5.2 Third Generation Multimedia Applications

11 generating contextual information which can be used to make applications which are adaptive and far more exible. The third generation of multimedia applications will not only exploit improvements in the network technology, but more importantly will take advantage of any contextual or location information made available. As mentioned earlier, this information will come from agents interpreting streams, as well as from resource and active location databases. We have experimented with these applications in both Pandora and Medusa, although the integration of location system services has in both cases been retrospective. We consider provision of such information to be a necessary underlying component of any future systems we might build-it should be intrinsic to the system, and available at all levels within it. The Teleporting System Bennett94] is an example of an application that may be able to exploit third generation networks. It ooers users the ability to interact with existing computer applications from any suitably equipped networked terminal. The system presents a means by which we can experiment with applications that adapt and reconngure based on any contextual and location information available. At present, multimedia applications do not function within the teleport-ing system, but the system's integration with third generation networks may make this possible. A subject of ongoing research is the provision of systems support, at all levels, for multimedia applications which adapt to the kind of network they are reign routed on, the kind of peripherals they are using, as well as the environment within which they are operating. 6 Conclusions We recognise two important details which will innuence the further development and wider acceptance of the technologies outlined above. These are cost and scalability. While networks improve and begin to support the underlying QoS requirements of future multimedia applications, each of these details must be considered. The cost aspect involves charging for network use, which will have to change signiicantly. There will be a blur between the notions of long and short distance, prompted particularly due to mobile networks which force a relaxation in this distinction. There is also the cost of a network connection itself, which must not limit us in our choice of networked peripherals. The wide-area propagation of these third generation networks will see their use on many diierent scales. It will extend from the household level, with perhaps even with an ATM doorbell, through to the wide area where we will see …