Defining multimedia

Purchase, H.C. (1998) Defining multimedia. IEEE MultiMedia, 5(1), pp. 8-15. (doi: 10.1109/93.664737)

Abstract

Multimedia is variously and often ambiguously defined. While most people might accept a mix of voice, text and graphics, they might resist calling a live lecture on a titled work of art a multimedia presentation. On the other hand, many definitions focus entirely on technology: multimedia seems to be defined by the hardware required rather than by the user's experience. For example, despite the statement that any computer application that employs a video disk, images from a CD-ROM, uses high-quality sound, or uses high-quality video images on a screen may be termed a multimedia application, the author doubts that anyone would use the term multimedia for a computer application that merely plays a piece of music. She suggests a model of media objects that does not refer to technology or interactivity, but rather concentrates on the nature of the text. This model provides a useful basis for defining multimedia communication securely and unambiguously.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Purchase, Dr Helen
• Authors: Purchase, H.C.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Computing Science
• Journal Name: IEEE MultiMedia
• Publisher: IEEE
• ISSN: 1070-986X
• ISSN (Online): 1941-0166