What is Multimedia? A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Multimedia

“Multi” means many and “media” means forms or methods. So multimedia refers to a form of visual representation that integrates different components like image, video, audio, graphics and animation. Undoubtedly it appears a lot more interesting than a long piece of text. Viewers not only find it enjoyable but also get the message conveyed in a better way. 

For example, dictionaries in multimedia format have audio for the way words are pronounced. Certainly, it is easier to learn that way as compared to reading the phonetics in an ordinary dictionary. 

Components of Multimedia

Text:
Every multimedia production has some text in it. Most probably to make it informative. The texts can have different font types and sizes to make them suitable for the presentation of the multimedia software.

Graphics:
Generally a lot of texts bores people. Graphics add an element of interest to a multimedia application. People find it easy to grasp concepts put up as illustrations. Graphics are of two types:-

Bitmap Images:
The images which are captured by scanners or digital cameras fall under this category. These images are real and cannot be edited. They need a lot of memory to be stored. 

Vector Graphics:
The graphics which are drawn by you on the computer are known as vector graphics. They don’t require a large amount of memory and are editable.

Audio:
The sound elements like speech, music used in multimedia are called audio. They alleviate the learning process. Audio can be analogue or digital. The original sound is analogue audio. Since computers store sound in digital form, multimedia applications use digital audio.

Video:
Videos are basically pictures in motion, accompanied by text, special effects and background music. They convey a lot of things in a short span of time. They are easily editable, transferable within a computer network and can be stored like general files if the quality of the video doesn’t degrade. 

Animation:
It is one of the most popular elements of multimedia. Animation involves displaying a lot of still images in a sequence so that they appear to be in motion. It can make complicated topics look light and interesting. 

Multimedia Strategy

Multimedia is the communication of messages in a form that combines text, audio, video, images etc. needless to say that it makes even a drab piece of information eye-catching. For business owners, it is an incredible way to promote their brand message. Incorporating multimedia marketing strategy to their business propaganda they can increase the engagement with their audience tenfold.

Multimedia marketing allows you to promote your products on different platforms simultaneously. Besides, you can integrate your social media campaigns and advertisements on other platforms into an attention-grabbing message which can be accessible on different devices. This will help in reaching out to the audience better. 

Besides, people will get interested in learning more about you when you use multimedia to share information. They tend to learn better that way. Moreover, the multimedia presentation is non-linear. You can watch it anytime unlike television or radio which broadcast at a particular time. Viewers can get back to any part of the presentation and check out what they have missed. 

Multimedia presentations not only attract people and make learning faster, it also gives them the freedom to explore at their convenience. This form of marketing is becoming increasingly popular as it yields impressive results for brands involved in this. Let us discuss the applications of Multimedia in various sectors.

Multimedia in Business:
Multimedia technology and communication technology have come together to create global workspaces. Employees can work for different companies and from anywhere in the world. The physical boundaries have been demolished. The following facilities are expected to be supported by multimedia networks:

1. electronic mail
2. voice mail
3. employee training
4. records management
5. office needs
6. multimedia based FAX
7. group presentation

Multimedia in Marketing and Advertising:
Multimedia plays a vital role in advertising. The more forms of multimedia used, the higher the exposure of the product to the market thereby increasing sales, creating a huge influence in the market and gaining popularity.

Television, radio and print ads are the most common medium used, with one supporting the other. The advancement in the field of technology has created a positive impact in multimedia, creating more entertaining and advanced modes of advertising ranging from print ads to interactive programs wherein human participation is required. All these lead to the popularity of products in the market creating either a positive or a negative reaction from the consumers.

Some of the different types of advertising are:

1. Print Advertising
2. Radio Advertising
3. Television Advertising
4. Digital Advertising including Display Ads, Remarketing Ads, Video Ads, Search Ads
5. Mobile Advertising

Multimedia in Education:
Multimedia based education materials make learning fun and super fast. Animated videos of children’s rhymes leave a great impact on their minds. They learn a lot of things while playing. Even more complicated topics when explained using detailed graphics and animation simplify the learning process.

Multimedia in Bank:
You must have noticed PC monitors inside banks displaying important information or latest schemes through videos or animation. This is how they use multimedia to educate you about the necessary subjects. Besides, internet banking which is becoming more and more popular makes extensive use of multimedia.

Multimedia in Hospital:
Multimedia is used in hospitals for monitoring critical patients. Doctors/nurses remain alert by continuously studying their conditions on computer screens. Besides, expert surgeons can give online suggestions during a surgery going on at a different place. Digital teaching modules are used to train junior doctors too.

Multimedia in Communication:
With the advancement of technology multimedia facilities have started becoming handy. some of the most common services include television services, video games, e-books, e-newspapers etc. 

As it is evident from the above points, multimedia is becoming increasingly popular and is used almost in every sector.

Why Choose Multimedia as a Career?

Multimedia is used in various areas of work such as entertainment, advertising, publishing, digital media, gaming, motion graphics and more. This field, thus, encompasses varied disciplines in which a student can gain specialization and choose as a career option.

Multimedia will offer you an ocean of job opportunities in web designing, computer games designing, advertising graphics, animation and new media. Here are some factors that reveal as to why you should look to make Multimedia as a career option.

Helps Express Your Creativity:  
As a creative profession, it helps you to express your creativity, follow your passion and finally, get paid for what you do, often handsomely. As one of the most vibrant creative outlets, it allows you to express your talents and flow in a visual manner through the internet or even print.

Ensures No Two Work Days Are Alike:
As a multimedia professional, you get to do a variety of tasks for varied clients in different ways. There are times when you might work on a logo design and at other times on an advertisement or storyboard of a TV commercial. You could be doing that for the internet or TV or a print media audience. No two days that are alike with the same kind of work and most importantly, there is never a dull moment whatever the nature of the work. 

Helps Communicate Through Images:
If you’re the kind who loves to communicate with others through powerful and visually compelling images, then it makes for a good option. With multimedia, you can draw images that captivate people and instantly strike a chord or help build up an instant rapport. They connect you with the people and motivate them to take decisions and do things the way the image is conveyed to them.

Before deciding upon a multimedia course for a career, it’s important to note that one must have a creative mind and an aptitude of visual designing and draw with the motivation to pursue a career in the film industry whatever be the odds.

To put yourself on the right track, choose a multimedia course that: 

1. Matches your career goals through concentrations in specific multimedia technologies or career applications.
2. Offers you a thorough knowledge of the latest technologies used in the field.
3. Offers you authentic learning experiences. This will help provide better portfolio- and resume-building opportunities than courses that don’t provide a real-world context for projects.
4. Provides access to professional-quality facilities, software and equipment.

Multimedia professionals are in demand in industries that are engaged in visual effects, animations, video games, movies, television shows/commercials, and advertising. Though the competition is tough, those with strong technical and creative skills with smart thinking and a good portfolio of works can find themselves in demand.

For quality multimedia training in Srikakulam you can do a course from Simpliskills rated as one of the best multimedia training institutes in Srikakulam. The course programs are formulated on the basis of the inputs provided by professionals and academicians and suggestions given by the institute’s advisory board members. 

All of the courses at Simpliskills are conducted by expert lecturers with the help of the latest multimedia technology, that enables students to be industry prepared and well-equipped and trained to handle any kind of multimedia work.

Conclusion:

By 2021, the Multimedia Industry in India will be worth double the value that it has currently. By that time there will be a huge demand for multimedia professionals in almost every multimedia-related area. With the right multimedia course, you can develop your creative & technical skills in diverse areas of filmmaking that will give you a solid footing in every part of this dynamic industry.