MULTIMEDIA PROCESSING IN CONCURRENT ENGINEERING

Many types of information that traditionally were considered to be analog, such as images and sound, are now processed and utilized in digital form. These developments require the integration of storage, communication, analysis, and presentation mechanisms for diverse types of data, including still images, graphics, audio, video, and text. Scientific visualization enables engineers and scientists to examine large amounts of data efficiently and with a greater degree of comprehension. In the recent years, visualization has become an important component of the scientific discovery process. Concurrent engineering refers to the methodology used by a team for simultaneously designing the entire life cycle of a product from product specification and design, through manufacturing and assembly, to shipping and disposal. This paper attempts to provide a perspective of concurrent engineering and where multimedia systems in conjunction with scientific visualization can assist in the process of product life cycle.