Multimedia

Multimedia is the integration of, and interaction with, different types of media, including text, graphics, audio, video and animation. The use of multimedia enhances the user's ability to understand information. The term multimedia has been used in connection with many art forms, such as the combination of printing-making, painting and drawing in a work of art. However, today multimedia is generally considered a mix of digital content.

Information Design describes the fundamental principles of communication science. Multimedia describes the context in which communications appear, including the creation and presentation methods and processes. Multimedia content is used in a variety of fields for many purposes. Some of these areas will be explored more in depth in the Visuals section of this website, but stated briefly:

1. Art/Music: Used in exhibitions in museums, in music videos, through digital presentations of art, such as the web.
2. Business: Useful in presentations for sales and management, or training for employees.
3. Education: Used in online and computer-based learning, and reference materials.
4. Entertainment: Used in computer games, video games, television, animation, special effects in movies, and music videos.
5. Engineering: Computer Aided Design tools, such as AutoCAD, or tools for visually process or management flow.
6. Medicine: Imagining technolgoes, such as CATscan, MRI, and Nuclear medicine used for diagnosis.
7. Research: Particularly useful in situations where the subject matter is far too large or small to be viewed easily - such as space exploration, or nanotechnology. •