A multimedia collaboration home study system: MUCH

Proposes the MUCH (Multimedia Collaboration Home-study) system, based on the DooRae (Distributed Object-ORiented multimedia Application crafting Environment for collaboration) framework in computer-based multimedia (CBM). The DooRae framework (or platform) for MUCH supports the application development of a collaborative multimedia environment connected to a network (PSTN, LAN, MAN or WAN). MUCH is interactive, uses various communication types and has a question-and-answer facility, multi-session capability, application sharing, a high degree of efficiency, a high degree of cooperation, and a low degree of periodical cost when compared with conventional home studies. Also, various supplementary functions, such as video conferencing and voice conferencing for MUCH are what makes face-to-face education effective. A whiteboard, which resembles a classroom chalkboard, displays the instructor's lecture notes, and, on top of that, there are graphic devices which can add, emphasize and revise these notes for a smooth and harmonious lecture. MUCH supports real or non-real types, and it does not restrict the space between the teacher and the student to a cyberspace made by a network. This research has been done by creating a multimedia-based study system for home PCs in a network environment. Most home PCs are used in a stand-alone mode, with no interaction, in a monomedia-base, but MUCH contributes to a change the home PC for better use of collaborations among teachers and students through various modes of interaction in cyberspace.