computer based tools

• Multimedia is a mixture of different forms of media. This includes text, graphics, audio, video, etc.
• Today, multimedia is found everywhere in educational institutes, offices, airports, railway stations, journalism, creative and entertainment industries such as TV, films, radio, etc., medicine, IT industry, research, etc.
• The kinds of media components and how they are used in a multimedia program matter a lot
• Example


  • A music video and sound should be used together as one without another would lose its significance
• Linear multimedia


  Information is read or viewed in a continuous sequence. Usually, these presentations begin at a predetermined starting point and end at a predetermined end point. They can be automated so that each screen comes after a fixed time interval
• Example of linear multimedia


  • Powerpoint presentation
• Non-linear multimedia


  Information is not presented in sequential or chronological manner. Non-linear multimedia programs are usually interactive and require audience interaction
• Example of non-linear multimedia

  • The Web
• Applications of Multimedia


  • Business
  • Research and Medicine
  • Public Access
  • Entertainment
  • Industry
  • Commercial
  • Education
  • Multimedia in Public Places
  • Engineering
• Business


  Multimedia is used for advertising and selling products on the Internet. Some businesses use multimedia tools such as CD-ROMs, DVDs or online tutorials for training or educating staff members about things the employer want them to learn or know
• Research and Medicine


  Multimedia is increasingly used in research in the fields of science, medicine and mathematics. It is mostly used for modelling and simulation. In Medicine, doctors acquire training by watching a virtual surgery or they can simulate how the human body is affected by diseases spread by germs and then develop techniques to prevent it
• Public Access


  Public Access is an area of application where several multimedia applications will be available very soon. One of the application is the tourist information system, where a travel enthusiast will be shown glimpse of the place he would like to visit
• Entertainment


  Multimedia is used to create special effects in films, TV serials, radio shows, games and animations. Multimedia games are popular software programs that available online as well as on DVDs and CD-ROMs. Use of special technologies such as virtual reality turn these games into real life experiences
• Industry


  In the Industrial sector, multimedia is used to present information to all people related to the industry such as stakeholders, shareholders, senior level managers and co-workers. Multimedia is also helpful in advertising and selling products all over the world over internet
• Commercial


  Creative presentations are used to grab the attention of the masses in advertising. Industrial, business to business and interoffice communications are mostly developed by firms providing creative services. They work on advanced multimedia presentations rather than simple slide shows to sell ideas or make training programs more interesting
• Education


  Multimedia is used as a source of information in the field of education. Pupils can research on various topics such as solar system or information technology using different multimedia presentations. To make teaching more interesting and fun for pupils, teachers can make multimedia presentations of chapters
• Multimedia in Public Places

  In railway stations, hotels, museums, grocery stores and shopping malls multimedia will become available at stand-alone terminals to provide information and help. Such installation reduce demand on traditional information booths and personnel, add value, and they can work around the clock, even in the middle of the night, when live help is off-duty
• Engineering


  Software engineers may use multimedia in computer simulations for anything from entertainment to training such as military or industrial training. Multimedia for software interfaces are often done as collaboration between creative professionals and software engineers
• Stages of Multimedia Project

  • Pre-production
  • Production
  • Post-production
• Pre-production


  The process before producing multimedia project
• Production


  The process in which multimedia project is produced
• Post-production


  The process after the production of multimedia project
• These stages are sequential. Before beginning any work, everybody involved in the project should agree to what is to be done and why. Lack of agreement can create misunderstandings which can have grim effects in the production process. Therefore, initial agreements give a reference point for subsequent decisions and assessments.
• After the clarification of why, what multimedia product has to do in order to fulfil its purpose is decided. The "why" and "what" determine all the how decisions including storyboards, flow chart, media content, etc.
• Idea or Motivation


  During the initial why phase of production, the first question the production team ask is "why" you want to develop a multimedia project?
• Product Concept and Project Goals


  It takes several brainstorming sessions to come up with an idea. Then the production team decides what the product needs to accomplish in the market. It should keep in account what information and function they need to provide to meet desired goals. Activities such as developing a planning document, interviewing the client and building specifications for production help in doing so
• Target Audience


  The production team thinks about target age groups, and how it affects the nature of the product. It is imperative to consider the background of target customers and the types of references that will be fully understood. It is also important to think about any special interest groups to which the project might be targeted towards, and the sort of information those groups might find important
• Delivery Medium and Authoring Tools


  The production team decides the medium through which the information reach the audience. The information medium can be determined on the basis of what types of equipment the audience have and what obstacles must be overcome. Web, DVDs and CD-ROMs are some of the common delivery mediums. The production team also ascertain what authoring tools should be used in the project. A few of the authoring tools are graphics, audio, video, text, animation, etc.
• Planning


  Planning is the key to the success of most business endeavours, and this is definitely true in multimedia. This is because a lack of planning in the early processes of multimedia can cost later. The production team works together and plan how the project will appear and how far it will be successful in delivering the desired information.
• If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.
• Common points of discussions in planning

  • What do you require for the multimedia project?
  • How long will each task take?
  • Who is going to do the work?
  • How much will the product cost?
• Production


  In the production stage all components of planning come into effect. If pre-production was done properly, all individuals will carry out their assigned work according to the plan. During this phase graphic artists, instructional designers, animators, audiographers and videographers begin to create artwork, animation, scripts, video, audio and interface. The production phase runs easily if the project manager has distributed responsibilities to the right individuals and created practical and achievable production schedule
• Things that people involved in production have to do

  • Scriptwriting
  • Art
  • 3D Modelling and Animation
  • Authoring
  • Shooting and Recording Digitizing Video
  • Quality Control
• Scriptwriting


  The scripts for the text, transitions, audio narrations, voice-overs and video are written. Existing material also needs to be rewritten and reorganized for an electronic medium. Then the written material is edited for readability, grammar and consistency
• Art


  Illustrations, graphics, buttons, and icons are created using the prototype screens as a guide. Existing photographs, illustrations, and graphics are digitized for use in an electronic medium
• 3D Modelling and Animation


  The 3D artwork is created, rendered, and then prepared for use in the authoring tool. The 3D animations require their own storyboards and schedules
• Authoring


  All the pieces come together in the authoring tool. Functionality is programmed, and 2D animation is developed. From here, the final working product is created. Every word on the screen is proofread and checked for consistency of formatting. In addition, the proofreader reviews all video and audio against the edited scripts
• Shooting and Recording Digitizing Video

  The edited scripts are used to plan the budget, performers, time schedules and budget, then the shoot is scheduled followed by recording
• Quality Control


  Quality control goes on throughout the process. The storyboards are helpful for checking the sequencing. The final step checks should be done for the overall content functionality and usability of the product. The main goal of production is to make the next stage, post production, run smoothly and flawlessly
• Post-production


  • Testing
  • Mastering
  • Archiving and Duplication
  • Marketing and Distribution