Multimedia

The word 'Multimedia' is a combination of two words, 'Multi' and 'Media'. Multi means many
and media means material through which something can be transmitted or send. Multimedia
combined all the media elements like text and graphics to make the information more effective
and attractive. Now I am going to write about its components.

Components of Multimedia

The various components of multimedia are Text, Audio, Graphics, Video and Animation. All
these components work together to represent information in an effective and easy manner.

1)Text: Text is the most common medium of representing the information. In multimedia, text is
mostly use for titles, headlines,menu etc. The most commonly used software for viewing text
files are Microsoft Word, Notepad, Word pad etc. Mostly the text files are formatted with ,DOC,
TXT etc extension.

2)Audio: In multimedia audio means related with recording, playing etc. Audio is an important
components of multimedia because this component increase the understandability and improves
the clarity of the concept. audio includes speech, music etc. The commonly used software for
playing audio files are:
i) Quick Time
ii) Real player
iii) Windows Media Player

3)Graphics: Every multimedia presentation is based on graphics. The used of graphics in

multimedia makes the concept more effective and presentable.the commonly used software for
viewing graphics are windows Picture, Internet Explorer etc. The commonly used graphics
editing software is Adobe Photoshop through which graphics can be edited easily and can be
make effective and attractive.

4)Video: Video means moving pictures with sound. It is the best way to communicate with each
other. In multimedia it is used to makes the information more presentable and it saves a large
amount of time. The commonly used software for viewing videos are:
i) Quick Time
ii) Window Media Player
iii) Real Player

5)Animation: In computer animation is used to make changes to the images so that the sequence
of the images appears to be moving pictures. An animated sequence shows a number of frames
per second to produce an effect of motion in the user's eye. Some of the commonly used software
for viewing animation are:
i) Internet Explorer
ii) Windows Pictures
iii) Fax Viewer

These are the components of Multimedia. Now I am going to talk about its applications.

Application of multimedia

Nowadays the application of Multimedia are observed in various fields such as Education,
Entertainment,Business and so on. To communicate the message in the form of picture, sound,
video, animation is the primary role of multimedia. Some of the application of multimedia are as
follows:

1)Multimedia in Education: Multimedia is becoming popular in the field of education. It is

commonly used to prepare study material for the students and also provide them proper
understanding of different subjects.Nowadays Edutainment, a combination of Education and
Entertainment has become very popular. This system provides learning as well as provides
entertainment to the user.

2)Multimedia in Entertainment: Computer graphics techniques are now commonly use in making
movies and games. this increase the growth of multimedia.

i)Movies: Multimedia used in movies gives a special audio and video effect. Today multimedia
has totally changed the art of making movies in the world. Difficult effect, action are only
possible through multimedia.

ii)Games: Multimedia used in games by using computer graphics, animation, videos have
changed the gaming experience. Presently, games provides fast action, 3-D effects and high
quality sound effects which is only possible through multimedia.

3)Multimedia in Business: Today multimedia is used in every aspect of business. These are some
of the applications:

i)Videoconferencing: This system enables to communicate using audio and video between two
different locations through their computers.When the information is sent across the world, this
technology provides cost benefits to the business which saves their time, energy and money.

ii)Marketing and advertisement: Nowadays different advertisement and marketing ideas about
any product on television and internet is possible with multimedia.
So this is my article about multimedia which is now increasing and becoming popular among
people.

Literal Meaning of Multimedia

In this section, we will understand the literal meaning of multimedia.

 Multi − it means more than one

 Medium − it is singular and it means intermediary or mean
 Media − it is plural and it means conveying the information

Likewise, Multimedia is the field of Computer Science that integrates different forms of
information and represents in the form of audio, video, and animation along with the traditional
media, i.e., text, graphics/drawings, images, etc.

Multimedia Components
Following are the major components of a multimedia computer system −

Text

It contains alphanumeric and some other special characters. Keyboard is usually used for input of
text; however, there are some internal (inbuilt) features to include such text.

Graphics

It is technology to generate, represent, process, manipulate, and display pictures. It is one of the
most important components of multimedia application. The development of graphics is
supported by a different software.

Animation

Computer animation is a modern technology, which helps in creating, developing, sequencing,

and displaying a set of images (technically known as ‘frames’). Animation gives visual effects or
motion very similar to that of a video file (see image given below).

Audio

This technology records, synthesizes, and plays audio (sound). There are many learning courses
and different instructions that can be delivered through this medium appropriately.

Video

This technology records, synthesizes, and displays images (known as frames) in such sequences
(at a fixed speed) that makes the creation appear as moving; this is how we see a completely
developed video. In order to watch a video without any interruption, video device must display
25 to 30 frames/second.

Multimedia Application
Let us now see the different fields where multimedia is applied. The fields are described in brief
below −

Presentation

With the help of multimedia, presentation can be made effective.

E-books

Today, books are digitized and easily available on the Internet.

Digital Library

The need to be physically present at a library is no more necessary. Libraries can be accessed
from the Internet also. Digitization has helped libraries to come to this level of development.

E-learning

Today, most of the institutions (public as well as private both) are using such technology to
education people.

Movie making

Most of the special effects that we see in any movie, is only because of multimedia technology.

Video games

Video games are one of the most interesting creations of multimedia technology. Video games
fascinate not only the children but adults too.

Animated films

Along with video games, animated film is another great source of entertainment for children.

Multimedia conferencing

People can arrange personal as well as business meetings online with the help of multimedia
conferencing technology.
E-shopping

Multimedia technology has created a virtual arena for the e-commerce.

Link for Digital sound:

https://www.slideshare.net/lalithambigakamaraj/digital-audio-in-multimedia

https://www.slideshare.net/dhruv10_patel/multimedia-tools-sound