Introduction to Multimedia

Nurul Farhana Jumaat, PhD

Dept. of Educational Sciences, Mathematics and Multimedia Creative,
Faculty of Education, UTM
SYNOPSIS

The course introduces students to technology

and instructional design theories of
multimedia elements. Discussions revolve around
teaching instructions, multimedia
designs and development theories. It also
introduces the essential concepts of multimedia
development and application.
 Students will examine theoretically the multimedia
elements which include text,
graphics,
audio, video and animation and will keep
track of their latest technology development. It
develops the student's ability to comprehend, review,
analyze and synthesize and is designed to develop
the communication, independent learning and team
working skills required in the field of technology
and media design.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Discuss the role of digital multimedia and its applications in today’s world.
2. Differentiate the fundamentals multimedia building blocks, including text,
graphics, video, audio and animation.
3. Evaluate the use of technology and issues associated with multimedia in
education and training.
4. Demonstrate the general process of multimedia courseware development
based on technology, instructional design and sound pedagogical
principles.
5. Respond and communicate concepts used in multimedia design,
development and application.
6. Display a meaningful critique of graphical and multimedia interfaces that
incorporates an understanding of the principles of design.
CONTENTS
• Multimedia: An Overview
• Elements of Multimedia
• The Growth of Multimedia
WHAT IS MULTIMEDIA
• Multimedia has many different meanings to many
different people. To some, multimedia means their
computer has a CD-ROM and can play video and
audio.
• Some defines multimedia as using a combination
of elements to create a dynamic, visual
presentation that catches the viewer’s attention
and maintains their interest throughout the
presentation.
WHAT IS MULTIMEDIA
• Multi – refer to many or multiple
• Media – tools used as the medium of
communication (such as newspaper, radio and
television).
• Multimedia – many media – the simultaneous use
of data from multiple sources of elements of
media.
Definition of multimedia (Original)
• Multimedia means using two or more
media for a presentation, such as videos
and slides.

Definition of multimedia (2nd Version)

• Multimedia refers to computer-centered
presentation that combines elements of
photo, video, text, graphics, audio and
animation
Definition of Multimedia (Latest)
• Computer-based interactive
communications process includes the use
of text, graphics, audio, video and
animation.
• Using multimedia, then, is simply using a
variety of media, whether visual or
auditory, with the intent of
communication.
ELEMENTS OF MULTIMEDIA
• Text
• Graphics
• Audio
• Video
• Animation
• Interactivity

Because a photo worth a thousand words…

Because an animation and video worth a thousand
graphics…
Text
• The most common media type in computing
applications
• Expressing specific information or acting as
reinforcement for information in other media
• Drawback: Less engaging
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Graphics
• can display application content or can alternatively
form part of a user interface
• Interactive elements, such as buttons, often use
custom images created by the designers and
developers involved in an application
• most common are JPEGs and PNGs. Both of these
often appear on websites, as the formats allow
developers to minimize on file size while
maximizing on picture quality.
Audio
• Part of application content and also to aid
interaction
• Web services can also stream audio, so that users
can begin playback before the entire file is
downloaded
Video
• add a powerful message to a multimedia
application
• Drawback: size
Animation
• moving graphics images
• allowing users to engage with the animation action
using their mouse and keyboard
• the movement of somebody giving CPR makes it
much easier to learn cardiopulmonary
resuscitation ,rather than just viewing a static
picture
Interactivity
• To encourage interaction with learners.
• a web page can be designed to be interactive, by
adding a comment box or by requiring users to
enter information or make choices.
• In particular, teachers or instructors can add or
suggest activities within a particular medium.
• A podcast can be designed so that students stop
the podcast every few minutes to do an activity
based on the content of the podcast.
Categorization of Multimedia
• Multimedia may be broadly divided into linear and
non-linear categories.
• Linear active content progresses often without any
navigational control for the viewer such as a
cinema presentation.
• Non-linear uses interactivity to control progress as
with a video game or self-paced computer based
training.
THE GROWTH OF MULTIMEDIA
Multimedia only gaining attention in recent years
because of previous computer did not reach the level
of capability and reasonable price as now.
1950-1970s
• Low power processors, monochrome screens.
• Used primarily for the purpose of accounts and
inventory management.
• The IBM 350 Disk File (3.75MB) - 1956
1980s
• Development of MS-DOS/PC DOS began. Microsoft
(known mainly for their programming languages)
were commissioned to write the Operating System
for the PC.
• The game Pac-Man was released
• 1989 – The World Wide Web was
invented.
1990s
• The ability to display digital video, audio, animation
and text into a software and hardware package.
• The ability to share information via
telecommunications and computer networking.
• Computer simulations, Internet, communication
and presentation.
• MS Office software was release
2005
• All computers are equipped with multimedia
capabilities; CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, the ability to
display graphics, video, audio and high quality
animation.
• Internet connections are more stable and faster.
2010-2015
• Web based multimedia, streaming media, virtual
reality, mobile media, social media, augmented
reality and many others.
Timeline of social networking sites (Jumaat & Tasir , 2011)