The simplest type of application involves adding a multimedia data object to a traditional data object (multimedia e-mail or multimedia notes, for example). This type of application uses existing point-to-point networking technology and is not interactive in real time.
A second application category involves sending multimedia data objects to multiple hosts, such as with LAN TV or other forms of broadcast. This category needs to go to multiple locations but does not tend to require much real-time interaction.
A third category is point-to-point applications that may be real-time interactive. Many vertical industries are planning multimedia kiosks, for example. Some examples are the following:
* The financial industry wants to use multimedia kiosks at banks to provide detailed information about financial services.
* The retail industry wants to use kiosks in stores to help customers locate merchandise and find out additional information about merchandise.
* The entertainment industry wants to use kiosks as points of sale and to provide advertising for scheduled entertainment events such as the theatre, concerts, plays, etc.
* The entertainment industry is also interested in multimedia kiosks that allow multiperson video games to occur over networks.
* Digital libraries use large computer servers to store books, journals, and other Multimedia literature in digital form. Users access this information via computer networks.
A fourth category is applications that are both multipoint and real-time interactive. The primary example of this category of traffic is desktop videoconferencing. Desktop videoconferencing requires real-time interactive communication among groups of individuals who may not be at the same location.
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