From: paf@porto.inescn.pt (Paulo Alexandre Duarte Ferreira)
Subject: GIS and Multimedia ( LONG summary )
Reply-To: paf@porto.inescn.pt
Organization: INESC-Porto, Portugal
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 92 17:57:59 GMT


First thanks to all that have answered my question. 

Here are the messages i received ( with a small editing from me ).
===============================================================================
 From:    Ron Natalie <ron@topaz.bds.com>
 To:      <paf@porto.inescn.pt>
 Subject: Re: GIS and Multimedia  why? where? how? 

Hello,
   I am Vice President of BDS Systems.  Our package is an image procecessing
system that is customizable for a variety of uses (our current major customers
are intelligence and medical applications).  It became clear in the design stag
es that there are typicall many related images and other information (graphical
 annotations, non-pixel data, etc...) that needs to be tied together
in a sane fashion.  To do this we designed as a core of our package a hypertext
system, similar in concept to the Macintosh HyperCard.  Each card can have a
background image, any number of subimages, and other related graphical annotati
ons.  The objects themselves, be they images, or annotations (we call them grap
hics), can have additional data and "methods" associated with them.
The methods can provide links to other data or cards.  They also can be used to
characterize the presentation of the data and the analysis performed on it.

  I would like to propose that we have the proper framework for you to conduct
your research.  We have taken care of the drugery in dealing with managing memo
ry, dealing with the X/Motif user interface, and accessing files.  This allows 
you to develop your ideas using either the C language interface or our object o
riented control language (probably both).

  The package is reasonably priced and runs many UNIX workstations under X.
If you are not interested, we would be interested in keeping informed on your
research.  We are always looking for the latest information on the subject to
keep our product on the cutting edge.

Thank you for your consideration,

-Ron Natalie
BDS Systems
103A Carpenter Drive
Sterling, VA  20164
+1 703 437 7651
(ron@bds.com)
===============================================================================
 From:    <MNHAN040%SIVM@gonzo.inescn.pt>
 To:      <paf@porto.inescn.pt>
 Subject: multi-media GIS

In terms of multi-media GIS, one option that we are starting to pursue here at
SI is the use of the ToolBook program (a Windows-based product) with ArcView so
that spatial data bases can be mixed and matched with text, photographic and
other pictorial data bases.  This endeavor is part of the national BioCIS pro-
ject.  So we would be very interested in other people's work on multi-media GIS
 
Dan Cole, GIS Coordinator, Smithsonian Institution, MNHAN040@SIVM
===============================================================================
 From:    <shamel@Mais.Hydro.Qc.Ca>
 To:      <paf@porto.inescn.pt>
 Subject: Re: GIS and Multimedia why? where? how?

We are developing a huge application using ARC/INFO, Oracle database, C
programming and Unix shell scripts under Sun Unix boxes. I can assure you
that SUN should be considered, it's reputation is done regarding CAD/GIS and
such. It can also be included with everything considered has multi-media
devices (Sound input/output, CD, scanners, plotters and such).

With Internet, it's easy to find plenty of applications that use those
capabilities for free (most of the time with sources).

Put simply, our project involve standard GIS usage combined with 3D data
input.
  1) Select a geographic location, zoom to a specific detail level
  2) Select a construction (in our case, a dam)
  3) Display a 3D representation of the dam and allow the user to input
     things like cracks, leaks and such
  4) This data (along with other information) is stored in the Oracle
     database

In our case, what would be interesting is the inclusion of voice notes to
describe the inspection/observation of the dam.
We have the tools to take digital pictures of what's on a dam (like a water
leak) but are unable to match this information directly with the GIS tools.
The picture are at different scales and taken from different locations...

Eventually, a true virtual reality system would be even better! :)
-- 
 Stephane Hamel (SHamel@Mais.Hydro.Qc.Ca) | AutoControl Inc.
 Senior Programmer-Analyst                | Montreal, Quebec, Canada
==============================================================================
 From:    <JRCARTER@VM.CMP.ILSTU.EDU>
 To:      <paf@porto.inescn.pt>
 Subject: Re: GIS and Multimedia  why? where? how?

For a good overview of what is being done with multimedia and GIS
look at Computer Graphics World, Oct. 1992.   The cover article is
entitled "GIS and Multimedia Unite."   This article extended my
vision.
>
>What would you like from multimedia on a GIS ?
>
I have seen few uses of multimedia that I think are particularly effective.
Some of the better uses may be television weather presentations, if it
is appropriate to call these multimedia.
I'll be interested in the responses you get to your call for applications.

Jim Carter, Illinois State University
==============================================================================
 From:    James R Harvey <71161.3563@CompuServe.COM>
 Subject: Re: GIS and Multimedia why? where? how?

Paulo:
If you care to receive comments from someone "outside" of the industry,
then read on...

The following message was posted regarding your request:

>I would seriously consider an Amiga platform for multimedia.
>You can get better quality for lower cost -- compared with
>Macintosh or ibm clones.

Look at what the market "will buy" not what the market "needs." I prefer
the IBM/Windows platform since everyone has or will have it. I was at
Comdex last week (the MAJOR US comptuer show) and I'd say the ratio of
platforms was 90% IBM, 9% Mac, 1% Amiga. So much for one man's opinion.

As to what is needed in a GIS/Multimedia product, I have some interests in
it as a end-user or possible developer of a product combining GPS, video
tape of areas and mapping software. Is this along the lines you are asking
about?

Regards,
Jim Harvey
Salt Lake City, UT  USA
==========================================================================
 From: feuchtwa@beaufort.sfu.ca (Martin Feuchtwanger)
 Subject: Re: GIS and Multimedia why? where? how?
 Keywords: multimedia
 Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada

paf@porto.inescn.pt (Paulo Alexandre Duarte Ferreira) writes:

I would seriously consider an Amiga platform for multimedia.
You can get better quality for lower cost -- compared with
Macintosh or ibm clones.
However, there is no GIS pac for the Amiga!  You'd have to
stick to "dumb" raster images or maps for your background
and add "hot spots" to trigger other documents/media.
============================================================================
 From: wytten@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu (Dale Wyttenbach)
 Subject: Re: GIS and Multimedia why? where? how?
 Keywords: multimedia
 Organization: University of Minnesota

In <feuchtwa.722633398@sfu.ca> feuchtwa@beaufort.sfu.ca (Martin Feuchtwanger)  
writes:
>I would seriously consider an Amiga platform for multimedia.  You can
>get better quality for lower cost -- compared with Macintosh or ibm clones

I hope this doesn't start an architecture war, but I believe there is
a significant trend toward lower multimedia costs on IBM clones.

DAK, a mail order company, sells CD-ROM drives for the PC for $199,
and has several package deals on CD's.

Also, I was at Egghead Software last week and they have what looks
like a product that is new for this Christmas: The "multimedia startup
package" for $400-$500 dollars, depending on whether you want an
internal or external CD-ROM drive.  The package also included a Sound
Master board, some CD's and (I think) amplified speakers.

Dale Wyttenbach
==============================================================================
From: dmarble@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Duane F Marble)
Subject: Re: GIS and Multimedia why? where? how?
Keywords: multimedia
Organization: The Ohio State University

One problem with these nice, low price packages is that the CD-ROM drive
that is included is not current technology (= very slow).
--
Duane F. Marble                        E-mail: dmarble@magnus.acs.osu.edu
Department of Geography                Telephone: (614) 292-2250
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio 43210                   Fax: (614) 292-6213
==============================================================================

Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
From:         Chris Hermansen <clh@TFIC.BC.CA>
Subject:      Re: GIS and Multimedia why? where? how?

Dale responds to Martin:

>In <feuchtwa.722633398@sfu.ca> feuchtwa@beaufort.sfu.ca (Martin Feuchtwanger)
>writes:
>I hope this doesn't start an architecture war, but I believe there is
>a significant trend toward lower multimedia costs on IBM clones.

Me too - but have you noticed the new Macs with builtin CDROM?  They aren't
that expensive, either.

A Next or the new offerings from Sun are probably much more fun, though.  By
the way, a Next person told me that Next plans to "assist" companies who
build PC multi-media gear (sound boards, CD-ROM, etc) and want to port to
NextStep on the PC.  I don't know if that's official...

Chris Hermansen                         Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants
Voice: 1 604 733 0731                   302 - 958 West 8th Avenue
FAX:   1 604 733 0634                   Vancouver B.C. CANADA
clh@tfic.bc.ca                          V5Z 1E5

C'est ma facon de parler.
==============================================================================

 From: david@valley.west.sun.com (David Flinn - Sun SFValley - 818-905-0200)
 Subject: Re: GIS and Multimedia why? where? how?
 Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
 Reply-To: david@valley.west.sun.com
 NNTP-Posting-Host: rivendell.west.sun.com

If you are interested in Unix multimedia, Stanford University
has a public domain package called Maestro, for Multimedia
Authoring Environment.  It's source code is based on the
Xview toolkit, which is also in the public domain.  It was
developed on Suns, but has been running on other platforms.

I am beginning to use it for our multi-media developments
and can be used in conjunction with any GIS product.

You can ftp to:         sioux.stanford.edu
                        36.190.0.100

cd to /pub/MAEstro and grab the README file for more info.
Please feel free to mail or call me if you have more interest
in this thread, especially if you want to work with Arc/Info,
only because I know this product very well.

Cheers,

david

================--------========================--------
david flinn             sun microsystems
systems engineer        encino, california
818-379-3417            david.flinn@West.Sun.COM
================--------========================--------
===============================================================================

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Return-Path: <frank@mecan1.maine.edu>
X-Sender: afrank@email.tuwien.ac.at (Unverified)
From:         "Andrew U. Frank" <frank@MECAN1.MAINE.EDU>
Subject:      Re: GIS and Multimedia why? where? how?

regarding hardware (for multi-media or for gis) one must not consider the
hardware price only or primarily. that is not where the cost is! the cost
is in getting the software that works to work on your machine. - and if you
start with the cheapest hardware, you can usually throw it away before
anything serious has been done (except you are a hardware freak and really
now what you are doing. most people do not, and need not and should not be
lead to).
i do not think that any of these cheap deals are anyclose to do serious
authoring of multi-media (i even assume that they are not fast enough for
playing interesting things - and slow multimedia is only fun for 5 minutes
(i tried it on my kids). my advice is the largest/best mac you can afford.
and the fastests cd-rom drive.

andrew frank

==========================================================================

Now i am busy following some clues that you have given me.
Thanks
      Paulo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paulo Ferreira |  paf@porto.inescn.pt| INESC Porto Grupo CG&CAD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
" ... a metafisica e' uma consequencia de estar mal disposto."
                                                   Alvaro de Campos
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