Multimedia dictionary network application: Design and implementation

Proficiency in foreign languages is essential for professionals from countr ies in transition. A multimedia dictionary Internet application may offer n eeded help in everyday activities as well as in distance-learning systems. A multimedia dictionary is considered as both a conventional dictionary too l and a distance-learning network application. In this article we analyze t he architecture and implementation issues arising in the design and impleme ntation of a multimedia dictionary network application. The application is considered multimedia since it is designed to support textual, visual, and audio information content. Practical implementation is shown to be feasible with current technology, but a lack of available multimedia standards has been recognized. This is why we have considered the existing standards as w ell as the standards in development. The application is developed in Java(1 ) language, and may be run as either a standalone application or an applet. The latter entails accessibility in a ubiquitous manner to a large number of users. The application is intended for both non-native English users and professionals exposed to specific technical terminology.