Introduction to Multimedia

Introduction to Multimedia

• Multimedia combines text, graphics, sound, animation, and video, delivered interactively through electronic or digital means
• Web-based multimedia offers an online, interactive experience with elements like text, graphics, sound, animation, and video, emphasizing interactivity

Elements of Multimedia

• Text is a fundamental element used for content, menus, and navigation
• Graphics are two-dimensional figures or illustrations created manually or via computer graphics
• Audio is produced by vibration and includes speech, sound effects, and music in multimedia
• Animation is the illusion of motion from displaying static images consecutively
• Video technology captures, records, processes, transmits, and reconstructs moving pictures

Multimedia Application

• Applications use multiple media sources like text, graphics, images, audio, animation, and video
• Examples of Multimedia Applications include:
• World Wide Web
• Multimedia Authoring (e.g., Adobe/Macromedia Director)
• Hypermedia courseware
• Video
• Interactive TV
• Computer Games
• Virtual reality
• Digital video editing and production systems
• Multimedia Database systems

Digitized Multimedia

• Integrates media elements by digitizing and manipulating them with computer software
• Digitized media elements are captured in a code understandable by computers

Linear vs. Non-Linear Multimedia

• Linear multimedia is non-interactive, with users having no control and progressing through a set sequence like a movie or lecture
• Non-linear multimedia is interactive, giving users control and navigational abilities like Games

Interactive Multimedia

• Gives users control over media elements, making them active participants rather than passive recipients

Hypermedia

• Combines hypertext, graphics, audio, video, linked elements, and interactivity for a non-linear, computer-based experience, and isn't constrained to text

Hypertext

• Is text containing links to other texts
• The term was coined by Ted Nelson around 1965

Authoring Tools

• Used to merge multimedia elements and manage individual components while providing user interaction

Importance of Multimedia

• Addresses diverse learning styles, reinforces ideas, activates multiple senses, and enhances user enjoyment
• People remember 20% of what they see and 30% of what they hear
• They Remember 50% of what they see and hear, but 80% if interaction is included

Where is Multimedia Used?

• In business for presentations, training, marketing, and databases
• In schools for effective teaching, distance education, and fun learning
• At home for various applications like converting videos, storing pictures, and interactive TV
• In public places via kiosks for information and assistance
• On the Internet, enhancing content delivery and online gaming experiences
• In mobile devices, enabling MMS for transmitting various media and supporting email

Web-Based Multimedia Categories

• Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce)
• Employs web to serve clients and customers and assist in online sales or services, used comprehensively for advertising and marketing.
• Web-Based Training and Distance Learning
• Offers education via the Internet, and delivers instructions through a web browser
• Research and References
• Offers items such as newspapers, newsletters, magazines, books, encyclopedias and other reference materials online via Web
• Entertainment and Games
• Examples included the most popular and most varied interactive multimedia sites available

Multimedia Products

• Briefing Products

• Present information quickly and concisely and are linear

• Characteristics of Briefing Products have:

• Short Development Cycle

• Limited Number of Presentations

• Use of text to present information with limited use of graphic, audio and video

• Examples included Corporate Presentations, Sales Presentations and Educational Lectures

• Reference Products

• Answer specific questions or for general browsing of information and stored on CD/ DVD ROM

• Characteristics of Reference Products have:

• Wide range of user (small - adult)

• Have navigational menu, book marking, searching, printing utility

• Includes Encyclopedia and Dictionary and Cookbooks, Manuals and Guidebooks

• Database Products

• Contains a large amount of information available to the end - users

• Characteristics of reference product:

• Manages multimedia data

• Descriptive finding methods

• Simultaneous access

• Relational consistency in data management

• Examples includes Google Search and Google Earth

• Education and Training Products

• Adds media to textbook or training manuals

• Characteristics of Education and Training Products

• Make up a significant share of the multimedia market ranging from pre-kindergarten to postgraduate offerings from technical to corporate training products.

• Shares the same characteristics as Reference Product

• Include Instructor Support Products and Standalone or Self-Paced Products

• Kiosk Products

• Stationed at public places and allow the user to find information interactively and also other types of transaction.

• Characteristics of Kiosk Products have:

• Limited target users and usage.

• User friendly and easily used by user.

• Fast response.

• Examples includes Point of Information - Provide certain information and Point of Sales System - Allow users to purchase or make orders

• Entertainment & Games

• Shipped in the form of Interactive CD/ DVD ROM

• Characteristics of E & G Products

• Immersive.

• Requires constant feedback and interaction with the user.

• Challenging and sometimes intriguing for user

• Enabled online play for more than one user experience

Careers in Web-Based Multimedia

• Management-Related Positions include:

• Executive Producers - Move a project into an through production

• Project Manager - Forming a project, moving it into production and overseeing its creation

• Management-Related Positions include:

• Audio Specialist

• Music scores, sound effects, voice overs, vocals and transitional sounds, recording, editing and selecting voices, sounds and music

• Computer Programmer

• Creates the underlying code that makes the website interactive and responsive to user's actions

• Video Specialist

• Manages the process of capturing and editing original video

• Web Designer

• Develops or refines a design process and efficiently creates a cohesive and well-planned website from the front end

• Web Developer

• Ensures the communication between the front end of the website and its back end is working

• Web Master

• Making sure the web page is technically correct and functional on the Web Server

• Art-Related Positions include:

• Animation Specialist - Creates 2D/3D animation by taking a sequence of static images and displaying them in rapid succession on the computer screen

• Art Director - Coordinate the creation of the artwork for the project

• Graphic Artist/Designer - Creating and designing all of the graphic images for a project

• Interface Designer - Responsible for the look of the website interface and navigation methods

• Photographer - Shoots and captures appropriate, compelling and high quality photos

• Videographer - Shoots and captures appropriate, compelling and high quality video footage

• Content-Related Positions include:

• Content Specialist - Providing authenticity and accuracy of information on the website

• Instructional Specialist - Expert in designing instructional projects

• Writers/Editors – Technical writers/scriptwriters, creative writers or journalist involved in the project

• Support-Related Positions:

• Production Positions – Entry level positions

• Quality Assurance - Responsible for testing the website on multiple platforms using different versions of different browsers

• Sales/Marketing - Provides input and feedback on the website

• Customer Support - Responds to the users who have questions and problems