Multimedia
#Characteristics / Properties of multimedia:
-Multimedia systems must be computer controlled.
-Multimedia systems are integrated.
-The information they handle must be represented digitally.
-Interactive
Multimedia: Multiple forms of media through which information can be expressed.
#Advantages:
i.Easy to use.
ii. Information, ideas and knowledge can be spread easily all over the world.
iii. It makes teaching and learning easier in classroom.
iv. It makes easy to share ideas, views among various people.
v. It makes computer games and movies more realistic.
vi. It makes presentation more effective.
vii. It makes advertising more interesting and effective.
viii. It is highly used in open university, distance education system and video conferencing.
ix. It is widely used for entertainment purpose.
#Disadvantages:
i.It is more expensive.
ii. Technical manpower is needed to operate multimedia system.
iii. Multimedia technology cannot be distributed and used easily in remote areas.
iv. Multimedia are too large, so it is time consuming to transfer across the internet.
Elements/ Components of Multimedia
a. Text: Components which contains alphanumeric characters.
b. Graphics: Displaying and manipulating pictures and graphics for better presentation.
c. Sound: Adds sound effects to the video and animation to enhance the interactivity with the user.
d.Animation: Process of giving artificial movement by displaying series of pictures one after another using multimedia.
e.Video: Display of sequence of images at a reasonable speed to create the motion.
Multimedia Technology
Multimedia Technology uses interactive computer elements such as graphics, text, video, sound and animation to deliver a message. It's applications are:
· Web developers
· Graphics artists
· Digital photographers
· Designers
· Desktop layout publishers
Multimedia Computer System
The computer which can combine two or more than two media simultaneously for effective and interactive presentation is called multimedia computer or multimedia system. Some examples of multimedia components are:
Computer, CD-ROM, CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM, DVD-ROM drive, Sound card, Head phone, Multimedia Projector , Software(MS PowerPoint, Windows Media Player, Macromedia Flash, Adobe Photoshop)
#Application fields of Multimedia
-Education and training
-Business
-Entertainment
-Film industry
-Internet and web
-Medicine
-Advertisement
-Multimedia presentation
-Virtual reality
1.Multimedia in Education: Multimedia plays very important role in the field of education. It provides easy and quick learning environment for students. It empowers students to create and design new application. It provides students with opportunities to represent and express their prior knowledge. Multimedia application engage students and provide valuable learning opportunities. Distance learning programs and open opportunities are being possible due to multimedia. Teachers too can use interactive multimedia technology to teach their students. In this way, multimedia play’s great role to develop students’ skills and provides various opportunities to develop their career. Teachers too, can learn various new things using the multimedia applications and provide students an effective and updated knowledge. Thus, multimedia is very important and plays a vital role in the field of education.
2.Virtual Reality: Virtual reality is an artificial environment created with computer hardware and software and presented to the user in such a way that it appears real. The virtual reality is not possible without using multimedia technology.
| Linear Multimedia | Non-linear Multimedia |
| -User is a passive receiver (watching cinema). | -User participate in the events (playing games, etc.). |
| -One-way communication. | -Two-way communication. |
| -User has no control over the sequence of events. Ex: Movies | -User can control the sequence of events according to what the user wants from the events (using buttons or links). Ex: Games |
3. In medicine, doctors can get trained by looking at a virtual surgery.
4. Mathematical and scientific research: Multimedia is mainly used for modeling and simulation. Ex: Scientist can look at a molecular model of a particular substance and manipulate it to arrive at a new substance.
5. Industry: Multimedia can be used as a way to present information to shareholders, superiors and co-workers. Multimedia is also helpful for providing employee training, advertising and selling products all over the world via web-based technology.
6. Edutainment: Education with entertainment. Multimedia teaching is more effective than old ways. Even, teachers presence is not require there.
