Last updated: 5/07/06

CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION TO MULTIMEDIA

Multimedia Definition Multimedia Element Component of Multimedia Importance Of Multimedia Opportunities In Multimedia Production Applications Of Multimedia Multimedia Development Team Multimedia Development

Definition

What is Multimedia? Woven combinations of digitally manipulated text,

graphic art, sound, video, and animation.

Interactive Multimedia? When you allow an end user or the viewer of a

multimedia project to control what and when the elements are delivered, it is interactive multimedia.

Hypermedia? When you provide a structure of linked elements

through which the user can navigate, interactive multimedia becomes hypermedia.

Definition

Multimedia developers? The people who weave multimedia into meaningful

tapestries are known as multimedia developers.

Multimedia projects? The software vehicle, the messages, and the content

presented on a computer or television screen together constitute a multimedia project.

A multimedia project need to be interactive to be called multimedia.

Multimedia Elements

Text

Graphic art (pictures, drawings, and images)

Audio

Video

Animation

Multimedia Components

1. Computer Computer coordinates what is heard and seen

electronically. Without a computer, it is not multimedia, it is just media.

2. Links There must be links to connect the information to

provide a sense of structure and dimensions. Without links it is not multimedia, it is just a bookshelf.

3. Navigational Tools Navigational tools lets user traverse the web of

connected information and decide the course of action.

Multimedia Components

Without navigational tools it is not multimedia, it is just a movie.

4. Communication Communication is a way to gather, process and

communicate your own information and ideas. Without communicating own ideas it is not multimedia, it is just a television.

Importance of Multimedia

1. Ease of use Easier to use by end-user.

Increase the user’s effectiveness.

User becomes less dependent on instructions.

2. Intuitive interface Obvious responses to icons.

Simple selection of control and navigation buttons -> they look like what it’s intended to do.

Importance of Multimedia

3. Immerse experience Application takes over the entire computer screen.

Removing the distraction of the computer’s Operating System.

Easier to focus on the application.

4. Self-Paced Interaction and Better Retention

The ability to process information at one’s own pace is crucial to their success.

For example, you can spend 10 hours with a multimedia encyclopedia or just 10 minutes.

Importance of Multimedia

5. Better Understanding of the Content Better comprehend the material.

Multimedia Computer-based Training (CBT).

Students learn better and more easily when information is presented in ways that stimulate several of the student’s senses concurrently.

6. Cost Effectiveness Consider an application that requires a costly printing

value, in-depth training manual,and continuous technical support as you would need for a non-multimedia application, the cost saving benefits become apparent.

Importance of Multimedia

6. More Fun = Greater Efficiency Software wizards: programs that take you through a

series of prescribed steps to quickly accomplish a job.

Digital assistants: programs that catch errors or suggest better methods

Examples of Software Wizard and Software Digital Assistant (Agent)

Job Opportunities in Multimedia Production

Product Marketing & Promotion TV commercials Multimedia advertising Video-based marketing and promotion Marketing web-page development

Entertainment Film special effects Video animation Interactive TV Virtual reality simulations Internet game development Kiosk design

Job Opportunities in Multimedia Production

Scientific Research Medical and dental Physics simulations Chemical modeling Astronomical research Mathematical research

Real Estate Development Site-use studies Architectural design Landscape design Structural Engineering Property sales

Job Opportunities in Multimedia Production

Education Edutainment software Educational software Distance learning Web pages Multimedia textbooks

Applications of Multimedia

There are many examples of the application of multimedia in oureveryday life. Some of the examples:

ArtEbook’s A Survey of Western Art presents more than a thousand full-color photographs of Western paintings, sculpture andarchitecture that span history from ancient Egypt to modern America.

LanguageSyracuse Language System publishes the award-winning Playing with Language Series on CD ROM.

Applications of Multimedia

Education E-Learning (distance learning) and “courseware”. Facilitate learning-helping students for more

understanding. Providing feedback.

Virtual Reality (VR) Virtual reality is an extension of multimedia. It uses the basic multimedia elements of imagery,

sound, and animation. It requires terrific computing horsepower to be

realistic. In VR, cyberspace is made up of thousands of

geometric objects plotted in three-dimensional space.

Applications of Multimedia Some of VR application use a special hardware

(goggles, helmets, special gloves etc.) to get a feedback from user.

The standards for transmitting VR in Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) documents have been developed on the World Wide Web.

VRML documents have the file extension .wrl.

Business / Corporate communication Doing promotion by presenting business presentation. e-Catalog, demo, communications, advertisement,

and marketing.

Multimedia Development Team The complexity of multimedia projects can range from

simple one-to-two page quick efforts to hundreds of megabytes worth of information requiring month to complete.

Regardless of the size or effort, there are basically two approaches to consider when building multimedia projects:

– One-person approach: involves one person to write, edit, insert graphics, audio, video etc, test, package and deliver the product.

– Team approach: consists of a number of individuals who bring specialized skills and talents to a project. In some cases, there may be single person who takes on many roles or many people who share one role.

Multimedia Development Team

Job Title Job Description

 Project Manager  

Responsible for overall development and implementation (budget, schedules, creative sessions, illness, invoices, team dynamics).

Multimedia Designer Includes graphic designers, illustrators, animators, image processing specialists.Creates and manipulates images.

Interface Designer Makes the lay out of the screen user-friendly

Multimedia Development Team

Job Title Job Description

 Writer  

Creates characters, action and point of view.Writes proposal, script for narrations and text screens.

Video Specialist Responsible for the entire team of photographers.Has skill to produce from concept to editing.

Audio Specialist Designs music.Produces voice-over.Manipulates sound effects.

Multimedia Development Team

Job Title Job Description

Multimedia Programmer Integrates all multimedia elements together using an authoring system or programming language.

Web producer Designs, implements and maintains a complex multimedia website.

Multimedia DevelopmentMultimedia Development Life Cycle Phase 1 – Planning

• Step 1: Developing the concept• Step 2: Stating the purpose• Step 3: Identifying the target audience• Step 4: Determining the treatment• Step 5: Developing the specifications• Step 6: Storyboard and navigation

Phase 2 – Creating• Step 7: Developing the content• Step 8: Authoring the title

Phase 3 – Testing• Step 9: Testing the title

A thorough explanation on the MDLC can be obtained in Chapter 8