• Define the terminology of multimedia

• Importance of multimedia application

• Multimedia and its applications

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Definitions
What is “multimedia”

• The presentation of a computer application,

usually interactive, that incorporates media
elements such as text, graphics, audio, video or
even animation with data control and
manipulation on a computer

• Products that are based on a technology that

combines text,pictures, sound,full-motion
video,and interactivity into interesting,
informative and often entertaining productions
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 History of Multimedia

Late 1970s 8-bit processors, mainframe computers.

1980s 16-bit processors, Database and info management,

desktop computer, smart storage, (word-
processing,spreadsheets,games),LAN.

1990s 32-bit processors, World Wide Web, Digital

Audio and Video, CD-ROM, Faster memory and higher
data storage.

2000s Wireless communication, speed

up, mobile computing, information hiding,
computer security.

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Terminologies

• Information: Comes in many forms including text, picture,

audio, and video

• Interactivity: Interaction between the user and computer

• Developers: Skilled individuals who participate in the

development of products

• Users: Those individuals or groups who use and apply

multimedia products

• Authoring tools: Software programs for developing and

delivering multimedia products

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Interactivity

• Most critical feature of multimedia

• Easily accessible

• The ability of the user to interact with the

program

“ The user should determines what content is delivered, when it is

delivered, and how it is delivered … ”

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The needs of Multimedia

• Finding facts and information (encyclopedias)

• Learning technologies

• Entertainment (computer games and clips)

• Marketing and technical presentations

• Communicating via the Internet

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Importance of Multimedia

• Why would you want to apply multimedia to

software as your end-product? -> applying
multimedia technology to any computer
application is neither easy nor inexpensive..it
usually requires considerable up-front investment
of time and money..

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Importance of Multimedia

Ease of use
• easier to use by end-user
• increase the user’s effectiveness
• user becomes less dependent on instructions

Intuitive interface

• The choice of elements(graphics, text, icons, buttons) must

be suitable to the application and obvious
• Simple selection of control and navigation buttons -> they
look like what it’s intended to do

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An original text-based menu interface often looked like this …

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Windows+Icon Based Interface is a vast improvement over
the old text-based versions.

Mouse driven
interface

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Importance of Multimedia
Immerse experience
• application takes over the entire computer screen
• removing the distraction of the computer’s OS
• easier to focus on the application -> user’s attention

Which figure provides more feel and experience to the users?

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Importance of Multimedia
Self-Paced Interaction and Better Retention
• the ability to process information at one’s own pace is
crucial to their success
• For example, you can spend 10 hours with a multimedia
encyclopedia or just 10 minutes -> it is your choice !!!

Figure: Microsoft Encarta 98

Encyclopedia Deluxe Edition.

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Importance of Multimedia
Better Understanding of the Content
• Better comprehend the material
• Multimedia Computer-based Training (CBT)
• Students learn better and more easily when information
is presented in ways that stimulate several of the
student’s senses concurrently

The Ultimate Human Body version 2.0

The combination of text,illustration,
animation, and narration provides a much
deeper, richer,a nd easier to assimilate
experience.

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Importance of Multimedia
Cost Effectiveness
• Consider an application that requires a costly printing
value, in-depth training manual, and continuous
technical support as you would need for a non-
multimedia application, the cost saving benefits become
apparent.

More Fun = Greater Efficiency

• Software wizards: programs that take you through a
series of prescribed steps to quickly accomplish a job
• Digital assistants: programs that catch errors or suggest
better methods

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Importance of Multimedia

Examples of Software Wizard and Software Digital Assistant

(Agent)

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Multimedia and its applications
Entertainment
• Focus has been on action and graphics
• Need to attract, engage, captivate, and challenge the
user
• Essential parts consists of fast action, vivid colors, 3-D
animations, and sound effects

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Multimedia and its applications
Education
• E-Learning (distance learning) and “courseware”
• Facilitate learning-helping students for more
understanding
• Should be non-linear
• Providing feedback

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Multimedia and its applications
Business / Corporate communication
• Doing promotion by presenting business presentation
• e-Catalog, huge databases, demo, communications,
advertisement, and marketing

Microsoft Money 98: The interface

make financial planning and
accounting easier than ever before.

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Multimedia and its applications
References
• Encyclopedia, dictionary, yellow pages directories
• Other multimedia elements must be supported

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Delivering Multimedia Titles
Compact disc / Digital versatile disc
• Can hold substantial amounts of data
• Inexpensive and easy to find
• Easy to mass produce, distribute, and transport
• Games, courseware, movie clips, sound clips, etc.

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Delivering Multimedia Titles
Information kiosk
• A stand-alone or networked computer system that
allows the user to access information,
perform transactions, and play games
• Can give feedback immediately and
print some outputs to the
users
• Expensive

[e-travel.mpg] 21
Delivering Multimedia Titles
Internet / World Wide Web
• Easier to share knowledge
• Much faster to transmit data and information
• Example: product presentation (advertisement),
teleconferencing, e-commerce, greeting.

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