Multimedia

Multimedia in use

Ten different areas where multimedia channels of communication are used will be presented. The five different ways multimedia can reach an audience are symbolic, pictorial , motion, sound, touch and the interaction of more than one element. The aim is to show what kind of communication channels are used on the Web.

Design

The CAD (Computer Aided Design) area of multimedia comprises many different tools to help designers in many fields. It is combined with Computer Aided Manufacturing to deliver products whose stages of development have been carefully analysed, designed and presented to the customers using multimedia. In a CAD project it is possible to visualise in three dimensions any two dimensional drawing allowing the participants to virtually walk through buildings that are not yet physically built, or to be shown how a component is produced in a factory. CAD tools adverts are powerful and entertain the spectator with interactive demonstrations, using animation as well as symbolic and pictorial media.

E Commerce

A few years ago many retailers found a new way of reaching their customers through advertising and selling goods on the Internet. The business to business type of applications enabled fast and paperless exchange of orders and invoices. Thousands of websites selling a variety of items sprung up. This new way of conducting businesses was named e-Commerce; it enabled companies to take advantage of the true business opportunities of the Web.

E Conferencing

Conferencing over a long distance is what can save a lot of time and money to companies, in this case the tools used involve all the communication channels mentioned in the introduction. The novelties in e-conferencing are services like: Webcasting Channel - a solution that supports ongoing Webcasting series and enables continuous educational programs. This solution allows you to set up a real-time communication channel for the benefit of your users. You can also add a fully integrated Webcasting Channel to your existing Web site. Interactive Webinar - supports live, simulated-live and on-demand interactive presentations. Includes: Voice/video streaming synchronised with slides, software applications demonstration, real-time polling, and live moderated Q&A.

E Government

The most developed countries have governmental bodies who run websites, which aim to inform and influence their citizens. A number of presentations on the Web use pictorial and animation to communicate messages to the public. A website is first of all a communication tool, but it can be a marketing as well as a publishing tool. However, it will not reach the whole of the population, only who has access to the web. Pictorial, symbolic and motion channels are used and the non sequential accessibility and usability are sometimes helped by the use of metaphores.

E Health

A very common use of the internet is to share knowledge and communicate effectively with anyone, anywhere in the world. The publication of papers which treat health as well as other scientific subjects can be found in many websites. The health related websites do not usually implement animation and sound media tools utilising only symbolic and pictorial channels to reach the reader. This is because they are dedicated to an audience that is ready to spend time reading and digesting the contents of a document.

E Learning

Every university nowadays offers some tools to develop their students online; there is a variety of courses and tutorials. The multimedia channels used are pictorial, symbolic, sound and motion.

E Policing

The most developed countries have governmental bodies who run websites which aim to inform and influence their citizens .The example websites have used mainly text for the pages shown ,but there are links to a number of presentations which use pictorial and animation to communicate messages to the public.A website is first of all a communication tool, but it can be a marketing tool ,as well as a publishing tool, that does not reach the whole of the population, only who has access to the web. In the website taken in consideration ,the pictorial ,symbolic and motion channels (only for the introductive page)have been used and the non sequential acces to the information has not been made easy by the use of metaphores.

E Tourism

Thanks to multimedia applications, we can visit a room in a museum or see a city whithout the need to be there in person. To accomplish this in an effective manner, the images have to be stored in a web compatible format; the interaction is what makes the experience more or less attractive . The developer of the pages has the power of making it a stimulating experience; the use of animation and interactivity is essential to attract interest.

M Commerce

Mobile commerce is often referred to as m-commerce. There are three basic types of m-commerce transactions. The first is carrier-based, using a carrier’s billing system to purchase something with a wireless device. This method lets the user bill the purchase to their monthly carrier bill (or deduct it from their pre-paid deposit). The second type of mobile commerce transaction involves using a credit card over a wireless network connection. In this type of this type of transaction, the user has securely stored its credit card data on a mobile phone, using their cell phone as a surrogate credit card. The third type of m-commerce transaction involves financial services. These transactions include activities such as transferring money between accounts or paying bills. The M-commerce web sites are the latest way of reaching customers anywhere they are.

Telework

Telework (also called telecommuting)allows you to do your work out of your "official duty station". With portable computers, high speed telecommunications links, and ever-present pocket communications devices, many employees today can work almost anywhere at least some of the time. The flexibility to work in a home office or telework center, when it is effective to do so, is clearly the wave of the future, and for many of us the future is already here.