What Are the Basic Elements of Multimedia?

Multimedia is a broad term that covers various forms of video, text and audio compositions. In its most basic form, it can be looked at as any presentation that uses text, photo and sound. At its most elaborate, multimedia can be a movie, video game or a night at the opera with fireworks. Multimedia presentations are used in almost every profession, from business to the entertainment industry.

History

In the mid-1960s, the term multimedia was used to define a rock concert that included experimental lighting, cinema and performing arts. In the 1970s, the term came to mean a slide show timed to a musical tract presented with a projector. Today, the term can define any audio and video presentation, from computer games to home movies with narration.

Function

Multimedia is used to convey information in an interesting way. Whether it is a business presentation of graphs and pie charts or a laser light show with music, multimedia fuels the process. In the medical field, the use of cameras and sound is providing doctors with a virtual surgical procedure that can allow a specialist to be in one place while the patient is in another.

Types

The term multimedia is fairly ambiguous. It can include anything from a book that has both pictures and text to a specialized presentation that utilizes various forms of media including sound, text, still pictures and video. Most commonly, a multimedia presentation can be a slide show, a music video or a concert. Anytime the basic various elements of pictures, either still or video, and sound are combined, the resulting presentation can be considered multimedia.

Misconceptions

If a presentation includes only one form of content, as in a music CD, it is not considered multimedia. If the disk includes both music and video, as in the many music videos by various artists, it is then considered a multimedia presentation. Only by the inclusion of at least two different forms of content can a presentation be considered a multimedia experience.

Benefits

The use of multimedia can be used to capture the attention of the viewer. In many cases this can help the user enjoy the experience or can help the user learn new information in a pleasurable way. As technology grows, the use of multimedia to create everything from home movies to classroom learning can only expand and become easier for even the computer novice to master.

Resources

• History of multimedia
• From Wagner to virtual reality
• The Academy of Film and Television for more informationa bout multimedia