MULTIMEDiA

CHAPTER 1 – INTRO TO MULTIMEDIA

WHAT IS MULTIMEDIA?

The term multimedia was coined by singer and artist Bobb Goldstein in 1966. Goldstein came up with the
term to describe the technical nature of his entertainment. The term multimedia has taken almost 40 years to have
coherent meaning of use. Until came 1993, wherein Tay Vaughan declared the definition in his book entitled
“Multimedia: Making it Work”.

The word multimedia is derived from the word “Multi” and “Media”. Multi means many or multiple and the
meaning of media is a means of communication or a distribution tool and information presentation.

Multimedia is the field concerned with the computer controlled integration of text, graphics, drawings, still
and moving images (Video), animation, audio, and any other media where every type of information can be
represented, stored, transmitted and processed digitally.

Tay Vaughan also added that multimedia can be called interactive when it allows people to generate
computer command like videogames and simulations among others

ELEMENTS OF MULTIMEDIA

1. Text. A broad term for something that contains words to express something. Text is the most basic element
of multimedia. A good choice of words could help convey the intended message to the users
(keywords).Text can be used in contents, menus, and navigational buttons.
Examples: Written, Spoken, and Sung

2. Graphics. Two-dimensional figure or illustration. It could be produced manually (by drawing, painting,
carving, etc.) or by computer graphics technology. Graphics are used in multimedia to show more clearly
what a particular information is all about (diagrams, picture).
Examples: Drawings, Charts, Paintings, and Photographs

3. Animation. The illusion of motion created by the consecutive display of images of static elements. In
multimedia, animation is used to further enhance / enriched the experience of the user to further understand
the information conveyed to them.
Examples: Presentations, Simulations, and Video Games

4. Audio. Produced by vibration, as perceived by the sense of hearing. In multimedia, audio could come in the
form of speech, sound effects and also music score.
Examples: Voice over, Narration, Sound Effects and Music

5. Video. Technology of capturing, recording, processing, transmitting, and reconstructing moving pictures.
Video is more towards photo realistic image sequence or live recording as in comparison to animation.
Video also takes a lot of storage space. So plan carefully before you are going to use it.
Examples: Live and Recorded

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CHAPTER 1 - INTRO TO MULTIMEDIA MULTIMEDiA

CATEGORIES OF MULTIMEDIA

Linear Multimedia

A Multimedia Project is identified as Linear when it is not interactive and the user have no control over the content
that is being showed to them.

Examples of linear multimedia are movie and non-interactive lecture/demo show.

Advantages of Linear Multimedia Disadvantages of Linear Multimedia

Predictable, every audience will see exactly the Not interactive with the audience, they
same presentation. cannot change the order of presentation.
Relatively easy for another person to do the Not flexible in terms of changing the time
presentation if the author is not available as the taken to do the presentation, for instance a
presentation always runs in the same order. presentation planned for 1 hour that need to
be done in half an hour is not simple in a
linear presentation.
Simple to prepare hand-outs as slides are always It is apparent to the audience they are not
in the same order. seeing the full presentation if slides need to
be skipped.
Timing of the presentation is predictable. Can be boring as the audience may have to
view slides that happen to be irrelevant to
them.

Non-Linear Multimedia

A Multimedia Project is identified as Non-Linear when it is interactive and the users have control over the content that
is being showed to them and are given navigational control. Non-Linear Multimedia is also called Interactive
Multimedia.

Examples of non-linear multimedia are games, courseware, and simulations.

Advantages of Non-Linear Multimedia Disadvantages of Non- Linear Multimedia

Slides can be accessed in any order. More complicated that a simple linear
presentation.
User can go both forward and backwards through Harder to predict the timing of the
the slides. The user can view a particular slide presentation.
again.
Can provide a presentation that meets the need of Harder to hand over the presentation for
the individual user. someone else to do.
The presenter can use the same presentation for Need to incorporate navigation method into
different audiences. the slides.
Improved interactivity. Non-linear allows Harder to prepare a set of hand-outs.
presenters to invisible skip slides they want to.

Hyper Media is a combination of hypertext, graphics, audio, video, (linked elements) and interactivity culminating in a
complete, non-linear computer-based experience.

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CHAPTER 1 - INTRO TO MULTIMEDIA MULTIMEDiA

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF MULTIMEDIA

Advantages Disadvantages

1. It is very user-friendly. 1. Information overload.

2. It is multi sensorial. 2. It takes time to compile.
3. It is integrated and interactive. 3. It can be expensive.
4. It is flexible. 4. Too much makes it unpractical.
5. It can be used for a wide variety of
audiences

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTIONS

A Multimedia Production is a production which uses a collection of multiple media sources such as text, graphics,
images, sound/audio, animation and/or video.

What are the types of multimedia productions?

• Presentations. Presentations are sequences of slides, also called pages or screens, that usually
incorporate text, sound, graphics, and animation.

Used by: Businesses to present information

Teachers or students in classrooms
• Tutorials. Tutorials are computer-based instructions that teach skills or procedures.

Can be used by: Businesses to train their employees

Schools and colleges to teach or review subject matter
• Games

Can be used for: Entertaining

Training

• Simulations. Simulations are computer-based models of real-life situations.

Can be used for: Training

Entertaining
Informing
• Web pages

Can be used for: Entertainment

Information
Training
Reference
Research

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CHAPTER 1 - INTRO TO MULTIMEDIA MULTIMEDiA

THE DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIMEDIA

Graphics drawing  painting  photography  digital photography

Audio speech  music  recording sound and music  broadcasting
Movies and Television film  video  digital video

APPLICATION OF MULTIMEDIA

1. Business
– Use and Applications
• Sales / Marketing Presentation
• Trade show production
• Staff Training Application
• Company Kiosk
2. Education
– Use and Applications
• Courseware / Simulations
• E-Learning / Distance Learning
• Information Searching
3. Entertainment
– Use and Applications
• Games (Leisure / Educational)
• Movies
• Video on Demand (Online)
4. Home
– Use and Applications
• IPTV
• Satellite TV
• Games
5. Public Places
– Use and Applications
• Information Kiosk
• Smart Cards, Security