CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION TO MULTIMEDIA

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Objectives

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

• define basic terms and concepts related to multimedia
technologies
• understand the history and evolution of media and
multimedia technologies
• distinguish between the types of linear and non-linear
multimedia systems
• state the four characteristics of multimedia system

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History Of Multimedia
3000 B.C. The Egyptians created a picture language called hieroglyphics.
105 A.D. Chinese began using paper and ink.
The first daily newspaper was the "Pennsylvania Evening Post and Daily
1738 A.D.
Advertiser".
1828 A.D. The first comprehensive dictionary was published by Noah Webster.
1844 A.D. Samuel Morse transmitted the first public telegraph message.
1876 A.D. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
1919 A.D. First broadcast radio station KDKA licensed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1936 A.D. First television broadcast made in London, England.
1941 A.D. First commercial television began in the United States.
1941 A.D. Z3 computer developed by German engineer Konrad Zuse.
1954 A.D. Color television broadcast standards are set in the U.S..
1957 A.D. Satellite first sent information back to earth.
U.S. and Russian rockets sent information back to earth from distances beyond the
1959 A.D.
moon.
Intel 4004 chip developed an integrated microprocessor chip, for the computer,
1971 A.D.
that could be programmed for different needs.
1976 A.D. JVC markets the first VCR with the VHS format.
1980 A.D Computer network.
High Definition TV standards agreed on in the U.S..
1994 A.D.
Intel introduces the Pentium III processor, taking personal computing to new
1999 A.D.
highs.
2050 A.D. - ......???......Give us your input. Tell us where you think we will be in the year 2050.
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History Of Multimedia

• What can we say about the

evolution of media that has
taken place for thousands of
years?
• Since the dawn of time,
people have had the need to
communicate with one
another
• This created what we called as
communication media

http://www.december.com/present/mediaev.html

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Multimedia

The notion of Multimedia

Consists of two words:
Multi (Latin)= many; much;
Medium (Latin) = An intervening substance through
which something is transmitted or carried on.

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 What is Multimedia?

• Multimedia is a combination of
digitally manipulated text,
graphics, sound, animation and
video, to effectively communicate
ideas to users delivered by
computer or any other electronic
devices.

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What is Multimedia? (Other definition)
• ‘Multimedia is any 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.’
Tay Vaughan
Multimedia : Making it work 7th Ed.

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What is Multimedia? (Other definition)
• ‘“Multimedia is the presentation of a (usually
interactive) computer application,
incorporating media elements such as text,
graphics, video, animation and sound on
computer.”
Stephen McGloughlin
Multimedia: Concepts & Practice

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Multimedia Building Block

Digital
environment

USER

Elements of Multimedia
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Other Terms Related To
Multimedia
•Interactive multimedia.
•User is allowed to control what and when the elements are
delivered.
•Hypermedia
•When the application is provided with a structure of linked
elements through which the user can navigate.
•Examples: text, picture, icon that can be clicked and link to
other pages.

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 Why Multimedia?
• Ease of use
• Intuitive Interface
• Immersive experience
• Self-paced interaction and better retention
• Better understanding
• Cost effectiveness
• More fun = greater efficiency
• Active participation
• Accelerated learning – speed up learning process

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Multimedia rich elements in a multi-sensory
delivery environment can facilitate greater
retention of new knowledge

Based on Edgar Dale (Cone Of Learning), on average, people

remember:

•10% of what they read,

•20% of what they hear,
•30% of what they see,
•50% of what they hear and see,  multimedia approach

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 Types of Multimedia
• Linear Multimedia
– Users have very little control over the
presentation

• Nonlinear/Interactive Multimedia
– Users dictate the flow of delivery. User
control the flow of the show.

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 Types of Multimedia:
(1)Linear Multimedia
▫ The users sit back and watches the
presentation
▫ The presentation normally plays from
the start to end or even loops
continually to present the information.
▫ A movie is a common type of linear
multimedia

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 Types of Multimedia:
(2)Interactive Multimedia
 The users control the delivery of elements – to
control the what and when. Users have the ability to
move around or follow different path through the
information presentation.
 Advantage: complex domain of information can be
presented.
 Disadvantage: users might lost in the massive
“information highway”.
 Useful for: information archive (encyclopedia),
education, training and entertainment.
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 What is a Multimedia Project?
• The software vehicle, the messages, and the
content together constitute a multimedia project.
• 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.
• 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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 Delivering and Using Multimedia
The primary media for delivering multimedia
projects are:
– Compact disc read-only (CD-ROM).
– Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) / Blu-ray Disc
• Multimedia Projects can also be delivered
online (webs) and through PDAs/Hand-held
Devices

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 Delivering and Using Multimedia :
(1) CD-ROM
• CD-ROM is the most cost-effective distribution
medium for multimedia projects.
• It can contain up to 80 minutes of full-screen
video or sound.
• CD burners are used for reading discs and
converting the discs to audio, video, and data
formats.

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 Delivering and Using Multimedia :
(2) DVD / Blu-ray
• Multilayered DVD technology increases the capacity of
current optical technology to 18 GB.
• DVD authoring and integration software is used to create
interactive front-end menus for films and games.
• DVD burners are used for reading discs and converting the
disc to audio, video, and data formats.
• BD – Blu-ray disc (Blu-ray Disc Association BDA)
▫ next-generation format for high-definition video and high-
density data.
▫ A single-layer disc can fit 23.3, 25, or 27 GB (enough for approximately
four hours of high-definition video with audio)
▫ supports 25GB for one layer, 50GB for two and 100GB for four

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 Delivering and Using Multimedia
(3) Online
• Multimedia can be delivered online
• Copper wire, glass fiber, and radio/cellular
technologies also serve a means for delivering
multimedia files across a network
• Online uses include:
 Books and magazines, Education
 Movies, Entertainment
 News and weather
 Maps

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 Application of Multimedia
• Business - Business applications for
multimedia include presentations training,
marketing, advertising, product demos,
databases, catalogues, instant messaging, and
networked communication.
• Schools - Educational software can be
developed to enrich the learning process.

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 Application of Multimedia
• Home - Most multimedia projects reach the
homes via television sets or monitors with
built-in user inputs.
• Public places - Multimedia will become
available at stand-alone terminals or kiosks to
provide information and help.

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 Multimedia Applications
Examples of Multimedia Applications:

•Digital video editing and production

systems
•Electronic Newspapers/Magazines
•Games
•Groupware
•Home shopping
•Interactive TV
•Multimedia courseware
•Video conferencing
•Video-on-Demand (VoD)
•Virtual reality
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Multimedia System Characteristics

• Multimedia systems must be computer controlled.

• All multimedia components are integrated.
• The interface to the final user may permit
interactivity.
• Information must be represented digitally.

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 Overlapping Technologies

• Different branches of multimedia grow together

because of new, upcoming multimedia technology
and applications.
• Two challenges lie ahead:
▫ Timing requirements (synchronization etc.)
▫ Integration requirements (of different media types)

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 Summary
• Multimedia is the combination of text,
graphics, sound, animation and video, to
effectively communicate ideas to users
delivered by computer.
• Multimedia projects can be linear or
nonlinear.
• Multimedia projects are often stored on CD-
ROM or DVDs. They can also be hosted on the
Web.
• Multimedia is widely used in business,
schools, public places, and at home.

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 References
• Vaughan Tay. Multimedia: Making It work. 8th
Edition. McGraw Hill
• McGloughlin Stephen. Multimedia: Concepts
and Practice. Prentice Hall

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