Uses of Multimedia

What is Multimedia?

The term multimedia is used to denote a combination of text, graphics, animation, sound and video.

Where to use Multimedia?

Multimedia is used to expand the use of computers in:

1. Computer-Based Training (CBT)

2. Education

3. Edutainment

4. Entertainment

5. Information Access

6. Business Presentations

Multimedia in Business.

Business applications for multimedia include

1. Presentations

2. Training

3. Marketing

4. Advertising

5. Product demonstrations

Multimedia in Schools

Educational software enriches the learning process.

The students, instead of teachers, become the core of the teaching and learning process.

Multimedia in Schools (contd.)

Forms of Multimedia usage in Schools

1. Animated stories books for kindergarten students

2. Reading skills grow through word recognition: a mouse click on any word plays it back.

3. The computer reads the story aloud, sometimes spelling words individually.

Multimedia in Public Places

Multimedia has become available at stand-alone terminals or kiosks to provide information and help at shopping malls, hotels, railway stations, museums and grocery stores.

Multimedia at Home

The home consumer of multimedia either owns a computer with an attached CD-ROM drive or a set-top player that hooks up to the television.

Virtual Reality

VR is an extension of multimedia- it uses the basic multimedia elements of imagery, sound, and animation. VR attempts to place you "inside" a life-like experience. Take a step forward and the view gets closer; turn your head and the view rotates. Reach out and grab an object, your hand moves in front of you.

Virtual Reality (contd.)

VR models can be very useful for architects, chemists, surgeons, and other professionals who wish to explore the virtual world they are working in. VR is perhaps, interactive multimedia at its fullest extension.

Career Opportunities in Multimedia

Multimedia developers come from all corners of the computer, art, literature, film and audio worlds.

Career Opportunities in Multimedia (contd.)1. Video producers become expert with computer-generated animation and MIDI controls for their edit suites. 2. Architects become bored with two-dimensional drafting and create three dimensional animated walk-throughs.

Career Opportunities in Multimedia (contd.)

3. Classical painters learn the electronic elements of red, green, and blue and create fantastic computer-based artwork.

The Multimedia Team

The major categories of Multimedia Production skills are:1. Project Manager2. Multimedia Designer3. Writer4. Video specialist5. Audio Specialist6. Multimedia Programmer.

Role of a Project Manager

The Project Manager :1. Must be adept and experienced at managing complex projects, preferably with large corporate accounts.2. Must have solid understanding of interactivity and experience with interactive media- ideally interactive television. 3. Must have several years of experience with interface design or management thereof and have good design sensibilities.

Role of a Project Manager

4. Communication skills a must; must be articulate and effective communicator, an excellent listener, and act as a conduit for information between his own team & the client's team.5. Superior attention to detail & ability to coordinate large amounts of information a must.6. Should preferably have an entertainment experience - ideally television or video production.

Role of a Project Manager

7. Must have a solid computer or digital media experience and knowledge.8. Must function well in fast-paced team-oriented environment.

Features of a good Project Manager

A good project manager must 1. completely understand the strengths and limitations of hardware and software so that he or she can make good decisions about what to do and what not to do. 2. have the skill to keep the team happy and motivated.

Features of a good Project Manager (contd.)

3. have good organizational skills and attention to all the myriad details of the project.4. have the big picture, the vision, in mind so that everything that needs to get done does in fact get done.

Role of a Multimedia Designer

An ideal candidate for Multimedia Designer must have1. A solid experience in interface design, product prototyping and marketing communication.2. A knowledge of image manipulation.

Role of an Interface Designer

1. A good interface designer will create a product that rewards exploration and encourages use. 2. A good interface designer must have a crucial skill of being familiar with a lot of multimedia interfaces so that he is able to visualize ideas as they are discussed.

Role of an Interface Designer

3. Being familiar with film or video editing can be helpful, because telling a story with sounds and images is what most multimedia experiences are all about. From a visual perspective, cinematography and film editing are the closest parallels to what is called interface design.

Role of an Interface Designer

4. Knowing an authoring system is also crucial so that you can develop the ideas in some interactive fashion and be able to present them to your design group. 5. A good interface designer should also have basic drawing skill as it helps him in describing how a screen looks using pencil and paper.

Role of a Multimedia Writer

The role of a multimedia Writer is the same as a scriptwriter.1. They write proposals, script voice-overs and actor's narration, write text screens to deliver messages and develop characters designed for an interactive environment. 2. They are also referred to as content writers- they glean information from content experts, synthesize it and then communicate it in a clear and concise.

Pre-requisites for a Multimedia Writer

Multimedia writer must be familiar with interactive design and user interface issues.

The Multimedia writer must have the ability to work under tight deadlines in a team environment.

Video Specialist

A video specialist on a multimedia project may be just one person and a camcorder.

He must be a seasoned professional, skilled in managing all phases of production from concept to final editing.

Characteristics of a good Video Specialist

A good video specialist must have:

1. Strong background in video direction and editing.2. Good understanding of shooting for interactive programming.

Characteristics of a good Audio Specialist

A good Audio specialist for a multimedia project must :1. have a strong background in studio recording techniques-preferably in a commercial studio.2. be comfortable working with computers and be open and able to learn new technology and make it work with high quality results.

Characteristics of a good Audio Specialist

3. have familiarity with standard recording practices, knowledge of music production and the ability to work with artists.4. have a fluency in MIDI.5. have a good knowledge of hard disk recording and editing.

Multimedia Programmer

A multimedia programmer or software engineer integrates all of the multimedia elements of a project into a seamless whole using an authoring system or programming language.

Requisites for a Multimedia Programmer

Requisites for a good multimedia programmer:

1. He must have a thorough knowledge of any programming language.2. He must have working familiarity with digital media particularly digital video.

Requisites for a Multimedia Programmer (contd.)

3. He must have a demonstrated track record of delivering quality programming on a tight schedule.

4. He must function well in a fast-paced team-oriented environment.

The End