👉 Learning Plan

After complete reading this, you will be able to:
  1. Define multimedia and explain the different types of multimedia.
  2. List the advantages and disadvantages of multimedia technology.
  3. Explain the elements of multimedia technology.
  4. Define multimedia computer system.
  5. Explain the application areas of multimedia.
INTRODUCTION
Multimedia refers to content that uses a combination of different content forms. This includes text, graphics, audio, video, etc. Multimedia includes a combination of text, audio, still images, animation, video, or interactivity content forms. Multimedia is usually recorded and played, displayed, or accessed by information content processing devices, such as computerized and electronic devices, but can also be part of a live performance. Multimedia devices are electronic media devices used to store and experience multimedia content. Multimedia has become an integral part of our life. Multimedia finds its application in  various area including advertisements, art, education, entertainment, engineering, medicine, mathematics, business and scientific research.

Advantages of Multimedia
Multimedia is a combination of different content forms such as text, audio, images, animation, videos, etc. Computerized and electronic devices are normally used to record and play multimedia. The use of multimedia offers many advantages.
  • It enhances the effect of text presentations.
  • It improves the quality of presentation and retains the attention of audience.
  • It provides high-quality video images and audio.
  • It can be used for educational as well as entertainment purpose.
  • Multimedia presentations can be modified very easily.
  • It frees the teacher from the routine task.
  • It gathers information about the study results of the students. 
  • It offers system portability.  
Disadvantages of multimedia
The disadvantages of multimedia are as follows:
  • Installing multimedia hardware and software is expensive.
  • It is difficult to configure multimedia hardware and software.
  • Multimedia hardware is not always compatible.
  • The amount of images and videos in a lesson can slow down the delivery and pace of the class as a result.
Elements of Multimedia
Multimedia uses computers to present text, audio, video, animation, interactive features, and still images in various ways and combinations made possible through the advancement of technology. The five main elements of multimedia are:

Text
Text is the basic element of multimedia. It involve the use of text types, size, colors and background color. In a multimedia application, other media or screen a can be linked through the use of text. To produce an effective multimedia program there are things that need to be considered. They are:
  1. The position of the text on the screen.
  2. Length of the message
Audio
A multimedia application may require the use of speech, music and sound effects. These are called audio or the sound element. There are two basic types of audio or sound: Analog and Digital Audio.

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 the 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 multimedia, digital animation is use. Digital animation can be categorized into two broad: 2D(2 dimension) and 3D(3 Dimension) animations. Such concepts as playing a guitar or hitting a golf ball are difficult to illustrate using a single photograph, or even a series of photographs and even more difficult to explain using text. Animation makes it easier to portray these aspects of  your multimedia application.

Multimedia Computer
Multimedia Computer is a computer that has  hardware and features that optimize it for displaying and editing multimedia sources. These computers typically have hard drives and random access memory(RAM) with larger memory stores and come pre- installed with programs that let users work multimedia files. To help display files, a multimedia computer will likely have surround- sound capabilities and extra peripherals for media hardware. The screen sizes also are generally larger than regular computers, because this makes watching movies more enjoyable.

Multimedia Software 
Multimedia Software is a software that can play and view all sorts of media, such as music, videos, pictures, etc. The multimedia computer should have the following software tools.
  • Painting software 
    Painting software is a software that enables you to draw pictures on the display screen which are represented as bit maps (bit-mapped graphics).
  • Photo editing software 
    It is used to manipulate or enhance digital images.
  • Animation software
    It allows the creation of motion on a frame by frame basis.
  • Drawing software
    Used for creating art on the computer.
  • Audio editing software
    It allows editing and generating of audio data.
Areas of Multimedia
Multimedia is a technology which stores data as text, photo, pictures, music, sounds, graphic, film and animation and gives the methods to collect and modify the data as desired. The application areas of multimedia are:
  1. Education through Multimedia
    Fig: Multimedia in Education

    Multimedia activities encourage students to work in groups, ex[press their knowledge in multiple ways, solve problems, revise their own work, and construct knowledge. Multimedia based education greatly enhances traditional education providing the student with options of individual attention at his own place.

     





  2. Multimedia Presentation
    Fig: Multimedia Presentation

    Multimedia presents information in a variety of forms(text, graphics, animation, audio, video) involving the use of more of our senses. Hence, multimedia presentation can be used to better explain a subject matter to the students because it enhances the comprehension capability of the students. 


  3. Multimedia Kiosks
    Fig: Multimedia Kiosks


    A multimedia kiosks is a computer terminal for public usage which can perform multi functional services with multiple media applications. Therefore a multimedia kiosk can deliver visual information in the for of text and images, audio which might include music, talking, or sound effects and it can also show videos.
    Multimedia Kiosks are generally placed in a public place where people can access the information that the kiosk contains. In today's society with the internet generation, a multimedia kiosk is the ideal way to information across to young people quickly, easily and effectively. 


  4. Multimedia in Medicine
    Fig: Multimedia in Medicine

    Multimedia is normally used for different types of presentations and briefings. In medicine, multimedia is being used at large scale for training th doctors on surgeries. Multimedia is also used for training the doctors in real world operations live from operation theatres. Multimedia is also getting more and more grounds in medicine and other high tech fields.





  5. Multimedia in Business

    Fig: Multimedia in Business
    Businesses can use multimedia in many different ways. Some bigger businesses, like those in the tourism industry will advertise and send out video's brochures to perspective visitors. Watching a video of blue seas and nightlife in a resort setting is a great seller. Businesses also use multimedia programs as part of their everyday business procedures. Software such as PowerPoint is used as a teaching aid throughout the world in company seminars and workshops.


  6. Multimedia in Entertainment
    Fig: Multimedia in Entertainment
    Multimedia can be used as entertainment in several ways. For one, multimedia entails both video and flash based games. It also includes online trivia puzzles, along wit sports and other games as well. some multimedia programs also include chat options, as well as internal movie and music players too.



Virtual Reality 

Fig: 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 and feels like a real environment. To "enter" a virtual reality, a user requires special gloves, earphones and goggles, all of which receive their input from the computer system. In this way, at ;least three of the five senses are controlled by the computer. In addition to feeding sensory input to the user, the devices also monitor the user's actions. The goggles, for example, track how the eyes move and respond accordingly by sending new video input.





 Important Short Questions

  1. Define the term multimedia. Explain the importance of multimedia in education.(BLE 2019)
  2. What are the Components of Multimedia?
  3. Explain the uses of multimedia in business and fine arts.
  4. List any two name of multimedia software.
  5. What do you mean by video conferencing and virtual reality? Explain.
  6. List any two uses of multimedia in education and entertainment.
  7. What is multimedia? Write two examples of interactive multimedia.(Morang 2017)
  8. What is multimedia? Write its components.(Kanchanpur 2017)
  9. What is meant by multimedia? Write any two advantages of multimedia.(Chitwan 2018)