1. Multimedia
CECS 5110

2. What Is Multimedia?
Multimedia is a computer-based interactive communications process that incorporates text, graphics, sound, animation, and video
Interactive
Key feature of multimedia
User determines what content is delivered, when it is delivered and how
Non-linear

3. Multimedia Advantages
Engrossing – deep involvement
Multi-sensory
Creates knowledge connections
Individualized
Teacher and student creation

4. Multimedia Disadvantages
“Lost in cyberspace”
Lack of structure
Non-interactive – if one-way, no feedback
Text intensive content
Complex to create
Time consuming
Cognitive overload
Linear content

5. Multimedia Growth
Marketing Standpoint
User Standpoint

6. Multimedia Growth Marketing Standpoint
Computer price
1992 – 1 mil - $2,500 or $1,000 upgrade
1996 – 24 mil - $1,500 or $300 upgrade
Multimedia titles
1992 – 5,000 - $100
1996 – 15,000 - $30
Hype - “killer applications”
Value added – enhances computer use

7. Multimedia Growth User Standpoint
User control
No longer only lectures and/or printed materials
Any sequence of the material, any time, anywhere, any modality
Individualization
Address different learning styles and needs
User decides how material is presented:
visual, audio, textual
Adjusting level of difficulty

8. Multimedia Growth User Standpoint (cont.)
Action
Active processes: simulations, acting out a play, testing knowledge and feedback
Examples
500 Nations, Grandma and Me , Magic School Bus

9. Major Categories of Multimedia Titles
Entertainment
Education
Corporate communications
Reference

10. Major Categories of Multimedia Titles
Entertainment
Games: action and graphics
Action + storytelling
Physical coordination + mental outwitting
Education
Accommodates different learning styles: association vs. experimentation; auditory vs. visual
Provides feedback, levels of difficulty, evaluates skills, nonlinear presentations

11. Major Categories of Multimedia Titles
Corporate communications
(marketing and training)
Attract attention to a message
Product catalogs, published magazines, touch-screen kiosks, online shopping, …
Stockholder's meeting, sales rep pitch, conference speaker, employee orientation and training, …

12. Major Categories of Multimedia Titles
Reference
CD: encyclopedias, census data, directories, dictionaries

13. Delivering Multimedia
Compact disc
Inexpensive, easy mass produce and distribute
Kiosk
Computer system to access info, perform transactions or play games
Convenience, reduces personnel costs, but expensive maintenance
Online
Web pages, product advertisement, demos, …

14. The End