Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Multimedia Technology
Module Code	CA438
School	School of Computing
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Stephen Blott Semester 2: Stephen Blott Autumn: Stephen Blott
Module Teacher	Stephen Blott
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

INACTIVE - Students learn modern methods for the capture, encoding, storage, transmission and presentation of digital multimedia information including both the underlying information theory and media-specific techniques for perceptual coding.

Learning Outcomes

1. Produce an information-theoretical analysis of coding problems
2. Calculate the information content of a message or file to be transmitted or stored
3. Select coding algorithms appropriate to a variety of lossless coding problems
4. Select coding algorithms appropriate to a variety of perceptual coding problems
5. Sketch in outline algorithms for lossy (perceptual) coding
6. Identify features of multimedia data for which information loss is less likely to be perceptable
7. Estimate the cost of executing various lessless and perceptual coding schemes
8. Explain the architectural considerations behind various modern perceptual coding schemes

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecture	2	Theory, practice and examples
Independent learning	2	Review lecture material, background reading
Total Workload: 4

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Information theory.
An introduction to the basics of information theory including information content, information entropy and the Shannon value..

Lossless coding.
Run-length coding, differential coding, discrete cosing transforms, Huffman coding (static and adaptive), arithmetic coding (static and dynamic), LZW coding, LZ77 coding..

Digitisation.
Digitsation of analogue data, sampling, Nyquist's theorem, aliasing, the role of band-limiting filters..

Images.
GIF, PNG and JPEG image formats, perceptual coding of image data..

Audio.
Pulse-code modulation (PCM), common audio formats, predictive coding, basics of the human auditory system, perceptual coding of audio data, MPEG Layer III audio coding.

Video.
Motion JPEG, differential coding of video data, MPEG video coding, architecture of an MPEG encoder/decoder..

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	25%	Examination Weight	75%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Practical/skills evaluation	Implementation of coding algorithm	25%	Sem 2 End

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 3

Indicative Reading List

Ze-Nian Li and Mark S. Drew: 2004, Fundamentals of Multimedia, Pearson, Prentice-Hall, 0-13-061872-1
Fred Halsall: 0, Multimedia Communications: Applications, Networks, Protocols and Standards, Addison-Wesley, 0-201-39818-4

Other Resources

None

Array

Programme or List of Programmes

BSSA

Study Abroad (DCU Business School)

BSSAO

Study Abroad (DCU Business School)

DME

B.Eng. in Digital Media Engineering

ECSA

Study Abroad (Engineering & Computing)