Preface

The steady advances in computing technology for over a decade have brought about a revolution in the way we use computers in our everyday life. The progress to date has also succeeded in modernizing businesses and solving problems that were previously intractable. The advances in multimedia systems, however, promise an even greater change in the personal usage of computers. The ability to deliver and process audio and video with devices that can reside in a person's home or office will enhance the way we conduct business, obtain education, and entertain ourselves. While the promise of multimedia technology has been evident for quite some time, today we are much wiser about the barriers that have to be overcome for successful deployment of multimedia applications.