Multimedia Skills and Training

Skills and Background
1. What are some of the skills needed to develop good multimedia ?2. What is the responsibility of each member of the software team?3. What background/training/skill is required of each?

Multimedia Development Team
Project ManagerMultimedia DesignerInterface DesignerWritersVideo SpecialistAudio SpecialistMultimedia ProgrammerMultimedia Producer for the Web
Project Manager
Responsibilities Overall project Day to day operations and budget Put together good core team Maintain the “big picture” – the visionBackground/skills Understand hardware & software Communication skills Good “people” skills- a good listener
Multimedia Designer
Responsibilties:Overall content and structurePrepares blueprint for project: content, media, interactionSometime overlaps with Interface DesignerCoordinates teamA) Graphic DesignersB) Instructional DesignersC) Information Designers
Background/skillsAbility to analyze content structurally and match it with effective presentationExpert with different media typesAbility to look at information from different points of viewInterpersonal skillsUnderstand resources- both technological and humanSolid organizational skills, attention to detail
A) Graphic designer – deals with visualsIllustrators ( Freehand)Animators ( Flash)Image processing specialists ( Photoshop)Instructional Designers – deal with subject matterClear and proper presentationKnowledge of content
Interface Designer
Responsibilities:Provides access to media and control to people who use itMakes interface “transparent” to users ( effective use of windows, icons, backgrounds, controls, etc.)Background/skillsFamiliar with different multimedia interfacesKnows authoring system, user testingBasic drawing skills
WritersResponsibilities:Create character, action, point of view, interactivityWrite proposals, script actor’s narration, write text screen( content writers)Background/skills:Background in marketingAbility to work within tight deadlines
Audio SpecialistResponsibilities:Locating and selecting suitable music and talentScheduling recording sessionsDigitizing, editing recorded materialsBackground/skills:Skilled in studio recordingFluency in MIDIExperience with sequencing software
Multimedia ProgrammerIntegrates multimedia elements into “seamless” whole using programming language or authoring system (Authorware)Coding displays to controlling devicesBackground/skills:Multimedia languages (C++, Java, Lingo)HTML, VRML, XMLAbility to quickly learn new systems
Multimedia Producer for the Web
Responsibilities:Coordinates set of pages for the webBackground/skills:Knowledge of HTML, CGI scripts, Photoshop, etc.
Good Multimedia
Many multimedia systems are too passive- users click and watchFor fully interactive systems, designers need clear picture of what happens as user interactsAdaptive systems modify themselves based on user input ( intelligent tutors)