Piotr Nawrocki

ABSTRACT . This paper presents an open multimedia framework, called MMFramework. It may be used for dynamic creation of various multimedia applications. The proposed framework architecture consists of six layers. Its definition results from decomposition of the system into components with well-defined interfaces and internal implementation dedicated to the given hardware usage. Each layer represents a collection of components which are characterized by similar functionality. The system has been designed with support of existing CORBA Services and OMG specifications related to multimedia. 1 Introduction The multimedia applications still represent important area of system research which addresses increasing demand for expanded functionality, higher quality, portability and flexibility. These requirements meet with common acceptance of new paradigms of distributed computer systems design and implementation built around distributed objects and thin clients dynamically loadable on demand. ...

ABSTRACT The functionality of health telematics networks presented in the chapter requires dedicated, reliable computer networks with huge throughput and guaranteed QoS. Detailed technical requirements are also described in other chapters in this book, but it is not the case that they are the main reason for the very slow development and sparse dissemination of such services. Many sociological, ethical, technical and legal issues have to be overcome to bring such services to a proper level. In the authors’ opinion, existing solutions present an opportunity to surmount technical problems, while other issues still remain unsolved. Another very sensitive problem is appropriate selection of information and its presentation to the right access groups — general public, hospital staff, individual doctors etc. Hence, organisational and legal problems appear more troublesome than technical ones.