Vol. 2, No. 27
TODAY'S LESSON: Multimedia

After years of Web hype and marketing, the term "multimedia" has been misused and abused, and now is just begging to be replaced or simply banished from the language.

Here's a classic definition: "Human-computer interaction involving text, graphics, voice, and video." So multimedia means surfing the Web? Or is it synonymous with the Web itself? Fact is, if you asked 100 people what multimedia means, you would probably get 99 different answers (at least two people would say "buzz off, geek.").

If you want to find the true definition of multimedia, you have to get out on the Web and explore, investigate, and tinker. Then you can decide for yourself what it means to you.

>>> Graphic Media <<<

Most of the media on the Web is either text or graphics. But within each of those categories, you have lots of sub-categories to keep track of. Have you used TIFF or GIF graphics, and how about BMP and JPEG? There's been an acronym free-for-all brewing on the Web for some time now, and it's quickly reaching a critical mass.

"Web Graphics Overview"
From bitmaps to vector graphics, this article will show you the differences between graphic formats on the Web, and how to apply them.

"Monkey Media"
At Webmonkey, multimedia is divided up into four sections: Audio, Video, Shockwave/Flash, and Animation. Browse around the sections and get an idea of what "multimedia" has meant over the years.

"Angelfire Arcade"
If you're getting bored with the staid graphics on your site, add some pizzazz with an arcade game. Or, heck, just play the game yourself.

>>> Audio-Video Media <<<

One of the biggest, best improvements to the Web in the last few years has been the addition of audio, video and music broadcasts. Before that, it was MIME city, and nobody should have to endure technology so ridiculous. Although Web audio is clouded with competing standards, lawsuits, and other ugliness, there's still a lot of good stuff happening out there.

"Media Player Lowdown"
Here's a look at the current state of media players -- RealNetworks, Apple's QuickTime, and Windows Media Player, the three chief competitors for playing audio and video on the Web. Which will come out on top in the end? Find out what Webmonkey Adam has to say

"DVD Burning"
One of the coolest new developments in the audio-video realm is DVD burners, which Macintosh is installing in their new G4 machines. With almost 5 gigabytes of storage on each disc, there's sure to be all sorts of interesting applications for you to explore.

"Media Check"
Visitors experience your site in different ways depending on their browsers, connection speeds, and preferences. Following these steps will help you ensure that site changes fit in well with the rest of your content, programming components still function, and graphics display properly.

1. A great place to find graphics for the Web is the Web itself. Saving pictures from a website is as easy as right clicking on the image (ALT + click for Macs) and selecting Save, or use an application like "SnagIt." Though make sure you credit your sources. OR edit the image beyond all recognition.

2. Not all monitors are the same, and many Web users are still using older screens that display only at a 640 x 480 resolution (640 pixels wide and 480 pixels high). In fact, this may include you! Examine your pages using a variety of screen resolutions to see how your visitors might experience your site.

3. Having trouble getting that Backstreet Boys song you heard on the radio out of your head? Do what I do: Keep singing Johnny Cash songs until your boy-band blues disappears.

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