Moving away from narrow-scope solutions in multimedia content analysis

Recent research results in the field of Multimedia Content Analysis (MCA) have been marked by an abundance of theoretical and algorithmic solutions covering narrow application domains only. In this paper we analyze this tendency and its origin in more detail and explain why, in our view, this should not be considered "the way to go" in providing easy access to content in multimedia systems and applications of the future. In particular, we concentrate on the case study of digital video, which we see as a straightforward example of multimedia. Through this case study we will discuss the needs and challenges of improving the generic potential of MCA algorithms.