Multimedia

What is Multimedia?

In the field of education, we have long used media, sometimes referred to as “audio-visual aids”, to help in our teaching. These have been many and varied, and have included things like movies, videos, slides, audio tapes, overhead transparencies, along with various sorts of equipment such as cameras, recorders and television monitors. The term “multimedia” is a relatively new word that is used to describe a combination of different media, all being used to best describe or explain something. Technically speaking, a movie projector or video tape player is a multimedia device in its own right; since it combines two or more media forms already - pictures plus sound. In recent times, however, the computer has dominated the scene, and we are now at the point where these remarkable machines can do just about anything that all the previous things were able to do. So if you have not had to go through the “learning curve” of old-fashioned and out-of-date technology, then you have a real advantage.

What is Component Multimedia?

Text files:            These are normally word processor documents that are typed into a computer. They can also be produced by scanning text from a book or elsewhere and then putting them into a word processor file.

Text files have file extensions like .doc, .txt, .rtf, etc.

Drawing Files:           Clip art and similar drawings are available from many sources, including the internet and various software libraries. Some programs come with a collection of freely available clip art. If you have a drawing program on your computer, you may also be able to create your own files. But be aware that some of these program take quite a long time to learn. Picture files have extensions such as .wmf, .png, .dwg, and many others.

Photographs

and pictures:           Digital photographs are now very common and can be made yourself on almost any digital camera. The tricky job is often getting these into a computer where they can be incorporated into a multimedia project. The best advice we can give is for you to follow the instructions that came with your camera. Photographs can also be scanned into your computer in the same way as pictures. Digital imaging software can be used to alter your pictures. Sometimes this is supplied with either your camera or computer. Once again, it may take some time to become proficient in the use of this. Photograph files have extensions such as .jpg, .tif, and others.

Sound recordings

AUDIO :                     CDs are probably the most common form of digital recordings, but now it is also possible to make simple digital voice recordings on a number of devices, including the computer of course. The old-style cassette tape recorder is now replaced with a modern digital machine that records straight to a computer storage device such as a hard disc. The most common sound files have extensions like .wav or .wma.

Videos:                      Most video production work is now done digitally. The videotape is very rapidly becoming a thing of the past. In many countries now, even the broadcast television channels transmit digital signals to TV sets, and in the near future it is likely that the old non-digital sets (called analogue receivers) will become obsolete. And we are all now familiar with DVDs of course. For any who want to produce their own digital video recordings, the latest generation of camcorders enable you to do this. Popular video file formats have the extensions .wmv, .avi, .mpg and many more.

Animations:             Animations are like cartoons. They are pictures or other objects that move. They could also be moving text. Animations can be very useful in multimedia program, but they are difficult to create and the creation process is very time-consuming. The file formats are usually the same as for videos.

References:

1.    Using Multimedia in the Classroom © 2011 Curriculum Materials and Assessment Division, MESC, Samoa.

2.   Pengantar Multimedia Pembelajaran fakultas teknik, Universitas negeri Yogyakarta. 2014