Specifications

The specifications describe what equipment will be required in order to view the finished product(s), as well as any technical constraints on the design (technical constraints are limitations imposed upon the design).

Delivery platform/media

This section would list what method is used to deliver the product(s) to the end-user. It could be one or more of:

• Digital download
• Web streaming (important distinction as bandwidth considerations could imply a lower bitrate)
• DVD
• Bluray
• Hard drive (cinema films are played from hard drive)

Hardware requirements

Describe the relevant hardware that is required in order for the product to work. Things to consider may be:

• Access to a certain type of optical drive
• A particular video output
• Sound output
• Keyboard (if its an interactive product)

It does not mean listing a complete spec of a PC in excruciating detail, unless the product is unusually reliant upon that.

Software requirements

If you require any other software, you must list it as a software requirement. For example:

• Minimum operating system – usually, just a major version number is fine
• Specific video or audio codec
• Software to play videos
• Minimum firmware version
• In limited cases, a minimum driver version. This is only required if a feature used is only available in those versions. If this is the case, consider whether the feature is really needed or not, as you could risk limiting the audience

Technical constraints

There is no definitive list of constraints, because these are both the restrictions that are given to you, and other restrictions that you encouter. Examples include:

• You must limit the bitrate of a video to a certain level. This will impact the quality, and you will have to determine how to work with the constraint. You could lower the resolution, lower the frame rate, consider using fewer colours, and so on
• It must work with “all versions of iOS from version 5 onwards” – this is a major restriction, as it essentially limits the availability of functions to those that were already in use 8 years ago (at the time of writing). Newer functionality (eg. codecs) are not available to use
• It should work in virtual reality – this will directly impact the minimum specification that the product requires, and limits the available audience.