CONCEPTS OF MULTIMEDIA
Refers to content that uses a combination of different content forms. This contrasts with media that use only rudimentary computer displays such as text-only or traditional forms of printed or hand-produced material. Multimedia includes a combination of text, audio, still images, animation, video, or interactivity content forms.
Element of Multimedia
Multimedia is usually recorded and played, displayed, or accessed by information content processing devices, such as computerized and electronic devices, but can also be part of a live performance. Multimedia devices are electronic media devices used to store and experience multimedia content. Multimedia is distinguished from mixed media in fine art; by including audio, for example, it has a broader scope. The term “rich media” is synonymous for interactive multimedia.
CONCEPT OF INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Interactive media normally refers to products and services on digital computer-based systems which respond to the user’s actions by presenting content such as text, graphics, animation, video, audio, games, etc.
Interactive media also is a system in which related items of information are connected and can be presented together.
Games, Application
HISTORY OF INTERACTIVE MEDIA
If we talk about art in interactive media, we probably don’t want to dive into definitions behind the topic. It’s clear, that there must be media and someone who interacts with it. Most of people start to interact with world in early years, but there is no media jet. If we consider all around as an information, than we might say, that we start interact with information first. So we might say that all the media we consuming is just an information.
Closer to media, there is a lot of media and multimedia channels available to consume these days. If we think about different channels we’ve used, than most of probably recall TV as medium to interact with. That’s also as an inspiration for current paper. First medium I recall is the animation. Of course there was a lot of other shows to follow, but these didn’t have such influence to young public. So the animators have been always same times animators and entertainers (Larson, K., 2009).
Animation is known already for centuries. According historians the oldest animation is found in Iran and it’s about 5200 years old (Bail, R., 2008). By today’s technical abilities it might be considered as comic book on bowl, but if you spin the bowl with correct speed you can see the animation – impressive.
First animated movies came with movie technology on 20th century. Before that there was huge amount of technical solutions to create an illusion of animation or moving image – lanterns, different machines etc. Only stop motions movies have been around since photography was developed on 19th century.
Stop motion animation has received for now very high level, as the movie creation with digital equipment’s is easier and more fun probably. If 20 years ago it was a privilege for these who had expensive technologies, than today can we all create own stop motion movie with simple camera, optional tripod and piece of software like Adobe After Effects.
One way to create animation is Moving around still objects or images as mentioned. Other way is to draw every movement frame by frame. Both are very good ways to express the idea, but the problem with animating is time. It’s very time consuming and if we think that frame rate is 25 frames (pictures) per second then it takes 1500 still images for a one minute long film.
There is a small effect with technology development. First the movies can now be drawn with computer and using 3D technology. 3D gives extra odds to movie; Characters seem more realistic and the movement of characters can be recorded with motion capture technology. The list of software available is long, but I would like to point out blender (blender.org), which is free OPEN SOURCE 3D creation suite.
Evolving technology gives us new tools to create and consume animation and film in new level, but it’s still only one side of animation. The other side is storytelling behind the animated or drawn images and it cannot be evolved with technology. Storytelling is mostly related to evolve of cinema art. It means that even if we consume the animation with latest 3D, 4D etc. technology it is not a piece of art. In addition to mismatch of technology and art there is also problem to create fully realistic objects as they appear in real life.
CONVERGENT TECHNOLOGY
Technological convergence is the tendency for different technological systems to evolve toward performing similar tasks. Digital convergent can refer to previously separate technologies such as voice (and telephony features), data (and productivity applications), and video that now share resources and interact with each other synergistically.
Telecommunications convergence, network convergence or simply convergence are broad terms used to
Convergent Interactive
describe emerging telecommunications technologies, and network architecture used to migrate multiple communications services into a single network. Specifically this involves the converging of previously distinct media such as telephony and data communications
into common interfaces on single devices.
REFERENCES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_media
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/interactive+multimedia
Bail, R. (2008). Oldest Animation Discovered In Iran. Animation Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2011, from http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/oldest-animation-discovered-in-iran/
Manovich, L. (2001). The Language of New Media. (T. M. Press, Ed.)Screen (Vol. 5, p. 354). MIT Press. doi:10.1386/nl.5.1.25/1
Interactive Media 