Introduction to Multimedia

Chapter 1

11/19/2012

Objectives
Students should be able to:
1.

Define multimedia and related terms.

2.

List and describe four elements to consider when making a multimedia project. List and describe multimedia platforms.
List and describe the four Multimedia Presentation levels.
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3. 4.

Definitions

Multimedia is a combination of text, art, sound, animation, and video.

It is delivered to the user by electronic or digitally manipulated means. A multimedia project development requires creative, technical, organizational, and business skills. Multimedia becomes interactive multimedia when a user is given the option of controlling the elements. Interactive multimedia is called hypermedia when a user is provided a structure of linked elements for navigation. Multimedia developers develop multimedia projects. The software vehicle, the messages, and the content together
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Definitions

A multimedia project shipped to end-users with or without instructions is called a multimedia title.

A project can also be launched on the Web.

Multimedia projects can be linear or nonlinear. Projects that are not interactive are called linear. Projects where users are given navigational control are called nonlinear and user-interactive. Authoring tools are used to merge multimedia elements into a project.

These software tools are designed to manage individual

multimedia elements and provide user interaction.
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Making Multimedia
When creating Multimedia packages or software, there four factors need to be consider :
Hardware. Software. Creativity Organizational skills.

Making Multimedia (cont)

Hardware

A Multimedia computer is an ordinary computer with some built-in features that can read and manage sound and image data. To develop Multimedia content and applications, you will need a fast, multimedia capable computer system incorporating some of the following: High-resolution graphics and a large monitors

A Video display card Sound cards A CD-ROM or DVD Drive Stereo 16-bit sound capabilities with amplified speakers A high-speed modem

Making Multimedia (cont)

RAM (Random Access memory) A removable large-capacity storage device, such as a CD-ROM(CD-RW), Zip drive A CD-ROM or DVD-ROM burner for creating your own master CD-ROM or DVD-ROM A flatbed scanner A good-quality digital camera A video capture/video printing card A good-quality computer microphone

Making Multimedia (cont)

Software

Multimedia software provides specific instructions to the hardware for performing tasks.

Software tools are divided into production tools and authoring

tools. Examples

A Graphic design photo-editing application A 3D modeling and animation application

A digital sound editing application

A nonlinear digital video editing application Multimedia authoring application Web-page authoring/design tool
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Making Multimedia (cont)

Creativity

It is difficult to learn creativity, but the better you know your medium, the better you are to express your creativity.

In a multimedia project, being creative implies knowledge of hardware and software.

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Making Multimedia (cont)

Organization Skills

It is essential to develop an organized outline detailing the skills, time, budget, tools and resources needed for the project.

Assets such as graphics, sound and the like should be continuously monitored throughout the projects execution.

A standardized file-naming procedure should be followed for precise organization and swift retrieval.
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Multimedia Platform

The most significant platforms for producing and delivering multimedia projects are : Apple Macintosh OS Mac OS X, Tiger, Leopard Microsoft Windows OS Windows XP, Vista These systems provide an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI).

The Macintosh as well as Windows PC offers a combination of

affordability, and software and hardware availability.

The Macintosh platform is better suited for multimedia production than the Windows platform. The hardware platforms provided by Apple are better equipped to manage both, sound and video editing.

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Multimedia Presentation Level

A computer-assisted presentation are divided into four different levels :

Slide Presentations

Linear presentation (one slide after another) developed using

primarily text, graphics, and pictures. No interaction or

branching

Multimedia Presentations

Developed using text, graphics,, charts, sounds, digitised

video, computer animations and/or pictures in which no interaction between user and computer has been incorporated 12

Multimedia Presentation Level

Interactive Multimedia Presentations

Developed with the same elements as previous category but

incorporate built-in interaction between user and computer. This interaction can be in the form of data-entry, multiple-choice or true

false, interaction with screen objects and other possibilities. This type
of format is appropriate for information kiosks and computer-assisted education program

Multimedia Web Pages

It is initially developed using the above mentioned tools but it needs to be compressed using specialized tools. These tools allow the
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application to be playback through Web Browser.

Where to Use Multimedia

What

are

some examples applications

of

multimedia

in society?

Business Schools Home Public Places

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Where to Use Computers and Multimedia Business

Business - Business applications for multimedia include presentations training, marketing presentations, advertising, product demos, catalogues, instant messaging, etc Schools - Educational software can be developed to enrich the learning process. Home - Most multimedia projects reach the homes via television sets or monitors with built-in user inputs.

Home

School

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Where to Use Computers and Multimedia

Public places - Multimedia will become available at stand-alone terminals or kiosks to provide information and help.

Public Places

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Summary
Students should be able to:
1. 2.

Define multimedia and related terms. List and describe four elements to consider when making a multimedia project. List and describe multimedia platforms.

3.

4.

List and describe the four Multimedia Presentation levels.

17

The End

11/19/2012

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