history of multimedia

1.     When computers first introduced in 1960s, they were seen as a machine to solve complex mathematical calculations. At that time computers are all text based and command are accessed by typing into the command line.

2.     Only late 1970s, people are starting to talk about multimedia when a small company called Atari brought the fun of a video arcade into home users.

3.     During the late 1970s and early 1980s, researchers for Xerox Corporation develop a new way of interacting with a computer, a device called a mouse. Using this new pointing device and GUI (Graphical User Interface) which was developed by Apple, multimedia is becoming increasingly popular.

4.     In 1985, a new software product called VideoWorks was introduced and then evolved to what we know now as Macromedia Director – the most widely used cross-platform multimedia authoring tool.

5.     In the same year, Intel had launched 80386 processors. This computing power is enough to handle multimedia applications and efficiently use the CD-ROM devices launched that same year.

6.     In 1987, Mac II was introduced equipped with color monitor.

7.     One year after that CD-R (CD-Recordable) technology enabled users to create their own CDROM or Music CD.

8.     In 1989, a new product called Video Toaster is available so that users can produce video special effects, computer animation and graphics affordably. In the same year, SoundBlaster sound card was introduced which give computer audio capabilities and play MIDI music.

9.     Then during 1990s, computers are more technologically advanced which means computers now have increased in processing power, better operating system, more memory, larger storage and higher video and audio capabilities. While computers becoming more sophisticated, computer also becoming cheaper.

10.  Because of all these improvements, multimedia is widely accepted and used as practical and useful tools because of its effectiveness and efficiency.