Step into multimedia.Multimedia is taking baby steps in some arenas, giant steps in others, but it's clearly moving into all corners of computing. If you're not already, you will be using it eventually. Multimedia weighed in as a U.S. $626 million business in 1991. In five years, it's expected to be a $12 billion business. By that time, some experts predict multimedia will revolutionize home communication to the same extent as the VCR VCR: see videocassette recorder. VCR in full videocassette recorder Electromechanical device that records, stores on a videotape cassette, and plays back on a TV set recorded images and sound. . Right now, the business sector is the fastest growing market. It already has taken the lead in innovative approaches to education and training. It's having a noticeable effect on merchandising and public information. Actually, you're probably already into multimedia, mixing text and graphics on your computer screen. However, the term multimedia is used these days when referring to moving images and sound -- and that means adding hardware and software. You don't have to break the bank. For as little as about $3,500, you can buy into multimedia. If you already have a computer, you may just need to upgrade what you have. That's clearly the approach Apple is taking for the Macintosh. Its QuickTime technology allows any computer of about a Mac II power-level or higher to manipulate multimedia just as you would edit text or cut and paste To move an object from one location to another. When the operation is complete, there is nothing left in the original location. It may refer to relocating files from one folder to another or to relocating selected text or images from one document to another. a graphic. Apple's stance is that multimedia is for anybody who is trying to get out a message. You can, for example, include several seconds of a movie in a word processing word processing, use of a computer program or a dedicated hardware and software package to write, edit, format, and print a document. Text is most commonly entered using a keyboard similar to a typewriter's, although handwritten input (see pen-based computer) and document. The added visuals and sound are sure to make an impact -- especially now as a novelty -- and add meaning to the text. Another use: You can animate the projected growth on a spreadsheet. Just copy this new-style communication on a floppy disk for distribution. Or, as simply as you can print text and graphics to a laser printer, print your multimedia project to videotape. Another option is to upload your project to a notebook computer A laptop computer that weighs in a range from five to seven pounds. The term originated when laptops were routinely more than 10 pounds, and those that became lighter were placed in a special "notebook" category. In practice, notebook computer and laptop computer are synonymous. for presentation anywhere. That's what That's What is one of the more idiosyncratic releases by solo steel-string guitar artist Leo Kottke. It is distinctive in it's jazzy nature and "talking" songs ("Buzzby" and "Husbandry"). Donald Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. did for Colorado National Bank. Cohen is founder and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Cimarron International Inc. in Denver. Cimarron, which specializes in multimedia production, created a presentation for the bank to attract professional athletes as customers. It was created with Macromedia Director multimedia software and various Aldus programs for manipulating visuals. The entire presentation runs on an Apple PowerBook portable computer. In just about two minutes, before meeting with a prospect, the salesperson can customize the presentation with the individual's name and sport. The prospect can further customize the program by indicating an interest in conservative or aggressive investments. The spreadsheet behind this customization is invisible to the prospect. Radio news audio, television news video, and scanned newspaper articles set the stage in this presentation. Audiovisual testimonials from other professional athletes are used, too. Cohen is demonstrating this application around the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. for the Intelligent Electronics network of computer resellers. He tells the Apple story, and Bruce Dawson demonstrates his creations on IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) capabilities on the tour. Dawson is manager of multimedia design for Maritz Communications Co. of St. Louis. Since IBM is ubiquitous in business, that platform is ideal for corporate training, and Dawson has developed some massive presentations. Upfront costs are high, but when you add up the travel costs and time off to bring a large group of business people together, multimedia is less expensive than conventional training. Learning is enhanced, too, as Dawson, a Ph.D., documents. He claims an average 15 to 25 percent improvement in learning, a 49 percent reduction in time to deliver material to be learned, at a cost savings of 64 percent. A well-designed training program makes excellent use of multimedia. Icons can guide the learner through the lessons. Video can show a process better than written words can explain it. Immediate feedback can motivate the learner. Tests can even be fun, trading true/false and multiple choice questions for problem-solving adventures not unlike popular video games See video game console. . A click on a word can reveal a dictionary definition or a correct audio pronunciation. A calculator can be right on screen for figuring. A touch to the screen on an illustration can bring up an encyclopedia description of what it represents. Sound and pictures can give impact to positive reinforcement positive reinforcement, n a technique used to encourage a desirable behavior. Also called positive feedback, in which the patient or subject receives encouraging and favorable communication from another person. for good work, or supporting material can flash on the screen when a concept is missed. Educators already have refined these processes for communicators. It's up to us, now, to apply them to business communication -- guiding the audience through the information, allowing them to get more in-depth material when needed, making it easy to assimilate and inviting to explore. When is multimedia right for your communication project, not just a gimmick for attention? Cohen considers these guidelines: Multimedia works best for individuals or small group presentations; with material that needs easy updating; when animation will help convey the message; when integration of graphics, text, video, and sound are important; and when there is user or presenter interaction with the material. If your project matches three out of those five, it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a to consider multimedia. Try it with baby steps or giant steps, but do move forward. Sheri Rosen, ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. , owns ConsultRosen Enterprises, 1468 Nelson St., Mandeville, La., 70448. The firm specializes in corporate publications and computer applications for public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most . |
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