Introduction to Multimedia

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Multimedia defined

■ the combination of two or more media (Dowling, 2011)

■ elements of multimedia: graphics, photography, text, audio
(sound effects, music, voice-over, and so on), video, and
animation
■ the field 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 (www.ftms.edu.my)
Multimedia defined

■ serves as a formidable communication instrument for both

expressive and practical purposes
■ creates a more dynamic and engaging experience (Dowling, 2011)
■ comes from the two words, multi and media, which means ‘many’
and ‘channels,’ respectively
Multimedia defined

■ Multimedia is a form of conveying a message in a

powerful manner.
■ Being a medium of communication, it is interactive and
contains different ways of presenting information to the
intended users.
■ Multimedia also creates relationship between the users
and the digital information; hence, it is technically a one-
way interaction.
Importance of Multimedia

■ It aids the conveying of message and presenting of an information

■ It gives more flavour and richness and provides a full sensory
experience.
■ It plays a vital role in the easy acquisition and reception of
information into our brain.
■ It provides users with meaningful utilization of these pieces of
information in the most creative and most understandable way.
■ It provides a rich and stimulating technological experience by
displaying information in an attractive and interactive manner.
McLuhan’s medium is the message

"In a culture like ours, long accustomed to splitting and

dividing all things as a means of control, it is sometimes a
bit of a shock to be reminded that, in operational and
practical fact, the medium is the message. This is merely to
say that the personal and social consequences of any
medium - that is, of any extension of ourselves - result from
the new scale that is introduced into our affairs by each
extension of ourselves, or by any new technology."
McLuhan’s medium is the message

■ McLuhan says “it is the medium that shapes and controls the scale and
form of human association and action.”
■ According to him, the main emphasis should not be on the message or
content, but how a message is delivered and what medium is used to deliver
such.
■ It is, he said, the critical component to make the message understood.
■ The purpose of a medium is to aid in the conveying of a message.
■ He also claimed that the medium by which information is transmitted
ultimately reorganizes human behaviour.
■ Dowling (2011) explains that
multimedia is a synergistic
process whereby multimedia
elements are integrated to make
a stronger, more cohesive whole
(See Figure 1-1).
■ Hence, this leads to interactive
multimedia that generates an
engaging, multifaceted
experience.
Elements of Multimedia

■ Text
■ Graphics
■ Audio
■ Video
■ Animation
Text

■ Most of the multimedia contents contain texts.

■ The text can have various types of fonts and sizes to
suit the presentation of the multimedia form.
■ Texts are characters that are used to create words,
sentences, and paragraphs.
Graphics
■ Visuals play a key role in acquisition of information.
■ On the multimedia screen, it is the visual layout that first attracts
people to interact with multimedia product.
■ Consequently, graphics form the visuals. They make the
multimedia project appealing.
■ Graphics are used more often than text to explain a concept,
elaborate a principle, present background information, etc.
■ Graphics are also a digital representation of non-text information,
such as a drawing, chart, or photograph.
Two types of graphics

■ Bitmap images. Bitmap images are real images that can

be captured from devices such as digital cameras or
scanners. Generally, bitmap images are not editable.
Bitmap images require a large amount of memory.
■ Vector Graphics. Vector graphics are drawn on the
computer and only require a small amount of memory.
These graphics are editable.
Audio
■ Sound or audio is sometimes the best way to attract attention,
especially when the message is auditory in nature.
■ More often than not, audio provides the only effective way to
convey an idea, elicit an emotion, or dramatize point.
■ People think audio is only combined in a multimedia project to
enhance the other media being presented, but it may be a perfect
element.
■ The use of speech, music, and sound effects are essential to
making the digital video interactive and engaging.
Two types of audio
■ Analog. Analog audio or sound is defined as
the original sound signal.
■ Digital. Computer stores the sound in digital
form. Hence, the sound used in a multimedia
project is digital audio.
Video
■ It refers to the technology of electronically capturing, recording,
processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence
of still images representing scenes in motion.
■ It may be referred to as the moving picture, accompanied by
sound such as a picture in television.
■ Video element of multimedia application gives a lot of information
in small duration of time.
■ Digital video is useful in multimedia application for showing real
life objects.
Video
■ Video have highest performance demand on the computer
memory and on the bandwidth if placed on the internet.
■ The digital video files can be transferred within a computer
network.
■ The digital video clips can be edited easily.
■ The embedding of video in multimedia applications is a powerful
way to convey information which can incorporate a personal
element which other media lack.
Animation

■ Animation is a series of graphics that create an illusion of

motion.
■ It is a process of making a static image look like it is moving.
■ An animation is just a continuous series of still images that
are displayed in a sequence.
■ The animation can be used effectively for attracting attention.
■ Animation also makes a presentation light and attractive.
■ Animation is very popular in multimedia application.
APPLICATIONS OF MULTIMEDIA
Applications of Multimedia

■ Multimedia in Business
■ Multimedia in Marketing and Advertising
■ Multimedia in Entertainment
■ Multimedia in Education
■ Multimedia in Bank
■ Multimedia in Hospital
■ Multimedia Pedagogues