguish between these three models in terms of these three issues. Hints: a) One of the 3 does not deal with data structures and representations. b) The Amsterdam model has extra capabilities added to the Dexter model.
  6. In MPEG compression, roughly how much compression (i.e., give a ratio like 2:1) takes place for each of 4 of the most important techniques used. Explain briefly why so much compression results in each case.
  7. What are the main parts of the Hyper-G data model? Which helps provide hierarchical structuring? Which might be used to present together the several media forms of some information item? Explain briefly.
  8. What is the purpose of QuickTime and how does it help with development of multimedia applications?
  9. Consider CU-SeeMe and the 2 systems shown during the field trip: IVS (which you saw running under MBONE), and Sun's ShowMe. For each of the three, give two advantages relative to the other two. Hint: Consider such issues as price, network bandwidth, quality, functionality, or use of computer resources.
  10. Discuss the difference between multimedia presentation and authoring systems. Be sure to contrast how they support interaction with users. Also, give at least 3 other differences, explaining each briefly.
  11. One of the main objectives of the course is for you to be able to critique both hardware and software systems regarding their support for multimedia, considering functionality, interface and quality of presentation. Please write a carefully worded essay, giving as many examples and details as possible, critiquing the Apple Mac 6100/60 AV systems present in the lab. Assume that you are using a regular system, without "At Ease". Assume it has a full complement of software that you worked with or saw in the class, including: Acrobat, Authorware, CU-See Me, Director, HyperCard, Netscape, Photoshop, Premiere, QuickTime, SoundEdit, Storyspace, and Virtus WalkThrough as well as various smaller "helper" applications. Assume that you are on the same network as in the lab, with the same server. Be sure to identify any problems, deficiencies in quality, lacks of functionality, awkwardness in interfaces, etc. that can be traced back to the lab's 6100 AV configuration. Hints: a) You need not be a hardware expert or know a lot about the internals of the 6100 AV; rather you should comment based on your experiences and observations of how the system performs. b) Discuss speed, smoothness, image/video/sound quality related to capture and playback, real-time, videoconferencing, etc.
  12. Please design a next-generation hypermedia software system that could replace Netscape and the WWW. Discuss the user interface and functionality. Describe the data model and distributed storage system you would support it with. Be sure to deal with continuous media playback, synchronization, scripting, and other issues relating to interactive use. Hints: a) Consider the many applications you have worked with or seen during the semester, and select characteristics you find desirable that can fit seamlessly into your comprehensive design. b) You should describe the capabilities of the proposed system carefully and clearly, and make sure that your data model and storage system can support them. c) You need deal only with functionality, not internal implementation.