TOPIC 1

• Multimedia


  Presentation of a computer application combining multimedia elements such as text, graphics, audio, video and animation
• Interactive multimedia


  End users are allowed to control what and when the multimedia elements are delivered
• Hypermedia


  Structured linking elements that users can use to navigate the interactive multimedia
• Multimedia developers


  Persons who produce multimedia using authoring tools
• Sectors where multimedia is suitable

  • Business
  • Administration
  • Government
  • Broadcasting
  • Entertainment
  • Transportation
• Types of multimedia products

  • Briefing
  • Reference
  • Database
  • Education and training
  • Kiosk
  • Entertainment and games
• Briefing products


  • Small, straightforward and sequential
  • Used to present information quickly and concisely
  • Depend on understanding of subject, suitable content and consistent layout
  • Developed in short time
  • Limited use of graphics, audio and video
  • Limited number of usage
  • Few navigational controls
• Reference products


  • Large, very structured and easy to navigate
  • Intended for variety of users
  • Used for answering specific questions or general browsing
  • Stored permanently on CD-ROM or similar high density media
  • Have navigational menu, book marking, searching, printing utility
• Database products


  • Similar to reference products but focus on storing and accessing actual data
  • Delivered on CD-ROM or similar high density media
  • Manage multimedia data
  • Have descriptive finding methods - content based search
  • Allow simultaneous access - online database
  • Have relational consistency in data management
• Categories of education and training products

  • Instructor support products
  • Standalone or self-paced products
  • Combination products
• Kiosk products


  • Have relatively simple function and very easy to use
  • Must run constantly with little or no maintenance
  • Limited target users and usage
  • User friendly and easily used
  • Fast response
• Entertainment and games products

  • Often have limited audience or use
  • Can be quite complex and challenging for users
  • Depend heavily on graphics, audio, animation and video
• Examples of entertainment and games products

  • Arcade games
  • Computer games
  • Movies
• Perspectives for evaluating multimedia products

  • User's perspective
  • Developer's perspective
• User's perspective - Subject and Content

  • Evaluate if material is complete, thorough, current and accessible
  • Evaluate if it meets area of interest, has entertainment value, satisfies education/training/learning objectives, and supplies needed information
• User's perspective - Platform

  • Evaluate hardware and software requirements and if user has at least the minimum
• User's perspective - Usability


  • Evaluate how long it takes to learn, how often mistakes are made, how long tasks take, how difficult it is to operate, and how attractive it is to use
• User's perspective - Cost


  • Evaluate if the cost is reasonable given the value gained
• Developer's perspective - Content

  • Evaluate the value and usefulness of the material to users, how easily it will be understood, and how it compares to similar products
• Developer's perspective - Performance


  • Evaluate how well the product performs on a range of platforms, and ensure graphics, audio and video don't slow down slower machines
• Developer's perspective - Delivery

  • Evaluate the speed and ease of installation, configuration and documentation
• Developer's perspective - Interface

  • Evaluate the user-friendliness, navigation features, and usefulness for advanced users
• Multimedia is very expensive, difficult and time-consuming to develop, yet more and more commonly done