multimedia?

Answer 1

Multimedia is the use of several different media (e.g. text, audio, graphics, animation, video) to convey information. Multimedia also refers to the use of computer technology to create, store, and experience multimedia content. Multimedia is also a pleonasm as media is the plural of medium, hence it is a double plural.

Multimedia can be broadly divided into 2 categories viz Linear and NON-Linear Multimedia. Linear multimedia start and continue till the end without any navigation control for the user. Whrereas Non-Linear Multimedia offer interactivity to the end user.

As the information is presented in various formats, multimedia enhances user experience and makes it easier and faster to grasp information. Presenting information in various formats is nothing new, but multimedia generally implies presenting information in various digital formats.

In 1965 the term Multi-media was used to describe the Exploding. Plastic. Inevitable., a performance that combined live rock music, cinema, experimental lighting and performance art.

Multimedia finds its application in various areas including, but not limited to, art, education, entertainment, engineering, medicine, mathematics, business, and scientific research. In education, multimedia is used to produce computer-based training courses (popularly called CBTs) and reference books like encyclopaedia and almanacs. A CBT lets the user go through a series of presentations, text about a particular topic, and associated illustrations in various information formats. The Multimedia Messaging System, or MMS, is an application that allows one to send and receive messages containing Multimedia - related content. MMS is a common feature of most cell phones. An electronic multimedia encyclopedia can present information in better ways than traditional encyclopaedia, so the user has more fun and learns more quickly. For instance, an article on World War II can include hyperlinks to articles on countries involved in the war. When users click on a hyperlink, they are redirected to a detailed article about that country. In addition, it can include a video on the Pacific Campaign. It can also present maps pertinent to World War II. Hyperlinks let a user access information in a non-linear fashion as opposed to print materials which are essentially linear. This can speed-up learning and improve the user experience, when added to multiple elements such as pictures, photographs, audio and video. (It is also said that some people learn better by seeing than reading and some others by listening).

Multimedia is heavily used in the entertainment industry, especially to develop special effects in movies and animation for cartoon characters. Multimedia games are a popular pastime and are software programs available either as CD-ROMs or online. Some video games also use multimedia features.

Multimedia applications that allow users to actively participate instead of just sitting by as passive recipients of information are called Interactive Multimedia.

More? Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia