TECHNOLOGIES FOR MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

A number of technologies-based upon the sensory modalities of sight, s ound, and touch-are becoming well enough established that their coordi nated application can expand capabilities for human/machine interactio n. This paper examines evolving advances in natural language communica tion with machines, video, and audio compression, spatially realistic conferencing, factile interaction, and high-speed data communication. It considers the integration of these technologies into networked info rmation systems to achieve synergistic benefits for the human user.