What is Multimedia?

According to Rick Sharpe, it is "the use of a computer to combine and present text, graphics, audio, and video with links and tools that let the user navigate, interact, create, and communicate." Multimedia is used in a number of mediums including CD-ROMs and DVDs (e.g. interactive games, presentations).

Quality and Multimedia

"Your software will be tested for usability, either by you or your customer." [Jakob Nielsen]

When producing multimedia applications, there is much more to worry about than just functionality. It is therefore important to better understand those areas that have as much an impact on the end product as its feature set.

Some first principles of effective interface design are described by Bruce Tognazzini:

• Effective interfaces are visually apparent and forgiving, instilling in their users a sense of control. Users quickly see the breadth of their options, grasp how to achieve their goals, and do their work.

• Effective interfaces do not concern the user with the inner workings of the system. Work is carefully and continuously saved, with full option for the user to undo any activity at any time.

In testing multimedia applications, we are in essence examining its usability as well as the functionality. This evaluation can be based on certain criteria or qualities. In all cases the criteria should take into account the age group targeted so as to be intuitive and intriguing. The following are some of these criteria:

• Packaging: The first glance should intrigue the consumer into buying the product over all the others of the same type. Some specific qualities to consider are the visibility of the title, the minimum system configuration, graphics quality, intended target audience, special features, and any seals of approval that would make the product stand out.

• Interface: Interface describes the method of interaction the program provides, from beginning to end. Some of the qualities to consider here are ease of installation, consistency of buttons and icons from screen to screen, how much control the user has over video, how much time it will take the user to figure out the next step, and ability to quit the application whenever desired.

• Navigation: Navigation throughout the application and within individual screens should be intuitive and non-linear, providing both graphical and text-based links. Button topics should make use of good metaphors or icons to make them easy to find and understand.

• Content: Content qualities include good balance of text, illustrations, audio, video, vocal and text update of status, and play-by-play requirements. Vocabulary, sentence structure and sentence length should be grammatically correct and suited for the purpose of the application.

• Presentation: This involves the combination of graphics, illustrations, audio, and video working alongside the text to produce a smooth flowing and convincing display. The application should give the user control over the different aspects of the objects, such as speed and volume, through customizable preferences.

• Graphics/Images: This examines the use of graphics and images, their quality, and how they display in the different system configurations. Clarity and quality should remain intact when resizing the window, switching between applications, or changing system settings such as the number of colours and screen resolution.

• Audio/Video: The audio should be strong and clear. Narration voice tracks should be easy to understand, and of a consistent volume. Any sound effects should be appropriate and distinct. The application should use character voices and music suitable to its purpose and theme.

• Performance: When deciding on minimum system requirements, the performance should still be acceptable to the user such that application video and audio playback do not crash, freeze or cause error.

• Support Materials: The online help, manuals and quick reference guides are a last resort to help the user understand the application and how to use it; therefore they should be contextual and provide a quick and easy reference.

Summary

When testing multimedia applications there is much more to quality than just functionality. The look and feel of a product, its graphic quality, interactivity, intuitiveness, and navigability are some of the areas that will impact a user as much as the product's feature set.