Multimedia and Its Applications

What is multimedia?

Multimedia is the field concerned with the computer-controlled integration of text, graphics, drawings, still and moving images (or video), animation, audio and any other media where every type of information can be represented, stored, transmitted and processed digitally.

A multimedia application is an application which uses a collection of multiple media sources such as text, graphics, images, sound/audio, animation and/or video. Hypermedia can be considered as one of the multimedia applications.

Components of multimedia

Some of the components of multimedia are as follows:

• Text : All multimedia productions contain some amount of text. The text can have various types of fonts and sizes to suit the profession presentation of the multimedia software.
• Graphics : Graphics make the multimedia application attractive. In many cases people do not like reading large amount of textual matter on the screen. Therefore, graphics are used more often than text to explain a concept, present background information and many more.
• Audio : A multimedia application may require the use of speech, music and sound effects. These are called audio or sound element of multimedia. Speech is also a perfect way for teaching. Audio are of analog and digital types. Analog audio or sound refers to the original sound signal. Computer stores the sound in digital form. Therefore, the sound used in multimedia application is digital audio.
• Video : The term video refers to the moving picture, accompanied by sound such as a picture in television. Video element of multimedia application gives a lot of information in small duration of time. Digital video is useful in multimedia application for showing real life objects. Video have highest performance demand on the computer memory and on the bandwidth if placed on the internet. Digital video files can be stored like any other files in the computer and the quality of the video can still be maintained. The digital video files can be transferred within a computer network. The digital video clips can be edited easily.
• Animation : Animation is a process of making a static image look like it is moving. An animation is just a continuous series of still images that are displayed in a sequence. The animation can be used effectively for attracting attention. Animation also makes a presentation light and attractive. Animation is very popular in multimedia application.

Uses and importance of multimedia

Multimedia is a computer based synchronized system that includes text, audio, video, animation, graphics, interactive computing and many more. It is an amazing invention of modern communication technology. It enhances the utility of computer to the general people by enriching business, education, entertainment, medicare and many more.

• Education : Multimedia has brought revolutionary changes in the field of education. It has made the system of education more attractive and effective than any other periods in the past. Now a day, multimedia presents the contents of education such as information, still and moving pictures, sounds pronunciations of words, clearly and attractively to the students. It is now possible to earn knowledge even staying at home through various multimedia software.
• Entertainment : Invention of multimedia has opened a new horizon in the field of entertainment. Now a day, the various media of entertainment such as radio, television, VCR, VCD can be enjoyed through multimedia program. Besides this, playing games and drawing pictures in computer, on line chatting are the contribution of multimedia.
• Marketing : In order to increase sales, large companies develop CD Rom software with different information like prices, uses, terms of sales of their products and services and distribute them to the probable customers. Therefore, the buyers can buy their required products by knowing the prices, terms of sale etc. from the CD even staying at home or office.
• Communication : Today, multimedia has brought audio and video conference. These computer and electronic based communication creates dynamism in business, social, political, economic and international activities.
• Medicare : Uses of multimedia are also seen in medicare services. Today, advices of doctors can be received even staying at home with the help of multimedia based electronic communication. Besides this, multimedia is also used in diagnosing the diseases and prescribing medicines.
• Research : Researchers require different kinds of information to conduct their research and development works. Internet plays a vital role in obtaining the necessary information. By searching the Internet the researchers can gather their required information and make successful research.
• Virtual Reality : Virtual reality is a technology which allows a user to interact with computer-simulated environment. The simulated environment can be similar to the real world. For example: simulation for pilot or combat or surgery training. This simulated environment can also differ significantly from reality, as in virtual reality games. This virtual reality is actually based on multimedia bounder technology.

References:

Multimedia Introduction. Retrieved from https://www.tutorialspoint.com/multimedia/multimedia_introduction.htm

Uses and Importance of Multimedia. Retrieved from https://qsstudy.com/modern-civilization/uses-importance-multimedia

What is Multimedia? Retrieved from https://users.cs.cf.ac.uk/Dave.Marshall/Multimedia/node10.html