MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY

Introduction to Multimedia

 Multimedia is a combination of text, graphics, 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 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.
 Multimedia projects can be linear or nonlinear.
 Projects that are not interactive are called linear.
 Projects where users are given navigational control are called non-linear and
user-interactive.

The primary media for delivering multimedia projects are:

1)Compact disc read-only (CD-ROM). 2)Digital Versatile Disc (DVD).

Compact Disc Read-Only (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.

Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)

 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.
Applications 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.
 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.

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.
 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.

Summary

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

 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.
 Virtual reality is an extension of multimedia

Stages of a Multimedia Project

Planning and costing:

 The needs of a project are analyzed by outlining its messages and objectives.
 A plan that outlines the required multimedia expertise is prepared.
 A graphic template, the structure, and navigational system are developed.
 A time estimate and a budget are prepared.
 A short prototype or proof-of-concept is prepared.
Plan

 Develop an idea
 Identify objectives
 Identify skills and resources
 Develop a prototype
 Estimate time and cost

Design and production:

 The planned tasks are performed to create a finished product.

 The product is revised, based on the continuous feedback received from the client.

Storyboard

Testing and Delivery:

 Testing - The program is tested to ensure that it meets the objectives of the project,
works on the proposed delivery platforms, and meets the client requirements.
 Delivery - The final project is packaged and delivered to the end user.

Requirements for a Multimedia Project

 Hardware.
 Software.
 Creativity and organizational skills.

Hardware

 The most significant platforms for producing and delivering multimedia projects are
Macintosh operating system and Microsoft Windows.
 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.
Software

 Multimedia software provides specific instructions to the hardware for performing

tasks.
 Software tools are divided into production tools and authoring tools.

Creativity and Organizational Skills

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

 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 project’s execution.
 A standardized file-naming procedure should be followed for precise organization and
swift retrieval.

Summary

 The basic stages of a multimedia project are planning and costing, design and
production, testing and delivery.
 Knowledge of hardware and software, as well as creativity and organizational skills
are essential for creating a high-quality multimedia project.