University of North Alabama

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Communication and Theatre


Course Syllabus
Communication 317:

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Project: 		Multimedia and Internet Authoring

3 semester hours

An introductory course in the process of creating and distributing Multimedia productions and internet web pages. Prerequisite: COM 240, or 241, 242. Or departmental approval.

Fall 2006

Thursday, 6:00 -- 8:45 pm

Avon Edward Foote, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Room 108

Office: (256) 765-4489
E-mail: aefoote@una.edu
FAX: (256) 765-4839

Office Hours: MWF, 10 am to 12 noon; TH, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. And by appointment when necessary.

Simpson, Wes, Video by IP: A Practical Guide to Technology and Applications 1st edition  Focal Press, 2006.

Committee on Broadband Last Mile Technology, Broadband: Bringing Home the Bits, National Academy Press, 2002. This book is available free on the web. Please use the free electronic edition.

The student is expected to complete the following objectives:
  • Identify types of multimedia messages and design/planning considerations associated with each.
  • Understand the steps in the authoring process for broadband IP and CD-ROM/DVD systems.
  • Become skilled in basic HTML coding at novice level.
  • Be able to design and select basic images for multimedia.
  • Select and evaluate authoring and related software programs according to application guidelines.
  • Participate in the planning, execution and testing of multimedia utilizing HTML and audio/video in a television format in a combination for WEB distribution.
    •

    Assigned readings in regular textbook and/or second online textbook, lectures, virtual attendance at on-line broadband event if available, guest speakers, class discussion, major multimedia project, and festival attendance.

    The following are methods by which the course objectives will be evaluated:
    Three exams will count 20% each. 30% of grade will come from multimedia project. Class participation will count 10%.

    A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69, F=<60

    Attendance: Required by University policy. After four weeks of absences your grade will be become an "F" as announced in University literature. Grade may be lowered for excessive absences over three hours of class time. Because of the importance of being on-time and meeting deadlines, tardiness will be noted on the roll and may affect the grade if it becomes a problem.

    September 4 --- Labor Day Holiday
    September ?? --- Television News Workshop on campus
    September 13 --- Convocations
    October 13 --- Middle of Term (mid-term exam is not scheduled)
    October 20 --- Fall Break
    November 27 --- Last Day to Drop a Class with WP/WF
    November 22 to 26 --- Thanksgiving Holiday
    December 7 --- Study Day
    December 8 to 13 --- Semester Exams

    In the Beginning (before VOD) there were ONLY Text and Images, Reading to be announced

    The Nature of Multimedia and VOD, Chapters 8 and 13

    Servers, Browers, Plug-ins, and Authoring Software,
    Chapters 6 and 7

    Designing, Producing, &Archiving, Chapter 1 and 2. Test 1 on September 28, 2006.

    Getting VOD to the Target Audience, Chapter 5 and 14

    To Make or Elsewhere Acquire, Chapter 3 and 4

    Delivering Broadband Sound and Moving Images,
    Chapters 12 and 15. Test 2 on October 26, 2006.

    Other Broadband Issues, Reading from on-line text and Chapter 7. Test 3 during final exam period will be comprehensive.



    Students will be assigned to one of two teams to work on one major multimedia project for the semester. Students will be asked to choose a writing, design, or production/technical task assignment. By midterm, Professor Foote will select one student from each group for the job of producer. The producer will take on the primary leadership role in the group. All projects will consist of images and text by midterm and broadband audio/video will be added to the project by the end of the semester. Each group will decide the nature of the project during the first three weeks and report that decision to the professor before starting the project execution. The professor has recommended that both groups in Fall 2006 choose VOD content focusing on UNA's international students. NEW RULE FOR FALL 2006: NO VIDEO/AUDIO PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT MAY BE TAKEN BEYOND THE BORDERS OF THE CONTIGUOUS CAMPUS. 

    


FINAL, Fall 2006



1.  What are the audio signal types that may need to be transmitted 
over IP type distribution networks for television and video?  (b) Give
clear directions for students needing to identify and define each
of the audio signal types.

2.  Define: NTSC, PAL, SECAM

3.  Define: composite, S-video, component

4.  Define: SDI, HD

5.  What are differences in Progressive and Interlaced scanning?
(b) Which does the American Advanced Television System use?
(c) Why?

6.  When providing VOD to Comcast Cable for distribution to Comcast
subscribers what questions do producers have to get answered by
technical, IT or engineering personnel at Comcast? (Assume that you
will have to provide production in format that Comcast will make
the distribution on its system.)

7.  How do we get from Movie Film to Video Signal?

8.  When transferring from Video Signal to 24 fps negative film what
does the producer need to know?  (If you took this class you could
already be a producer:)

9.  Where is Dolby Digital Audio widely used according to the book?

10. Explain what you see displayed in the scope tracing of one
complete frame.


DO YOUR OWN WORK.  DO NOT GIVE OR RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM
ANYONE ELSE!  THE TEST IS DUE IN DR. FOOTE'S BOX AT 8:00 AM
ON DECEMBER 11th, MONDAY.

    University of North Alabama Policy regarding student disabilities is on separate web page.