Humans interact with technology in many ways with the use of desktop applications, internet browsers, handheld computers, cellphones, and others. Technology serves, assists, and cooperates with humans to complement and enrich normal activities for example, education, health, communication, services, business, etc. with minimal explicit concern or effort on the human’s part. Interactions initiated in the cyber world are increasing and becoming richer. Most ICT contents are rich in multimedia contents like texts, graphics, audio, video and animations. There are also interactive media on digital computer-based systems which respond to the user’s actions by presenting content such as text, moving image, animation, video, audio and viseo games. Interactive media is a method of communication in which the output from the media comes from the input of the users.
ICT AND MULTIMEDIA
ICT or information and communications technology covers any communication device or application including radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems, as well as the various services and applications.
Multimedia is a combination of text, animated graphics, video, and sound delivered to you via electronic means. It is what appeals to users for entertainment, learning and research.
Digital Multimedia is the field concerned with the computer-controlled integration of text, graphics, still and moving images, animation, sounds, and any other medium where every type of information can be presented, stored, transmitted and processed digitally.
USES OF MULTIMEDIA
Education- Multimedia is used to create and produce computer-based training (CBT) material and courses, including online and CD based encyclopedias. It has been observed that learning is faster and easier with a properly assembled multimedia of voice, video, graphics and texts. Edutainment is a term that pertains to the combination of education and entertainment which also finds acceptance to children of today who are exposed to games and entertainment.
Business- Powerpoint presentation, that uses all kinds of media, are able to effectively convey information to clients, superiors, co-workers, owners, and the general public. Multimedia is also important in advertising and selling products and services as well as in training employees.
Medicine- Multimedia is very important in medicine to train future doctors and medical practitioners, for example in micro and virtual surgery. Multimedia can also simulate the effects of viruses and diseases to the human body to clearly find and develop ways of preventing them.
Mathematics and Scientific Research – Multimedia is used to simulate and model various situations that would otherwise be difficult to grasp in real time, as in the case of an erupting volcano or a tornado, wherein after effects can be presented to colleagues or to the learning public.
Government – Multimedia is used by governments around the world to convey information, procedures, and regulations for their citizens and visitors.
MULTIMEDIA AND INTERACTIVITY
Multimedia applications can include various types of media used together (for example, text, images, video, audio, animation, etc.) The primary characteristics of a multimedia system is the use of more than one kind of media to deliver content and functionality. A multimedia application normally involves programming code and enhances user interaction where the computer responds to the user’s actions.
Types of multimedia content:
▪️Text – contents express specific information
▪️Images – make the content more visually appealing. Common image file format used are JPEG, PNG, GIF, and TIFF. Image can also be interactive like buttons, navigational menus and backgrounds.
▪️Video – adds more attraction to users. Common digital video formats are Flash, MPEG, AVI, WMV and Quciktime. Video can be embedded within the content or linked stored content.
▪️Audio – aidsinteraction with the user, it can also be added as background. Common audio formats are MP3, WMA, Wave, MIDI, and Real Audio. Audio can be embedded or streamed.
▪️Animation – can include interactive effects which allow users to interact with the use of mouse or keyboard. Common animation formats are FLV, SWF, and ActionScript codes for animated and interactive effects.
▪️Online Games – are universal on modern gaming platforms, including PCs, consoles and mobile devices.
▪️Online tests and courseware – are designed for teachers and students. Courseware can include materials for computer-based training, interactive tutorials, distance learning, or home schooling.
▪️Web-, game-, pod-, and vod-casting
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