Video Applications in the Era of Computer Networks - Computer & Video = Multimedia ? -

The areas of television, telecommunication, and information technology are converging, new application areas are arising and new services are being established. Aside from the traditional delivery channels, computer networks play an increasing role in providing the new services. An important part of these services is based on video. However, in order to develop and establish such services, the differences between traditional video and multimedia applications as well as the requirements, limitations, and possibilities for an integrational use of both have to be understood. The question arises in which way video can be included to fulfill the requirements for newer, more valuable services, different and more powerful than existing services such as TV, electronic mail or CD-ROM applications. This paper presents a classification scheme together with a requirements analysis regarding communication channels, interaction mechanisms, quality, and parameter settings for a useful development of new computer-based multimedia applications. The use of "still video" for Internet-based applications and the integrational use of static information, e.g. on CD-ROM, are presented, as new multimedia and hypermedia application concepts. The discussion concerning requirements and applications for multimedia systems leads to the definition of "High-Definition Multimedia". Aspects of High-Definition Multimedia Systems will be discussed at the end of this paper.