Multimedia

DEFINITION OF MULTIMEDIA

Multimedia has been used in many aspects in our lives, for

example in the field of business, entertainment and the
sciences. “Multimedia” comes from the word “multi” and
“media”.“Multi” means various. “Media” refers to any hardware
or software used for communicating.
Examples of hardware are: the radio, television, computer and mobile phone.
Examples of software are: email, Yahoo Messenger, Multimedia
Message Service (MMS) and video conferencing.
 CURRENT DEFINITION OF MULTIMEDIA IN ICT

In the field of Information and Communication Technology, multimedia

means more than the use of the various media. A computer user interacts
with the computer to perform tasks such as finding information or play
games to develop a skill.
Multimedia is the use of
several different media to
convey information (text,
audio, graphics, animation,
video, and interactivity).
 What makes multimedia
possible today?

• increase in computer speed,

• Increase in bandwidth
• Large storage space 
• low cost of computers and other equipments
• Internet  
 USES OF MULTIMEDIA
– Home study
– Product promotions and information
– Entertainment
– Training and Instruction
– Exhibitions
– Public relations
– News
– Hobbies
– Advertising
– Internet/intranet 
– Shopping
– Simulations of complex things
– Virtual environments
– Reference and cataloguing systems (as in a library or spare parts
shop)
– Travel and Tourism
– Resumes
 History of multimedia
technology

• Newspapers (First)
– Mass communication medium using text,
images and graphics.
• Motion picture camera (1887)
– Thomas Edison
• Wireless radio transmission (1895)
• Silent feature films (1910)
• Ended with the release of The Jazz Singer in
1927
 History of multimedia
technology in computer science

• Memex (Memory Extender) from Vannevar Bush (1945)

• CD-ROM specification was published (1985) and then
appeared on desktop in 1989
• Hypertext markup language (HTML) was invented (1990)
• MPEG-1 was approved (1991)
• JPEG was approved (1992)
• World wide web became publicly available (1992)
• Netscape program was created (1994)
 INTERACTIVITY OF
MULTIMEDIA

If you use the first multimedia

application, the content
progresses without you having to
control the flow of the movie.
Your only control is to press the
“play” and the “stop” buttons.

This interaction is called linear

interactivity.

Linear presentation where you

the author decides what order
the information is presented in.
 INTERACTIVITY OF
MULTIMEDIA

On the other hand, the second multimedia application allows you to

decide which part you would like to view, or how much you want to know
about the content.
This interaction is named non-linear interactivity.
MEDIUM OF DELIVERY
 MEDIUM OF DELIVERY

CD-BASED MULTIMEDIA
 Web-based CD-based
• Limited in picture size • Can store high end
and low resolution video multimedia elements
such as video

• Can be changed, • Can be permanently

damaged or deleted by stored and are not
irresponsible individuals changeable

• Information for • Information on a

multimedia can be multimedia can be quickly
updated easily and is outdated
cheaper
 HARDWARE AND EDITING SOFTWARE
FOR MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION

In producing a multimedia program, we need to: Gather data for the 5 basic
elements of multimedia: text, animation, graphics, video and audio by using
hardware.
Scanners
video cameras:
camera
Audio
 Video capture devices

help to convert analog video to digital video. The fire wire helps to transfer
the video from video camera to the computer.
To edit the elements, we need special
editing software.
 ELEMENTS OF MULTIMEDIA

There are five main elements in a complete multimedia system.

 TEXT
• the basic element of multimedia which involves
the use of text types, sizes, colours and
background colour.

• The words and symbols in any form, spoken or

written, are the most common system of
communication.

• Visual representation of language as well as a

graphic element in its own right.
• Typography – the study of how to display text,
concerns the precise shape of characters,
spacing, the layout of the lines and paragraph.
• Typeface – a family of graphic characters with a
coherent design and usually includes many sizes
and styles.
• Font – set of graphic characters with a specific
design in a specific size and style.
 5 attributes often used for
specifying font

• Family – fonts in the same family have a coherent design,

a similar look and feel. Ex. Times, Helvetica, Courier
• Shape – refers to the different appearance within a family.
Ex. Normal (upright), sloped (oblique), italic, small cap
• Weight – measures the darkness of the characters, or the
thickness of styles. Ex. Extra light, light, semi light,
medium, semi bold, bold, extra bold
• Width – the amount of expansion or contraction with
respect to the normal or medium in the family.
• Size – unit point
 Things to be considered to
produce effective multimedia

I. The position of the text on the screen.

II. Length of the message.

III. Legibility of the text.

In a multimedia application, other media or screen
can be linked through the use of text. This is what
you call Hypertext.
 Tips in picking the right font to
use in making multimedia

• For small type, use the most legible font available, decorative fonts
are useless.
• Use as few different faces as possible in the same work, but vary
the weight and size and using italic or bold styles.
• In text block, adjust the leading for the most pleasing line spacing.
Lines too tightly packed are difficult to read.
• Vary the size of a font in proportion to the importance of the
message.
• In large size headline, do proper kerning so that the spacing feels
right.
• Explore the effects of different coulours and of placing the test on
various backgrounds.
• Leading – the space between lines of text

• Kerning – spacing between character pairs

• Character metrics – measurements of

individual characters
 GRAPHIC

Spatial representation of objects. Makes the multimedia

application attractive. They help to illustrate ideas through still
pictures.

Pixel – the smallest element on digital image/ picture element

A digital element consists of matrix of pixels.

Bitmap vs. Vector
 Bitmap vs. Vector

Bitmaps Images Vector Graphics

• Real images that can be • Drawn on computer and
captured from devices such only require a small amount
as cameras or scanners. of memory.
• Raster images comprised of • Made up of many individual
pixels in a grid in which objects which may contain
each pixel contains lines, curves and shapes
information about the color with editable attributes such
to be displayed. as color, fill and outline.
• Resolution dependent, so it • Resolution independent
is difficult to resize. • Also called as draw
• Also called as paint graphics.
graphics.
 Audio
A multimedia application may require the use of speech, music and
sound effects. These are called audio or the sound element.

• Sound – physical phenomenon produced by the vibration

of matter and transmitted as waves.
• Involves 3 system:
– Source – which emits the sound;
– Medium – through which the sound propagates;
– Detector – which receives and interprets the sound.
 Analog vs Digital

Analog Digital
• Refers to the original • Refers to the digital
sounds sampling of the actual
• Relating to or using signals sound.
or information represented • Using signals represented
by a continuously variable by discrete values.
physical quantity such as
spatial position or voltage.
 VIDEO

Video provides a powerful impact in a multimedia program. In

multimedia applications, the digital video is gaining popularity
because of the following reasons:

 video clips can be edited easily

 the digital video files can be stored like any other files in the
computer and
the quality of the video can still be maintained
 the video files can be transferred within a computer network
it allows non-linear editing in any part of the video

However, these digital video files are large in size. Transferring

these files can take a long time especially when using the
Internet.
 ANIMATION

Animation is a process of making a static image look like it is moving. In

multimedia, digital animation is used. Digital animation can be categorized
into two broad area: 2D (2 Dimension) and 3D (3 Dimension) animations.
 STANDARD FILE FORMATS

Each of the five elements mentioned has various standard file formats. file format
is a particular way to store information in a computer.
The formats will allow you to make decisions of the type of text, graphic, audio,
video and animation to use when developing your own multimedia program.
EDITING SOFTWARE FOR MULTIMEDIA
 MULTIMEDIA
AUTHORING TOOL
A multimedia authoring tool is a software program
that brings all of your elements together into a
finished product ready to be used.  It is also where
you will give your program user interactivity, and
perhaps do some final editing on a few elements. 
Some authoring tools (such as Hyperstudio), have
almost all of the multimedia tools you'll ever need
incorporated in the program.  It contains a paint
program and an interface for capturing or digitizing
audio and video. 
MULTIMEDIA AUTHORING TOOLS
Multimedia applications can be classified into three
concepts, which are :
time frame, icon and card.

TIME FRAME CONCEPT

ICON CONCEPT
CARD CONCEPT
 CRITERIA IN EVALUATING
AN AUTHORING TOOL :

 It should be easy to use; thus non-programmers do not have to learn a

programming language in order to develop multimedia courseware.
 It should have ready-made templates, including popular buttons or
signs and navigation tools.
 It offers compatibility with the World Wide Web.
 It has on-line help and learning aids.
 USER INTERFACE PRINCIPLES

User interface is a program that provides an interface or medium for

humans to interact with the system.

There are eight main principles of the user interface.

1. Consistency
2. Clarity
3. Context
4. Navigation
5. Search
6. Personalization
7. Learnability
8. Flexibility
 CONSISTENCY

Consistency means the interface design is in harmony and the same applies
to all screen in a software program.
The same words or commands perform the same functions throughout the
user interface.
 CLARITY

Clarity means clearness of labels on all icons to make the system easy
to understand. Users should use relevant icons or graphics to indicate
the information.
Icons, words or commands should be clearly labeled so that users can
understand them easily.
 CONTEXT

Context means every part of a lesson should be relevant to a particular

title. Ideas presented need to relate to the title.

The user interface should be structured. For example, if the lesson is

about Flow Chart, all the sections including the introduction, content,
activity, evaluation, summary and extension should be related to the
Flow Chart.
 NAVIGATION

Navigation means
users can move
around the menus,
help files or other
screens in a system
 SEARCH

Search means the system enables users to search keywords or

glossary. The user interface should have a search function.
It should provide multiple ways for users to make queries by grouping
or sorting.
The system should provide users a preview in order to get a word in
the correct page.
 LEARNABILITY

Learnability means the system provides support information and help

files to make the system easy to understand.

Support information is
important, especially in
helping the user to use the
system.
The help function should be
available to speed up the
interaction for both
experienced and
inexperienced users.
 FLEXIBILITY

Flexibility means a user has the authority to navigate through all the
sections without any limitations.
For example, the user is allowed to access any of the lessons,
sections and pages of the program.
 PERSONALIZATION

Personalization
means the
users can
make their
own personal
or individual
learning.
Users can
choose their
display
options.
Setting Up a Multimedia
Production Department

Personnel
Productivity
Equipment
Space
 Multimedia
Production Personnel

The person in charge of a multimedia

production department would be a
Multimedia Developer who has
experience with all aspects of video,
computer, print, and sound production. He
or she should not only supervise
production but also contribute in the tasks
involved in production.
 Productivity

– Another Multimedia Developer100%

– Multimedia Specialist100%
– Audio/Video Technician80%
– Computer Graphics Specialist 80%
– Audio/Video Intern35%
– Computer Graphics Intern35%
– Student Worker30%
• Typical Services of 1 Multimedia Developer
– Production of small projects
– Provide technical advise and assistance
– Provide quick turn-around multimedia assistance for walk-in
traffic
– Consult with and plan multimedia projects with instructors and
administrators
– Production of large projects
 Multimedia
Equipment
Issues to be considered when choosing
equipment:
– Digital vs. Analog
– Prices
– Computer Biases and Compatibility
– Portability
– Own vs. Renting or Sharing
– System vs. Piecemeal
– Consumer, Industrial, Corporate,
Broadcast, or Movie Quality
Computer/Digital
Multimedia Equipment
SPACE FOR MULTIMEDIA DEVELOPMENT
Space (about 30’ x 20’ for 6 persons)
 THE END 