Interactive multimedia on the World Wide Web

Multimedia on the World Wide Web refers to not only the text-based transfers, but in addition involves audio, and video. When a client makes a request to the server using the conventional HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), the server responds by sending the requested document and terminates the established logical connection between the client and the server. The server does not maintain the status of any earlier logical connections made with the clients. However, for interactive multimedia applications involving audio, video, and messaging, a stateless protocol such as the HTTP is rather insufficient. Other plug in modules, and additional protocols are needed. Very helpful for the interactive multimedia applications is a working knowledge of the CGI (Common Gateway Interface), Java and Java Applets along with the event handling, threading and Java script procedures. For the three dimensional images, VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) and the associated software modules are very useful. In this article, the authors would present and analyze the above mentioned tools needed to really accomplish interactive multimedia applications on the Web.