Hello,

I'm doing a quick research paper for my employer regarding multimedia.
I need some multimedia info.

First, I'm looking for an overview of what could be defined as
multimedia. I'd like these products/types of mm identified by
predominance. Meaning which has or is taking off etc.

Secondly I'd like a short list of job opportunities in multimedia.
Some salary information would be awesome.

Lastly, as my employer is a college, I'd like a list of educational
opportunities. Name of the school, degree program/type and location.

If the 50.00 dollars holds out I'd like some common equipment listing
for a mm studio.

-thank you

-Yke

Hello -
 
Important note: This answer is not finished until you're satisfied
with it.  If you choose to rate this answer, I ask that you do so
*after* asking for any needed clarification/information.

I've numbered each sub-question separately:

1) According to dictionary.com, multimedia may be defined as:
 
Of or relating to the combined use of several media.  Of or relating
to an application that can combine text, graphics, full-motion video,
and sound into an integrated package.

Today, that can include a very many number of products, since many 
computer-oriented products frequently will combine any number of these
media.  Games, educational material, presentations, and portable
devices will often fit this definition in today's world.

Emerging or popular products fitting this definition include:

a) "This week O2 revealed that it now has 80,000 British users of its
multimedia messaging service. Rival Vodafone has declared 130,000 UK 
users for its Live! multimedia service. Other operators are thought to
have a similar numbers of UK users."  

BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2748785.stm


b) "Already topping pre-holiday shopping lists, Fisher-Price'sŪ new 
Kasey the KinderbotTM is jumping off the shelves at major retailers 
nationwide, with one reporting more than 13,000 pieces sold in just 
one week.  Kasey the Kinderbot is a unique robotic friend that comes 
to life with a warm smile, realistic speech, an electronic display 
screen, moving head, waist, arms, hands and eyes and interactive 
lights - he even does "High Fives" and the "Hokey Pokey." Kasey brings
lots of fun and humor to learning through interactive games and 
activities that teach important skills in reading and math readiness,
problem-solving, following directions and more. Kasey's curriculum, 
which includes a total of more than 40 different skills that help
prepare kids for success in school, was developed in conjunction with
educational experts and teachers from around the United States..."

Newstream
http://www.newstream.com/us/story_pub.shtml?story_id=7899&user_ip=24.194.71.124


c) "MAH JONGG MAGIC, the ancient tile game of strategy and mystery, is
already flying off the shelves as a Cosmi top performer in the 
consumer software market. In just a few short months, Publishing 
Director Herb Kraft at Cosmi, reported the incredible numbers as 
50,000+ and rising!..." 

50,000+ units in 4 months of active sales for Mah Jongg Magic, winner
of the millionseller.com contest! 
http://www.millionseller.com/contest.html


d) "KPN has not researched demand for a mobile gaming service, but the
company is certain it will be a success. "Teenagers are already
playing simple games on their mobile phones and PlayStation is as big
a hit in Europe as it is in the U.S. and Japan. The consoles are
flying off the shelves," Potman says..."

Playstation Games Coming to Cell Phones
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/computing/01/30/mobile.playstation.idg/


2) JOB OPPORTUNTIES

Click here for a list of over 500 job opportunities in multimedia:

Monster.com:
http://jobsearch.monster.com/getjob.asp?JobID=17377550&AVSDM=2003%2D03%2D11+16%3A48%3A00%2E000&CCD=my%2Emonster%2Ecom&JSD=jobsearch%2Emonster%2Ecom&HD=company%2Emonster%2Ecom&AD=http%3A%2F%2Fjobsearch%2Emonster%2Ecom%2Fjobsearch%2Easp%3Fq%3Dmultimedia%26sort%3Drv%26vw%3Db%26cy%3DUS%26brd%3D1%252C1862%252C1863&Logo=1&col=dltci&cy=US&brd=1%2C1862%2C1863&lid=&fn=&q=multimedia

Additional freelance jobs:

Contracted Work
http://contractedwork.com/rt.cfm?CatID=13

Find many more under the search strategy "multimedia jobs"


3) SCHOOLS

a) Electronic Media, Arts, and Communication (EMAC) at Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute is one of the first undergraduate programs of
its kind in the United States. Majoring in EMAC leads to a B.S.
degree, offered jointly by Department of Language, Literature, and
Communication (LL&C) and the Department of Arts at Rensselaer.

RPI
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
110 8th St., Troy, NY 12180
http://www.rpi.edu

b) "Visual Communications Associate Degree with specialization in
Animation, Students who successfully complete the 18-month program
will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Visual
Communications Multimedia or Graphic Design"

Brown College
1440 Northland Dr.
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
http://www.houseofedu.com/brown/aboutus.html

c) "The program includes classes in multimedia and animation. Upon
graduation from the Visual Communications program, students will be
awarded an Associate in Specialized Technology degree, and have the
knowledge and skill necessary to begin entry-level positions at
advertising agencies, design studios, corporate art departments,
publishing houses, newspapers, record companies, or as a freelance
graphic designer."

Allentown Business School
1501 Lehigh Street
Allentown, PA 18103
http://www.houseofedu.com/abs/aboutus.html

d) "Bachelor Degree in Visual Communications; Associate Degree in
Visual Communications The Visual Communications Program at AIU
combines traditional media and interactive technology, offering
students the ability to merge their own creativity with the latest
technologies for the highest quality product. Concentrations in
various areas of multimedia allow students to develop their particular
strengths and interests. At the same time, the comprehensive program
emphasizes the importance of flexibility and diversified skills.
Concentration areas include: Graphic Design, Illustration,
Photography, Animation, and Digital Design"

American InterContinental University
3330 Peachtree Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
http://www.houseofedu.com/aiubu/design.html

e) "Associates degrees available in computer animation, digital media,
film, game design and development, recording arts, and show
production/touring."

Full Sail
3300 UNIVERSITY BLVD • WINTER PARK, FL • 32792
800.226.7625 USA • 407.679.6333 INTERNATIONAL
http://www.fullsail.com

A list of 13 other schools can be found here:

Find-Degrees.com
http://www.find-degrees.com/multimedia_and_visual_communications.html


4) A multimedia studio is entirely budget- and application-dependent. 
Typical audio and/or video editing software will include Photoshop,
Illustrator, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Quicktime,
and Pro Tools.  Pro Tools is the de facto industry standard for
editing audio.  Macintosh computers are a mainstay in audio/video
applications, specifically the G4-generation of products.  Text
editing will almost always include either QuarkXPress and/or
Pagemaker.  Speaker systems and amps will be necessary to hear any
audio editing, and camcorders or film-capturing equipment of some kind
for film/video work.  Again, this all varies based on budget and
application.  I'd be glad to provide specifics if you can give me an
idea of what you're looking to do.



Search Strategy:
"multimedia product"
"multimedia product" "taking off"
multimedia degrees
multimedia "degree programs"
"multimedia" flying off the shelves
multimedia jobs


jbf777-ga
GA Researcher

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 28 Mar 2003 11:37 PST

Please add to the first paragraph: Thank you for your understanding.

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Request for Answer Clarification by ykedoodl-ga on 01 Apr 2003 11:30 PST

Some background

If your plan was to open multimedia programming as a degree offering
which type of Multimedia would proceed other types? We are G4
Macintosh based, we currently have video with Final Cut. Which way
would we go with Scripting, Perl? Java? We have Flash mixed with
GolIve use BBedit and everything else Adobe.

We are building a MM studio that will house the Kodak 14n's (still
studio) and our Canon (video) GL-2's. We are looking for Audio info
for our sound booth and possibly library data for our X-Serve. Sound
effects video clips etc. We'd like to have the students create the
parts while learning the basics and then move to the grand plan
assembling the parts. This is essentially our plan in other publishing
areas. We would like to infuse the capture and design, the sequencing,
and lastly the delivery.

It sounds like you are experienced. How would you outline a learning
plan? How would you move to 3d or more programming intense
curriculums?

-Yke

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 01 Apr 2003 11:48 PST

Hi -
 
My expertise is in audio only, and not in academia in any way.  I
would suggest posting another question regarding your specific video
and academic applications.  As for audio, Pro Tools is most definitely
the way to go.  It includes MIDI capability as well as audio-for-video
tracking.  Check it out at www.digidesign.com.
 
What I would do in your position is model your curriculum after some
established universities.  Check out www.emac.rpi.edu at Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute for one.  They were at the forefront of this
kind of degree program back in 1996.
 
Hope this helps!  Let me know if you have any other questions..
 
jbf777-ga
GA Researcher

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Request for Answer Clarification by ykedoodl-ga on 02 Apr 2003 08:08 PST

Regarding the sound editing or more specifically MIDI editing. Amiga
made a format of voice/midi information called a MOD. What would be
some editing software on the Macintosh to edit or create MODS. If you
are familiar with this format.

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 02 Apr 2003 09:25 PST

To be completely honest, although I've heard of the MOD format, I
haven't done much with it.
 
Check out http://www.quadmation.com/pphome.htm for player/tracker.  
 
I'd search Google Groups in alt.music.mod for MOD aficionados.  Here's
a link to a discussion article on the topic:
 
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=mac+group:alt.music.mods&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=gdwarnernyet-450610.23011428082000%40news.ricochet.net&rnum=2

I could have been more organized with the question. Still the answer
provided some useful information and steered our process, this is
exactly what the Deans were looking for.

_Yke