It is helpful to break up the word ‘multimedia’ in order to gain a better understanding of its meaning. “Multi” means more than one e.g. a multi storey.

It is helpful to break up the word ‘multimedia’ in order to gain a better understanding of its meaning.

“Multi” means more than one e.g. a multi storey block of flats means a block of flats with several floors; a multitasking computer is one where it appears to be doing several tasks at once.

“Media” is the plural of medium and can mean ways of presenting information e.g. the media is often used to describe TV and newspapers.

Presentation & Multimedia

What is multimedia? (Elements)

Is the presentation of information by a computer system using graphic, animation, sound and text.

GraphicsAnimation

Text

Audio

Presentation Package

Is an application package used to produce multimedia presentations.

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Lotus Freelance

• Corel Presentation

Creating a Presentation

The first step is to gather all of the resources (elements) that have to be used.

• Text - small quantity of text using bullet points.

• Graphics - Clip art images or internet images (Google) always check copyright.

• Audio - add sound from library, CD or recorded directly. REMEMBER - COPYRIGHT

• Video - video or movies may be added.

• Hyperlink - links to www, to another document or to a particular slide.

Capturing Audio

The simplest way to capture audio is to use a microphone attached to a computer.

All you need to capture audio is a soundcard, speakers and a microphone. Windows comes with a simple recorder called Sound Recorder.

CD audio tracks are already in digital sound so can be imported directly.

Capturing Images - Credit

Scanner

Printed images can be scanned into a computer system. Converted into a digital format.

Digital Camera

Images can be taken and downloaded directly onto the computer from the camera.

Flash Memory Card

A storage medium used by most digital cameras. Flash memory has no moving parts and can be written to a read from.

Transitions - Credit

Name given to the effect shown on the screen when moving between slides.

Examples, wipe, blind, cover.

Animation - Credit

You can animate text, graphics, diagrams, charts, and other objects on your slides so that you can focus on important points, control the flow of information, and add interest to your presentation.

Example

Entrance Fly in from right

Exit fly out top right

Slide Master - Credit

Allows user to customise master slide so all other slides use the same:

• Font type

• Size

• Colour

• Background

• Footer

• Date

Creating Video - Credit

Digital Video Camera

A video camera that captures and stores images on a digital medium. May be connected to a computer in order to view and edit.

Digital Video Editing

A process to manipulate video images using video editing software.

Example

• iMovie

• Pinnacle Studio

• Serif Movie Plus

Creating Video – Cont.

Storing Video

Video may be stored on DVD.

DVD

Digital Versatile Disk. A data storage media with platters similar to a CD. The storage capacity is much higher than for a CD.

Multimedia Authoring Software - Credit

Authoring software can be used to create presentations.

These packages are usually more sophisticated packages than basic presentation packages.

Example

• Macromedia – Director

• Supercard

• iShell

Delivering a Presentation

Computers SystemMultimedia Projector

Interactive Whiteboard

File Format

• Saved HTML – Web Publishing

• Saved as AVI., mov., MP4 – Movie format

• Saved as JPEG, GIF – Image formats

• Saved as wav., MP3 – sound formats