Learning Resources
Lesson
Multimedia is the simultaneous presentation of two or more types of media in a single integrated product or event.
Early movies combined moving pictures with live piano players. Slide shows (projected images) were synchronized with tape-recorded audio and music, sometimes automatically, and sometimes manually (a beep in the sound track alerted the operator to change slides). Live music, projected images and other media are combined with displayed artwork to commence art shows. TV and movies combine audio, images, motion, animation and many forms of information into a single presentation.
In short, multimedia is varied and diverse in its application and methods. For many of the multimedia applications in the major areas of education, training, promotion, reference, entertainment, and games, multimedia is now computer-based. Each of these has different approaches and purposes.
An increasing volume of multimedia is interactive. Interactive multimedia presentations allow some form of control over the individual media that are combined in the presentation, and engage the user in decision making and active control over the process. The best games offer the most sophisticated interactive multimedia experiences. The game player makes all the decisions and navigates the game in any way they wish.
Simulations are becoming one of the major multimedia applications. While software based simulators such as Sim City and Flight Simulator are excellent examples, simulators built to train pilots, ships crews, and astronauts combine real hardware with simulated working conditions. Those conditions include scenery, normal operations of the plane, ship or space craft complete with realistic movement and operating emergencies. Other applications include robotics (prototyping new devices, programming robots), combat systems, computer local and wide area networks, and scientific modelling. Real-time simulations frequently incorporate virtual reality. Memorial University's Marine Institute's Centre for Marine Simulation (CMS) has 6 simulators. The Bridge Simulator, for example, is used to train crews for vessels ranging from 22 meters in length up to supertankers, in conditions ranging from open seas to harbour entry.
Virtual reality is a way to present complex information in a visually useful manner in 3-D space on a computer screen such that people can interact with and manipulate the information. Applications include
- architecture?building components that can be assembled in 3-D on screen,
- automotive design,
- exploration?3-D representations of a region based on seismographic and other data allow views inside the earth, and
- gaming?the user assumes an identity in computer space, complete with an avatar [visual representation of the person], and interacts in real time with others.
The key elements of computer-based multimedia are interactivity, integration, reality-based, and user-controlled.
For Additional Information
- History of Multimedia
- Great Moments in Multimedia History
- Multimedia, from Wagner to Virtual Reality
- Virtual Reality Definition
- Centre for Marine Simulation
Activity
Assigned Activities
The purpose of this activity is to develop understanding of the range of multimedia applications.
Complete each of the following
- Construct a multimedia timeline
- Conduct a web search for each of the following
- simulation
- virtual reality
and compile a list of applications for each
- Create a course portfolio entry to include your work
- Publish the portfolio entry to your course portfolio web
Test Yourself
There is no self test for this lesson.