The world ‘MULTIMEDIA’ is made up of two words: ‘Multi’ and ‘Media’. The word ‘multi’ refers to more than one and the word ‘media’ refers to the way through which one can express information. There are many different media to communicate information. The different media used to communicate information are text, audio, video, picture and animation. The information can be presented more effectively and understandable way by using more than one medium.
Multimedia is technology of presenting information in more attractively, interesting, interactive and understandable manner, different media like text, pictures, videos, sounds and animations are used in a multimedia. So, multimedia is the communication of more than on medium which present information in more interesting, interactive and understandable ways. Many software companies, institutes, training, centers etc. have developed interactive multimedia. It is an interactive multimedia, there is provision of reading, learning, writing saving information of a subject at the user desired time as well as the user can text him/her knowledge on a subject within the specified time frame. Since the compact disk is only of the chipset, portable and high storage disk. So, multimedia are available in compact disk are these CDs are called Multimedia CD. Encyclopedia, Tutorial CDs, TOFEL CD, etc are example of interactive multimedia compact discs.
To use the multimedia application, a computer should have all the necessary hardware and software which can handle more than one media. A computer which can handle or present more than one medium (text, audio. Images, video and animation) simultaneously is known as multimedia computer or multimedia system. The multimedia computer should have sound card, speaker, microphone, high resolution, monitor high speed microprocessor, large RAM capacity, high capacity hard disk and CD or DVD drive. Except these to capture movies or pictures from external devices like TV, VCR or camcorder, it should have video player, Microsoft power point, Xing player, power DVD, macromedia Flash, photo shop, 3D Max, Maya etc., to handle those media.
COMPONENT OF MULTIMEDIA
To convey information effectively all the components of multimedia must be used properly. The components of multimedia are text, audio, Images, video and animation.
a. Text
Text is the primary component of multimedia. Most of the information is conveyed through the text. The used of different styles, fronts and colors can be used to emphasize the texts. Text can be combined with the other media in the powerful and meaningful ways to present information.
b. Pictures
A computer can digitize and handles picture and graphic. Images created in different applications can be stored in a computer as TIF (Tagged Images File), BMP (Bitmap), GIF (Graphic Interchange Format), WMF (Windows metafile Format), JPEG (Join Photographic Expect Groups) file formats. Pictures or graphics play a key role in multimedia. Presenting information using text and images media give concept than presenting information using only using text medium. Pictures help in explaining concepts through illustrations and charts. The information presented by using texts and pictures media retain for a long times in the memory than that of the text medium.
c. Sound
Sound is very important aspect of multimedia. Computers are digital technology have changed the quality of music considerably. Digital music is used to produce special music and sound effects, which are used not only to accompany animation but also to increase interactivity with the user.
d. Animation
Animation refers to simulation of movements created by displaying a serial of pictures one after the other. Animation can explain a procedure more accurately than that of movie. Nowadays animations are mostly used to explain how did anything happen. For example the germination of plant can explained more clearly through animation. Cartoons such as Pokemon, Tom and Jerry, Donald duck, Power Puff Girls example of computer animation.
e. Video
Video refers to pictures in motion. Video is the excellent way to convey messages to the user in a limited time. Video also increases the retention of information for a long time in the memory of people.
MULTIMEDIA SOFTWARE
The following table lists the different multimedia software and their uses in various application fields.
Name of Multimedia Software-------------------------------Application Fields
1. Adobe PhotoShop----------------------------------------Creating Graphics.
2. Macromedia Flash, Animator----------------------------Creating 2D animations.
3. 3D Studio Max----------------------------------------------Creating 3D animations.
4. Microsoft PowerPoint----------------------------------------Creating Presentations
These are some advantages of multimedia.
1. One can present ideas, information to others in effective ways.
2. Using multimedia technology, a subject can be taught in interesting and effective ways in the classroom.
3. Students can learn, read and test his/her knowledge using multimedia technology.
4. A country can be used multimedia technology to uplift tourism sector of a country.
5. Games and movies are made more realistic using multimedia technology.
6. Electronic advertising can be made more interesting.
7. In video songs, one can put animations.
APPLICATION OF MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY
The use of multimedia in education is increasing rapidly. Multimedia in education’s power to present information in creative ways has led to the creation of rich learning environments. Multimedia enables students to grasp the concept easily and quickly. In addition, students retain the information for longer time. Educational Multimedia CD i.e. CAL (Computer Assisted Learning) helps students to learn different subjects. The use of sound, pictures and video enables the students to observe a real world situation which is just not possible with the more conventional methods of instruction. For examples, using Flight Stimulators aircraft pilots are trained to control aircrafts.
Nowadays multimedia is used in almost every aspect of business. To convey and present information about business or products multimedia is used in business. Some of the uses are given below.
- Interactive training: Organizations use multimedia to provide interactive training programs to their employees through a network or CDs.
- Video Conferencing: Video Conferencing enables virtual face-to-face communication among people sitting at different locations. All locations simultaneously receive the audio, video, or data that the location transmits.
c. Multimedia in Advertising
With the use of multimedia advertisers find new and creative ways of advertising and marketing products. Everything that the human mind imagination can be presented realistically through the use of multimedia. This means that for advertisers who use this technology, there is no limit to the number of ways in which they can advertise a given product.
Multimedia is used in video games. There are many interesting video games like Snake and Ladder, Prince of Persia, PC-Man etc., where multimedia technology is used.
In many movies, special effects are kept with the help of multimedia technology which is not possible without it. For example, Terminator, Titanic, Start Wars,
Multimedia technology is widely used in Internet. Information in websites are presented beautifully using multimedia technology.
VIRTUAL REALITY
Virtual Reality is an artificial environment created with the computer hardware and software and presented to the user in such a way that it appears real. To enter virtual reality, a user puts on special gloves, earphones and goggles, all of which receive inputs from the computer system. Today, virtual reality is primarily used in the entertainment industry but it is going to be very useful tool for simulation purposes and remote control applications. However, virtual reality systems require extremely expensive hardware and software.
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