CMPD 434 MULTIMEDIA AUTHORING

Chapter 01 B

Introduction to Multimedia and

Authoring Process

Objective

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

• Identify and describe the use of multimedia

• Understand the Production/Development team structure

Multimedia

• Any combination of Text, Graphic, Sound, Animation and Video delivered to you by computer or other electronic or digitally manipulated means.

• Interactive Media

• User control what and when the elements are delivered

• Hypermedia

• A structure of linked elements which user can navigate

Use of Multimedia• Multimedia finds its application in various areas including, but

not limited to, advertisements, art, education, entertainment, engineering, medicine, mathematics, business, scientific research and spatial, temporal applications.

• Here is the few examples where Multimedia plays an important role

• Multimedia in Business

• Presentation – Pretty text, audio and video

• Training – Flight attendants, doctor

• Marketing

• Advertising

• Product Demos

• Catalogues

Use of Multimedia• Multimedia in Schools

• E-Learning

• Interactive

• Multimedia at Home

• Television

• Nintendo Wii

• Sony PlayStation

• Multimedia at Public Place

• Hotel

• Shopping Malls

• Kiosks

Multimedia Production/

Development Team

Who are Multimedia Developers?

• Multimedia developers come from various disciplines such as:

• Computer science

• Graphic art

• Literary

• Film and audio

Who are Multimedia Developers?

• Roughly, a multimedia team consist of

• Project Manager

• Multimedia designer

• Subject matter expert

• Script writer

• Audio specialist

• Video specialist

• Multimedia programmer

Project Manager• Responsible for overall development

• Manage budgets, schedules and personnel

• Good interpersonal skills

• Keeps the team focused and motivated

• A good project manager must understand the strengths and the limitations of hardware and software so that s/he can make good decisions about what to do and what not to do.

Multimedia Designer• Designs and assembles the project

• Look at the overall content of the project

• Creates a structure for the content

• Determines the design elements required to support the structure

• Decides which media are appropriate for presenting which pieces of content.

• Prepare the blueprint of the entire project

• Content, media and interaction

Multimedia Designer

• MM designers need various skills:

• Analyse content and choose appropriate delivery method

• Expertise on different media types

• The ability to look at the project from the user’s viewpoint

• Interpersonal skill with other team members

Multimedia Designer• Instructional designer (ID)

• Design and make sure that subject matter is clear and properly presented.

• Interface designer

• Design the (user) interface, control and the interaction style for the system

• Devise the navigation path and content maps

• Information designer

• Structure the content

• Select presentation media

Writers• Create character, action and interactivity

• Need to anticipate users’ actions

• A challenge in writing for multimedia project is writers need to plot stories that can go many different ways as opposed to the traditional film plot.

• Content writers

• Get the information from the content expert (subject matter experts), compile it and present it to the user in the clear and concise manner

• Script writer

• Writes dialog, narration and voice over.

Video Specialist• Can just be a person with DSLR or a

team of video production for bigger project.

• Must understand the potentials and limitation of the video capabilities and how to get the best out of it.

• Must be professional, skilled in managing all phases of production, from concept to final edit

• Must also thoroughly familiar with the tools and techniques used for digital editing on computers.

Audio Specialist

• Produces narration, music, and other sound effect.

• Might consist a team of audio experts to produce the soundtrack.

• Must have a thorough understanding of the needs and requirement for a quality audio production

• e.g. suitable sampling rate , space available for all audio combined etc.

Multimedia Programmer• Integrates and implements the project

using the authoring system or programming language.

• Is required when producing a customized or tailored delivery system.

• Programmer is needed to create extension to the built-in capabilities of the existing authoring tools.

• Acts as a technology trainer for other team member.

• Communication skill is important because the programmer must often articulate issues to non-technical team members.

Team Building

• Team members must be “team player”

• Good communication and interpersonal skill are a must.

• Team building refers to activities that help the group and its member function at the best performance by creating a work culture incorporating the styles of its members.