TMT - Laboratory System for Signal and Image Processing in Matlab 6.5 Robert Wielgat Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa w Tarnowie, Ul. Mickiewicza 8, 33-100 Tarnów, r_wielgat@pwsztar.edu.pl Marek Gorgoń Akademia Górniczo Hutnicza w Krakowie, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, mago@agh.edu.pl Abstract. The paper presents an original idea of multimedia computer-based teaching materials in Matlab 6.5 environment. In order to accomplish the idea TMT program was created. Contents and structure of the program is presented. The main parts of the program concern image and audio processing methods. The tools for JPEG and MPEG audio compression exercises are presented as well Future works are briefly discussed. Program is actually used by students in Higher State Vocational School in Tarnów. 1. Introduction. Dynamically developing signal processing technology became the most contributing factor of rapid progress of multimedia in the recent 15 years. Multimedia are defined as the use of computers to present text, graphics, video, animation, and sound in an integrated way [1]. In a broad sense multimedia include software and hardware required for transmitting different media such as computer texts and graphics, still images, sounds, films and interactive computer animation [4]. Rapid development of multimedia forced their effective teaching. Most of the popular and professional literature in Poland describes only basic concepts of multimedia [3], [12] or focuses on parameters of software packages and hardware devices relevant to multimedial computer equipment. There are only a few literature positions or websites in Poland treating more complex problem like compression standards are [9], [10], [11]. This paper presents an application created in Higher State Vocational School in Tarnów for teaching multimedia technology [2], [5], [6], [7]. The application contains a set of laboratory exercises for undergraduate computers science students. In a limited scope the application can be also used as a useful scientific tool for testing new image and signal processing techniques. To avoid using specialized toolboxes (i.e. Image Processing Toolbox, Signal Processing Toolbox) the program was written in the basic MATLAB 6.5 environment. The program supports teaching selected image processing and compression techniques as well as audio processing ones. This paper presents basic concepts of the TMT and shows some exercise examples. 1.1. Overview of TMT program. TMT (Tarnów Multimedia Toolbox) was created for teaching standard methods and algorithms employed in multimedia. Furthermore the program can be used for testing user defined digital signal and image processing methods. Program was implemented in MATLAB 6.5 environment. MATLAB 6.5 has following advantages particularly useful for teaching various, sometimes very complex algorithms: - simple and clear programming language, - no need of program compilation, - small number of language specific procedures, i.e. no need array allocation, variable declaration etc.,