A survey of multimedia and its applications in the 1990s

Computer multimedia is a growing and dynamic field. Multimedia combines the use of more than one medium such as video, text, audio, graphics and animation into one piece, usually with interactive capabilities. This paper discusses how multimedia aids in the absorption and utilization of information. A multimedia program, Romeo and Juliet is explored to show the viability of multimedia as a teaching tool. Examples of multimedia applications in business, education and other fields are also presented. The examples presented share the following qualities: they are self-paced, interactive, provide feedback, and contain large quantities of information that are easily accessed. While little quantitative data are available, users of the programs presented, tend to find that multimedia is a successful learning and information tool in academia, corporate training, and marketing. This paper shows how multimedia has the potential to be an important, vital and growing information tool.