When working with multimedia, six basic pieces of software are required:
In this task we will firstly consider system software. The system software forms a bridge between the user and the hardware. The user can issue commands and expect them to be carried out, without having to know the low level details of how the hardware operates. For example, the user could request a file to be loaded. The user does not need to know what tracks and sectors the file is stored on - they just want the file loaded. Three common operating systems used are Microsoft Windows, Unix and the Macintosh OS. Both use a WIMP (windows, icons, menus and pointer) human computer interface. When working with multimedia, extensions to the basic system software will frequently need to be installed. For example QuickTime, DivX or AVI (Audio Video Interleaved) are system extensions which allow storing and playback of video clips from backing storage. Answer the following questions in your jotter.
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