Multi Media Design

Refers to computer system capable of integrating several media into a single display.

Analog Multimedia (can't be integrated without conversion)

• Video tape
• Audio tape
• Movies

Digital Multimedia

• Has been transformed to that it may be manipulated as computer data
• Interfaces allow multimedia components to be plugged into the computer system

User controlled interactive multimedia is the norm.

Multimedia (MM) Architectures

• MM systems are built of components called activities
• Activities are contained in a series of actions
• Activities have single start points
• Activities can have multiple end points

MM Activity Types

• Presenting (sequential)
• Controlling (branching or selection)

MM Topologies

• Linear presentation (repeating is allowed)
• Data driven engine (control interpreted from list)
• Hierarchical menus
• Information retrieval (menu with search engine)
• Hypermedia (search engine plus display engine)
• Simulation (no generic control structures possible)

Interactivity in MM Presentation

• Canned presentations (e.g. automatic slide show)
• Live speaker (e.g. power point under speaker control)
• End user interactive presentation

Presentation Components

• Getting audience attention (e.g. sound or splash screen)
• Setting the mood (e.g. humor to put audience at ease)
• Presenting material
• Answering questions (e.g. online help)
• Concluding presentation (e.g. summaries or review)

Presenting Material

• Key is deciding who is telling the story
• Subordinate all other MM elements to the story teller
• Consistent audio track is good substitute for a talking head
• If audio is not used then reserve a portion of screen for lead-ins and transitions
• Once story teller is chosen, map out story using script or story board

MM User Interfaces

• Choose metaphors familiar to users
• Consistency of controls within an application
• Simplicity to avoid intimidating user
• User control over behavior
• Users need immediate feedback
• Windowing environment (don't use too many windows at once and don't provide windows functionality which is not needed)

Designing an Applications Style

Ingredients of Good Style

• Applications should work correctly
• Applications should look professionally done
• User interface suits intended user groups
• Application should exhibit consistent behavior
• Applicant should have a good feeling

Television Style UI Characteristics

• Full-screen
• No windowing
• Proportionally spaced fonts
• Photographic quality images
• Audio is on all the time

Computer Style UI Characteristics

• Mostly graphics or text
• Windows have standard controls
• Menu bars or control panels on screen at all times

Elements of Aural Style

• Mono or stereo
• Looping short segments saves space, if not too repetitious
• Voice is cheap to produce and disk space is not too great
• Music can be expensive (copyright and disk space)

Completing the Application

Planning Process

• Defining who user are
• Write overview of application
• List material to be included as a first content draft
• Make top level flow chart for application
• Design application style
• Design user interface
• Define authoring process
• Finalize content
• Design major screens
• Estimate project completion time and staffing requirements

Media for Publishing Application

• Floppy diskette
• Hard disk
• CD-ROM
• WORM CD
• DVD
• Digital tape (not common any more)
• Computer network
• WWW