Data integration for multimedia e-learning environments with XML and MPEG-7

Integration of heterogeneous data is one of the greatest challenges for versatile e-learning environments, since support for different multimedia data formats is often restricted or adaptions are necessary to fit strict requirements. Therefore, we examine the opportunities given by new metadata standards like MPEG-7 and XML for knowledge management in terms of automated processing, evaluation and presentation of e-content. In Germany's first interdisciplinary and collaborative research center on "Media and Cultural Communications", we are studying the influence of transcription, localization and (re-) addressing on e-learning environments. Exemplarily, we want to introduce our Virtual Entrepreneurship Lab (VEL) as an approach to comply with these tasks in a multimedia e-learning environment.