In Module 1 we defined multimedia as "any combination of text, images, sounds, animation and video delivered under the control of a computer".

An interactive multimedia product comprises a collection of media assets which are arranged in some relationship to each other and may be presented singly or together in a sequence over which the user has some degree of control.

In addition to the five groups of assets which contribute to the content of multimedia, interactivity is sometimes considered as an element in itself. Certainly it is an important aspect of multimedia and we will take some time to consider the nature of interactivity before proceeding to work with each of the elements.

Objectives

At the end of this module you should be able to:

Discuss some key issues related to interactivity in multimedia.
Distinguish among media elements on the basis of time dependent content.
Select and use appropriate typefaces for multimedia materials.
Acquire, edit and use simple images in formats suitable for multimedia products.
Acquire and edit simple sound files for inclusion in multimedia products.
Create and use simple animations in multimedia materials.
Perform simple editing on video content for multimedia products

Elements of interactive multimedia

Introduction

Objectives