Tuesday, 11/1/05
Topic:
The history, current status, and future of popular digital graphics formats
Assignment:
Choose a graphic format from among dozens that have been used/are currently in use in Digital Media.
Explain the technical aspects of the format. What is it used for? How does it work? Research the origins of the format. Discuss purpose for the format (the need it was to fulfill), litigation (copyright issues etc.), competing technologies, developers' background, and other points of importance in the development of the format.
Analyze the way in which the format is currently being implemented. Has it met the expectations of its developers? Is it widely used or has it fallen outside of the radar? Is it open source or proprietary? What factors led to the current state of the format?
Predict the future for the format. Will it be swallowed up by Microsoft, or merge with another file type? Does it have potential to continue to grow, or is it in danger of going the way of the dodo? How do you see yourself using it? Back up you predictions with research.
EXAMPLE FILE FORMATS:
GIF, JPG, TIF, PNG, WMF, BMP, SVG, SWF, AI, EPS, TARGA, Etc. etc. etc.
Requirements: 5-6 pages, double spaced, 12 pt. type
Use at least 5 sources for your research. Wikipedia is not an acceptable source, although it may be helpful in getting you to one. All references must be cited.