KAC Members
- Multimedia Artists
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The Definition of Multimedia.
The term multimedia describes a number
of diverse technologies that allow visual and audio
media to be combined in new ways for the purpose of
communicating. Applications include entertainment, education
and advertising.
Multimedia often refers to computer technologies.
Nearly every PC built today is capable of multimedia
because they include a CD-ROM or DVD drive, and a good
sound and video card (often built into the motherboard).
But the term multimedia also describes a number of dedicated
media appliances, such as digital video recorders (DVRs),
interactive television, MP3 players, advanced wireless
devices and public video displays.
History of Multimedia (Multi-Media Once Meant Film
And Slide-show Extravaganzas)
The term Multi-Media, which was used during the 1970's
to describe a particular theater-based film and slide-show
collage experience, has now been shortened to just the
word "multimedia". From the mid 80's through
the late 90's, the prevalent meaning of multimedia was
a category of "authoring" software that allowed
designers to develop interactive computer programs without
having to have advanced programming skills. Examples
include Apple's HyperCard, Icon AuthorWare, Asymetrix
Toolbox, and Scala MultiMedia. This category of software
still exists, and is sometimes referred to as multimedia,
but the term is now is used to more generally describe
nearly every hardware or software technology that displays
images or plays sounds.
The meaning of multimedia has expanded.
In recent years, the term multimedia has taken on
more and different meanings to an ever-increasing audience.
Some of us are experiencing a form of multimedia "narrowcast"
through digital cable. The term "multimedia networking"
is being used to describe the massive multi-million
dollar content management systems used by large corporations
to serve their video assets, as well as the digital
signage advertising networks now appearing in retail.
Home DVD editing software, some of which currently retails
for under $100, can be categorized as multimedia, along
with the latest generation of mobile phones capable
of taking and sending voice annotated photos.
The term multimedia will continue to evolve and take
on as many new meanings as the technologies and applications
it is being used to describe.
KAC Members - Multimedia
Artists
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