What is Multimedia?

Multimedia can have a many definitions these include:

Multimedia means that computer information can be represented through audio, video,
and animation in addition to traditional media (i.e., text, graphics drawings, images).
A good general definition is:
Multimedia is 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.
A Multimedia Application is an Application which uses a collection of multiple
media sources e.g. text, graphics, images, sound/audio, animation and/or video.
Hypermedia can be considered as one of the multimedia applications.

Multimedia is more than one concurrent presentation medium (for example, on

CD-ROM or a Web site). Although still images are a different medium than
text, multimedia is typically used to mean the combination of text, sound,
and/or motion video. Some people might say that the addition of animated
images (for example, animated GIF on the Web) produces multimedia, but it
has typically meant one of the following:
Multimedia can arguably be distinguished from traditional motion pictures or
movies both by the scale of the production (multimedia is usually smaller and
less expensive) and by the possibility of audience interactivity or involvement
(in which case, it is usually calledinteractive multimedia). Interactive elements
can include: voice command, mouse manipulation, text entry, touch screen,
video capture of the user, or live participation (in live presentations).

Multimedia tends to imply sophistication (and relatively more expense) in both

production and presentation than simple text-and-images. Multimedia
presentations are possible in many contexts, including the Web, CD-ROMs,
and live theater. A rule-of-thumb for the minimum development cost of a
packaged multimedia production with video for commercial presentation (as at
trade shows) is: $1,000 a minute of presentation time. Since any Web site can
be viewed as a multimedia presentation, however, any tool that helps develop
a site in multimedia form can be classed as multimedia software and the cost
can be less than for standard video productions.

The use of computers to present text, graphics, video, animation, and sound in an integrated way. Long touted as the
future revolution in computing, multimedia applications were, until the mid-90s, uncommon due to the
expensive hardware required. With increases in performance and decreases in price, however, multimedia is now
commonplace. Nearly all PCs are capable of displaying video, though the resolution available depends on the power
of the computer's video adapter and CPU

Multimedia is content that uses a combination of different content forms such as text, audio,
images, animation, video and interactive content. Multimedia contrasts with media that use only
rudimentary computer displays such as text-only or traditional forms of printed or hand-produced
material.
Multimedia can be recorded and played, displayed, dynamic, interacted with 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 is distinguished from mixed media in fine art; by
including audio, for example, it has a broader scope. The term "rich media" is synonymous
for interactive multimedia. Hypermediascales up the amount of media content in multimedia
application.

MULTIMEDIA CONCEPTS
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.
The usage of text, audio, graphic, video and animation are all involved in describing
media. So, multimedia is the presentation of information by using a combination of
text, audio, graphic, video and animation.
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.
There are five main elements in a complete multimedia system.
Text, Graphic, Audio, Video, Animation
MORE MULTIMEDIA APPLICATIONS IN VARIOUS FIELDS
In business, multimedia applications are used in advertising products.
In art, artists use multimedia elements by combining drawing and animation.
In medicine, doctors can practice or be trained in performing high-risk surgery by
using virtual surgery.
In engineering, Computer-Aided Design or CAD is used. By using this application,
engineers can view the design from many aspects and improve on it before
production.

Components of a Multimedia System

Now let us consider the Components (Hardware and Software) required for a
multimedia system:
Capture devices

-- Video Camera, Video Recorder, Audio Microphone, Keyboards, mice,

graphics tablets, 3D input devices, tactile sensors, VR devices.
Digitising/Sampling Hardware
Storage Devices
-- Hard disks, CD-ROMs, Jaz/Zip drives, DVD, etc
Communication Networks
-- Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, ATM, Intranets, Internets.
Computer Systems
-- Multimedia Desktop machines, Workstations, MPEG/VIDEO/DSP Hardware
Display Devices
-- CD-quality speakers, HDTV,SVGA, Hi-Res monitors, Colour printers etc.

Applications
Examples of Multimedia Applications include:

World Wide Web

Hypermedia courseware

Video conferencing

Video-on-demand

Interactive TV

Groupware

Home shopping

Games

Virtual reality

Digital video editing and production systems

Multimedia Database systems

5 Components of Multimedia
by Sue Smith, Demand Media

Multimedia software applications use a variety of content items to engage users.

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Multimedia applications can include many types of media. The primary characteristic of a
multimedia system is the use of more than one kind of media to deliver content and
functionality. Web and desktop computing programs can both involve multimedia
components. As well as different media items, a multimedia application will normally involve
programming code and enhanced user interaction. Multimedia items generally fall into one
of five main categories and use varied techniques for digital formatting.
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Text

It may be an easy content type to forget when considering multimedia systems, but text
content is by far the most common media type in computing applications. Most multimedia
systems use a combination of text and other media to deliver functionality. Text in
multimedia systems can express specific information, or it can act as reinforcement for
information contained in other media items. This is a common practice in applications with
accessibility requirements. For example, when Web pages include image elements, they can
also include a short amount of text for the user's browser to include as an alternative, in
case the digital image item is not available.

Images
Digital image files appear in many multimedia applications. Digital photographs can display
application content or can alternatively form part of a user interface. Interactive elements,
such as buttons, often use custom images created by the designers and developers involved
in an application. Digital image files use a variety of formats and file extensions. Among the
most common are JPEGs and PNGs. Both of these often appear on websites, as the formats
allow developers to minimize on file size while maximizing on picture quality. Graphic design
software programs such as Photoshop and Paint.NET allow developers to create complex
visual effects with digital images.

Audio
Audio files and streams play a major role in some multimedia systems. Audio files appear as
part of application content and also to aid interaction. When they appear within Web
applications and sites, audio files sometimes need to be deployed using plug-in media
players. Audio formats include MP3, WMA, Wave, MIDI and RealAudio. When developers
include audio within a website, they will generally use a compressed format to minimize on
download times. Web services can also stream audio, so that users can begin playback
before the entire file is downloaded.

Video
Digital video appears in many multimedia applications, particularly on the Web. As with
audio, websites can stream digital video to increase the speed and availability of playback.
Common digital video formats include Flash, MPEG, AVI, WMV and QuickTime. Most digital
video requires use of browser plug-ins to play within Web pages, but in many cases the
user's browser will already have the required resources installed.

Animation
Animated components are common within both Web and desktop multimedia applications.
Animations can also include interactive effects, allowing users to engage with the animation
action using their mouse and keyboard. The most common tool for creating animations on
the Web is Adobe Flash, which also facilitates desktop applications. Using Flash, developers

can author FLV files, exporting them as SWF movies for deployment to users. Flash also uses
ActionScript code to achieve animated and interactive effects.

Multimedia: Components and Applications

Category: Computer &

Technology

Updated: 22-May-2012
Author: Pavnesh Pratap
singh

Member
Level: Silver

Points: 30

In this article I am going to talk about Multimedia. Multimedia is a

medium through which the information can be easily transmitted from
one place to another. Today multimedia is used in various fields like in
education, training, business etc. Also I am going to tell about its
components and its applications.

Multimedia

The word 'Multimedia' is a combination of two words, 'Multi' and

'Media'. Multi means many and media means material through which
something can be transmitted or send. Multimedia combined all the media
elements like text and graphics to make the information more effective and
attractive. Now I am going to write about its components.

Components of Multimedia

The various components of multimedia are Text, Audio, Graphics, Video

and Animation. All these components work together to represent information
in an effective and easy manner.

1)Text: Text is the most common medium of representing the information. In

multimedia, text is mostly use for titles, headlines,menu etc. The most

commonly used software for viewing text files are Microsoft Word, Notepad,
Word pad etc. Mostly the text files are formatted with ,DOC, TXT etc extension.

2)Audio: In multimedia audio means related with recording, playing etc. Audio
is an important components of multimedia because this component increase
the understandability and improves the clarity of the concept. audio includes
speech, music etc. The commonly used software for playing audio files are:
i) Quick Time
ii) Real player
iii) Windows Media Player

3)Graphics: Every multimedia presentation is based on graphics. The used of

graphics in multimedia makes the concept more effective and presentable.the
commonly used software for viewing graphics are windows Picture, Internet
Explorer etc. The commonly used graphics editing software is Adobe Photoshop
through which graphics can be edited easily and can be make effective and
attractive.

4)Video: Video means moving pictures with sound. It is the best way to
communicate with each other. In multimedia it is used to makes the
information more presentable and it saves a large amount of time. The
commonly used software for viewing videos are:
i) Quick Time
ii) Window Media Player
iii) Real Player

5)Animation: In computer animation is used to make changes to the images so

that the sequence of the images appears to be moving pictures. An animated

sequence shows a number of frames per second to produce an effect of motion

in the user's eye. Some of the commonly used software for viewing animation
are:
i) Internet Explorer
ii) Windows Pictures
iii) Fax Viewer

These are the components of Multimedia. Now I am going to talk about its
applications.

Application of multimedia

Nowadays the application of Multimedia are observed in various fields such as

Education, Entertainment,Business and so on. To communicate the message in
the form of picture, sound, video, animation is the primary role of multimedia.
Some of the application of multimedia are as follows:

1)Multimedia in Education: Multimedia is becoming popular in the field of

education. It is commonly used to prepare study material for the students and
also provide them proper understanding of different subjects.Nowadays
Edutainment, a combination of Education and Entertainment has become very
popular. This system provides learning as well as provides entertainment to the
user.

2)Multimedia in Entertainment: Computer graphics techniques are now

commonly use in making movies and games. this increase the growth of
multimedia.

i)Movies: Multimedia used in movies gives a special audio and video effect.
Today multimedia has totally changed the art of making movies in the world.
Difficult effect, action are only possible through multimedia.

ii)Games: Multimedia used in games by using computer graphics, animation,

videos have changed the gaming experience. Presently, games provides fast
action, 3-D effects and high quality sound effects which is only possible
through multimedia.

3)Multimedia in Business: Today multimedia is used in every aspect of

business. These are some of the applications:

i)Videoconferencing: This system enables to communicate using audio and

video between two different locations through their computers.When the
information is sent across the world, this technology provides cost benefits to
the business which saves their time, energy and money.

ii)Marketing and advertisement: Nowadays different advertisement and

marketing ideas about any product on television and internet is possible with
multimedia.

So this is my article about multimedia which is now increasing and becoming

popular among people.

Multimedia Application Categories

Multimedia applications can be subdivided into different categories, each making

particular demands for support on the operating system or runtime environment.
Husemann [Hus96, p. 14--16,] suggests three application categories:
Information Systems. The main purpose of such systems is to provide
information for one or several users. The requested information is typically
stored in databases or media archives.
Examples are electronic publishing, online galleries or weather information
systems.
Remote Representation. By means of a remote representation system a user can
take part in or monitor events at a remote location.
Important examples are distance conferencing or lecturing, virtual reality, or
remote robotic agents.
Entertainment. This major application area of multimedia technology is
strongly oriented towards audio and video data.
Example entertainment applications are digital television, video on demand,
distributed games or interactive television.
User interaction possibilities are a more technical classification criterion favoured by
Heinrichs [Hei96, p. 5--6,]:
Interactive Services. Interactive services permit the user to select the
transmitted information. These services can be be further subdivided into:
o Conversational Services. Services with real-time demands and no
relevant buffering, like video conferencing or video surveillance.
o Messaging Services. Services with temporary storing, like multimedia
mail.
o Retrieval Services. Information services interactively presenting
previously stored information from a database or media collection, for
example tele shopping or hospital information systems.
Distribution Services. Distribution services transmit information from a central
source to a potentially unknown set of receivers. There are two subcategories
that differ in the control possibilities granted the users:

o Services without User Control. Services characterised by having one

central sender that broadcasts information to all participating users, for
example digital television broadcasting.
o Services with User Control. Services allowing the user to choose from
the distributed information.