MIME is a way of transferring multiple objects in a single electronic mail. An image database is considered to be a useful application for attachment to existing databases, or for standalone use. Most products are designed not as stand alone image viewers, but as part of an information system or kiosk for tourism or specialist applications. An example of the latter is a system from On Demand Information which markets a database for the building industry. Information kiosks are starting to appear with multimedia features.
Information kiosks have commercial applications in tourism, government information and education.
The Olivetti PCC video conferencing system allows video conferencing to be incorporated in the design of an information kiosk. Distance learning applications can held on a network file server. The response of a distance learning application running over WWW instead of a local LAN will depend on its design and the amount of visual and audio material. Summary New methods of support for multimedia delivery over the World Wide Web continue to be developed. Advances in streaming and compression technologies particularly look set to change our view of the Web.