What Are Object Oriented Databases?

           Traditionally, data management software has dealt with structural types of data, that is, those fall neatly into rows and columns of text. However, new user needs and technologies have led to a new type of database that is putting an entirely different face on the data management function. The growing interest in other data types and the need to combine them into a multimedia format for applications has given rise to object oriented database management systems. In addition too handling conventional record data, computers are now being widely used to store documents, diagrams, still photographs, moving images and sound.

           The internet's World Wide Web has certainly been a big factor in publishing database developers to eater to these new data types. So also has been the rising number of computer users who clam our for data to be presented in a natural looking way that resembles experiences from real life. The stakes in the object oriented technology development race are huge, since it will eventually be critical that companies establish friendly and exciting interactive environments in which to conduct electronic commerce over the Web.

           In every day life, various types of data naturally intermingle. A speech, for instance, consists of two types of data: a voice and a moving image of someone talking. Thus, the entire speech can form an object made up of voice, moving image data, and a set of methods or procedures describing how to combine the two. An object can be made with a narrative, text with music, and so on.