Introduction to Multimedia

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Introduction to Multimedia

• Part I Media Integrations (The Nuts Bolts of
  a Multimedia Project)

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So, what is multimedia?

• Multimedia is concerned with the
  computer-controlled integration of text,
  graphics, drawings, still and moving images
  (Video), animation, audio, and any other media
  where every type of information can be
  represented, stored, transmitted and processed
  digitally.(from Marshall)

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Why use multimedia?

• Connect the human interface to electronic
  information
• To enhance traditional interfaces
• To gain hold interest
• To improve knowledge retention among users
• (from Vaughan)

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Creating a Multimedia Project

• Planning Costing
• Identify objectives and what will make those
  objectives work
• Plan what skills expertise areas are needed
• Develop a navigation or site map
• Develop a budget
• Complete a proof-of-concept

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Creating a Multimedia Project

• Designing Producing
• Perform each of the tasks in a job plan
• Testing
• Test to see if program meets stated objectives
• Does the program work properly?
• Does the program meet the needs of your
  client(s)?

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Creating a Multimedia Project

• Delivery
• Package and deliver the project to your client(s)
• (from Vaughan)

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The Project Team
Project Manager

• Overall project development
• Oversees day-to-day operations

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The Project Team
How should a project look?

• Design should be aesthetic
• Visually consistent
• Clear navigation
• Developed with a sense of the audience in mind
• Multimedia Designers are responsible for putting
  the project together

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The Project Team
Graphic Designers

• Responsible for developing maintaining the
  visual aspects of the project

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The Project Team
Instructional Designers

• Make sure the project is clear
• Make sure the project is properly presented, in
  easily-understood language

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The Project Team
Interface Designers

• Develop the navigation of the project
• Develop a site map

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The Project Team
Information Designers

• Structure Content
• Select presentation media based on media
  properties and strengths

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The Project Team
Content Writers

• Take information from content experts and
  summarize it in a concise manner

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The Project Team
Video Specialists

• Responsible for all aspects of managing video
  from concept to post-production edits

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The Project Team
Audio Specialists

• Locates audio talent (music, voice-overs, sound
  effects, etc.)
• Digitizes and edits sound

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The Project Team
Multimedia Programmer

• Responsible for putting the pieces together as a
  whole
• Uses an authoring environment or programming
  language to do so

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Resources for Part I

• Marshall, Dave. Website for Multimedia Class at
  Cardiff University (CM0340) http//www.cs.cf.ac.
  uk/Dave/Multimedia/. 1999.
• Vaughan, Tay. Multimedia Making It Work.
  McGraw-Hill. 1998.

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Break
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Introduction to Multimedia

• Part II Atoms to Bits (Basic Multimedia Theory)

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Birth of Multimedia

• Israeli rescue at Entebbe, Uganda Airport in 1976
• Physical modeling was too expensive to replicate
• ARPAs Solution Bits not atoms (1978 Aspen
  Project)

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Multimedia Breadth Depth

• Traditional print media had an either/or approach
  to breadth depth (encyclopedia article vs.
  academic journal on computer security)
• Physical limits preclude having both breadth
  depth

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Multimedia Breadth Depth

• In the digital world, we are not constrained by
  atoms
• Allows for both/and approach to breadth depth
• Both/And is the essence of multimedia

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Multimedia Breadth Depth

• No dimensional limits on information
• Ideas can be reordered expanded
• Instant definition
• Implicit Interactivity

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Towards Mediumlessness

• The medium is NOT the message
• Medium is determined by receiver, not the
  producer
• Fluid movement among media
• Salient Stills

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Culture Convergence

• Computers no longer the realm of technologists
• Consumerism will drive development
• Innovations will come in applications, not
  hardware
• Multimedia is a blend of both the technological
  the artistic

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Multimedia Distribution

• Traditionally, media producers have pushed bits
  at people
• Multimedia allows people to pull bytes at their
  leisure
• Narrowcasting vs. Broadcasting

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Multimodal Interface

• Either/Or vs. Both/And
• Redundancy is good
• The Noticeable Difference
• Intelligent Interfaces

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Resources for Part II

• Negroponte, Nicholas. Being Digital. Vintage
  Books. 1996.