DUCE, D.A.DUKE, D.J.ten HAGEN, P.J.W.REYNOLDS, G.J.2014-10-212014-10-2119941467-8659https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8659.1330393Many descriptions of multimedia programming systems are starting to appear in the literature, but little work has yet been done on how to formally specify and reason about such systems. This paper is a contribution on the use of formal description techniques for the specification of multimedia systems and explores a style in which the Object-Z notation from the University of Queensland can be used to specify some of the properties and functionality of such systems. The work has been carried out with reference to the role of formal description techniques in the presentation of ISO/IEC International Standards and in particular to the Premo project in ISO/IEC JTCl/SC24.10.1111/1467-8659.1330393393-406