CHAPTER 1 Multimedia and Projects 1

What is multimedia  ‘Multimedia is the seamless integration of text, sound, images of all kinds and control software within a single digital information environment’ ( Tony Feldman) Online – web pages Communicate with distant resources, distant users Offline – kiosk, DVDs, CD-ROMs self-contained, not communicates with outside Hybrid – web/CD  combination of online and offline 2

What is multimedia project  A series of tasks that deliver a combination of media and have computer component to integrate them Varieties of project : Hardware oriented – to specify, introduce, and integrate a delivery platform – videoconferencing Software development – combine media components into an application to run on a delivery platform Client-centered software development – need a team to work together to achieve the project 3

 Client – anyone who has the authority to control time and budget & can sanction design decisions Varieties of clients Internal – within own company External – outside company  Difference in term of contractual agreement 4

Emerging models of development A company’s culture can influence the way in which they set a project up. Number of companies involved in multimedia development has grown – form the basis of different working models. As a good starting point, we can consider new media companies that develop functional or creative websites. FunctionalCreative 5

 Interactive development companies that originate from the more creative end of the spectrum – (advertising, graphics, marketing) have been used to having loose, open discussions and several stages of trying out concepts with the clients before moving towards a finish product. 6  The problem is that this approach encourages constant change and refinement. Creative working practices

Creative ideas Project beginning Project end changes 7

8 Functional working practices  Interactive development companies that originate from more functional end of spectrum – (coming from software database systems development) are used to having a paid detailed definition stage prior to beginning production.  They allow changes up until the specification is complete but once production is under way changes are discouraged or controlled.  These companies tend to be more concerned with functionality than with the image portrayed.

Project end Changes Project beginning SpecificationProduction 9

The client – centered multimedia project cycle : Overview Initiation and Definition Scoping the projectThe proposal Striking the contractDetailed contract agreementSign-offs Agree contentPlatformMedia and techniquesInterface and interactive design Team recruitmentManage the team AudioVideoTextIntegration Asset rights managementSystems support Developmental testingIntegration testing Acceptance testingFinal sign-off Archiving Production Level 1 Admin Level 2 Detailed specifications Level 3 Admin Level 4 Asset production Level 5 Admin Level 6 Testing Level 7 Completion (external) Level 8 Completion (internal) 10

11 Summary Multimedia is the seamless integration of text, sound, images of all kinds, and control software within a single digital information environment. The skills needed to produce multimedia are diverse. Working practices are still emerging and at present are often linked to traditional practices with limited success. The person responsible for winning the project needs to be guided strongly by company policies in what agreements to reach to avoid problems later for the rest of the team and company.

12 Summary Apart from competence in software and media design and production, cost control and staff management skills are needed. A client is anyone that has authority to control the time and budget, or to sanction the design. A client-centered project follows stages of initiation, scoping and proposal definition, followed by production. The production phase has several levels, which are interrelated. In is not a linear process.