Mobile Multimedia Interfaces and Graphic Development

Using Java ME

Carlos D. Rivera

Mentor : Dr. Bowles

NSF# : 0353637

Acknowledgements

Group Members

· Rob Jansen· Lalique Gumbs-Prince· LaShea Johnson

Mentors

∙ Dr. Bowles

∙ Dr. Eastman

Special Thanks

· Tiffany Mintz· Dr. Libby Alford· Roxanne Spray

Additional Thanks

· REU, SCAMP· C of C, USC· NSF

Outline

Introduction

Motivation

Experiment

Results

Conclusions

Introduction

Introduction

Computer Graphics

The field of visual computing, where one utilizes computers to generate: Visual images synthetically Visual/spatial information sampled from the real world

Introduction

Computer Graphics

35 year history CGI, UI, data visualizations,

and advertisements Processing graphics is memory intensive File formats vary according to platform and use

Introduction

Computer Graphics

Essential to management of flux of everyday data

Rapidly growing technology

Represents a valuable source of applied research

Introduction

Movies

TV

Desktop

Laptop

Mobile

1970 1980 1990 2000

Popular Graphical Development Trends over Time

Year

Med

ium

Introduction

Current State of CG

As computer graphics are incorporated into mobile devices: Empower user to quickly internalize data Users become a network nodes; transmitting and receiving data at all instances

Motivation

Motivation

Problems with CG on Mobile Devices

Computing capabilities of mobile devices limited

Development on mobile device graphics still in preliminary stages

Mobile phone graphics have not been as extensively researched as other forms of computer graphics

MotivationProblem : How can graphics on mobile

phones be improved?

Hypothesis : Mobile graphics can be improved by assessing various mobile development platforms and related technology to develop suggestions that improve their graphical frameworks.

The Experiment

Envisioned project application

Chose development platform (Java ME)

Identified Software Engineering research process

Developed a video game according to specifications

The Result

Graphic Development

Java ME

Java Micro Edition

Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC)

Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) 2.0

Java ME

Game API package

Javax.microedition.lcdui.Canvas

GameCanvas subclass

Image object

PNG

Portable Network Graphics

Bitmap image format that employs lossless data compression

Created as an alternative to the GIF image format

Does not require a patent license to use

PNG

Portable Network Graphics

Supports :

Indexed and truecolor color depths

Alpha/Index transparancies

Textual metadata information

PNG AnalysisPNG Problems

The processing of the subtle gradations of white to transparent

Variation in the rendered hues

Alaising of vector shapes

PNG AnalysisPNG Problems

Graphical issues attributed to rasterizing of vector images

Transformation of image data from vector based to pixel based distorts original image

PNG ResultsPNG Conclusion

The mobile development platform, Java ME, does not support the vector image file format.

Because of this any image created using vector data becomes distorted and uncharacteristic of the original image.

This can be fixed by supplementing Java ME’s API with an image file format that supports the vector image file format.

Vector ImageryVector Graphics

Popular with image designers because data is: Infinitely scalable, Crisp, Highly-transformable

Vector ImageryVector Graphics

Are primarily used for: Icons, Motion Graphics, and Cartoon Imagery

Further ResearchWhat now?

Question: Which image file formats allow vector definitions of their image data so that this may be incorporated into the Java ME API?

Answer: A closely related graphic file format to the PNG is the SVG file format.

Scalable Vector GraphicsSVG

SVG is a XML markup language that :

Is used in describing two-dimensional vector graphics

Can be static or animated

Can be either declarative or scripted

Scalable Vector GraphicsCharacteristics of SVG

Transformed, grouped and rendered in layers

Customization of XML namespace enhances searchability

Clipping paths, alpha masks, filter effects, and template objects

Rich set of event handlers

Scalable Vector GraphicsAdvantages of SVG

Can be compressed

Scripting can be done on SVG elements and affect other XML elements in the document

Scripting of SVG is a key component in web applications; gives a new look and feel to web

SVG has already developed two mobile profile standards aimed at mobile devices

Other Vector GraphicsVector Image Formats

SWF – proprietary vector graphics from Macromedia Corp. (Adobe)

PDF – open standard file format from Adobe, device independent

XPS – view independent document creation on Windows operating system

Future Mobile GraphicsVector Image Formats

Mobile Web, Semantic Web, XML Divorcing content from presentation via RSS

Wireless Local Area Networks WiFi

Rick Internet Applications Google Earth

Device Independent Graphical APIs Cairo, Windows Presentation Foundation

Custom User Interfaces Stylus pen, virtual keyboards

ConclusionsConclusions

ConclusionsConclusions

Despite popular beliefs, mobile development will follow the same path desktop and laptop development for the past 10 years

ConclusionsConclusions

Despite popular beliefs, mobile development will follow the same path desktop and laptop development for the past 10 years

Increasing technological standards, specifications, and technologies will further blur the distinction between mobile devices and desktop computers

ConclusionsConclusions

Despite popular beliefs, mobile development will follow the same path desktop and laptop development for the past 10 years

Increasing technological standards, specifications, and technologies will further blur the distinction between mobile devices and desktop computers

Mobile graphics should strive to incorporate and predict the use of the latest graphical standards to speed the development and use of mobile devices to maximize its intended benefits

Final Conclusion

Conclusion

SVG image format presents the most practical application of vector image file formats for mobile devices and its applications.

Further QuestionsFuture Analysis

Will Java Community Process accept a proposal in its Java Specification Requests for the SVG image format inclusion inits implemenation of its GameCanvas class API?

Further QuestionsFuture Analysis

Will Java Community Process accept a proposal in its Java Specification Requests for the SVG image format inclusion inits implemenation of its GameCanvas class API?

Will any other image file formats better standardize the image compression of both raster and vector file formats?

Further QuestionsFuture Analysis

Will Java Community Process accept a proposal in its Java Specification Requests for the SVG image format inclusion inits implemenation of its GameCanvas class API?

Will any other image file formats better standardize the image compression of both raster and vector file formats?

Will the development of Semantic Web, XML standards, open source APIs, and device-independent platforms change the way graphics are interpreted and designed?

Further QuestionsFuture Analysis

Will Java Community Process accept a proposal in its Java Specification Requests for the SVG image format inclusion inits implemenation of its GameCanvas class API?

Will any other image file formats better standardize the image compression of both raster and vector file formats?

Will the development of Semantic Web, XML standards, open source APIs, and device-independent platforms change the way graphics are interpreted and designed?

Open Discussion