This document summarizes trends and contemporary multimedia technologies, including communications technologies like USB, Firewire, WiFi and Bluetooth; storage technologies such as magnetic hard drives, optical CDs and DVDs, and potential holographic storage; processing technologies that are becoming smaller, faster, and cheaper with specialized processors; and display technologies ranging from flexible and rollable screens to virtual and real 3D projection with and without glasses. Emerging technologies are converging functions, with smartphones merging phone and laptop capabilities and pocket PCs combining mobile phone, laptop and desktop features.

1. Trends & Contemporary Technologies Topic 6: Multimedia Technology

2. Trends & Contemporary Technologies Communications Technologies Storage Technologies Processing Technologies Display Technologies

3. Communications Technologies Buses USB 2 Firewire Wireless WiFi Bluetooth

4. Storage Technologies Magnetic Technologies Tapes, Floppy disc drives & Hard Disc drives Optical Technologies CD-ROMs, DVDs Holographic Technologies Not currently available

5. Processing Technologies Becoming smaller, faster & cheaper Some now are multi-processor machines Have processors for individual tasks such as video compression & processing.

6. Display Technologies Flexible Displays Roll it up and carry it away Virtual 3D Simulates 3D by providing separate images for each eye. Some need special glasses Real 3D Projects a moving image in to space.

7. Converging Contemporary Technologies Smartphone: merging technologies of a mobile phone and a laptop. Pocket PC: merging technologies of a laptop, mobile phone and desktop operating system and application software.