CD-ROM Multimedia Product - Assignment Example

Running head: MULTIMEDIA ANALYSIS Analysis of Multimedia Product CD-ROM multimedia based software is one of the innovative approaches for enhancing accessibility and quality. Interactive CD-ROM is an efficient tool for communicating the message of the business or an organization in general. It is free of technical or bandwidth restrictions which make it feasible to incorporate high quality video, animation and images. It is one of the most affordable means to propagate the ideas and services of an organization. It can embody the greater strengths of interactive knowledge bases. Interactive CD-ROM would facilitate the users of the system to get the information even offline and access the database utilities. Introduction The CD-ROM multimedia product belongs to an educational institute named Indian Chartered Financial Analysts of India, India. The institute has created the software for the following objectives: To spread awareness of the institute’s all round development, its various courses, the various mock classroom sessions (Video and Audio) Few mock and real life online tests for getting through Multimedia media centers and online message boards and chat system. Various teaching classes using multimedia and computer based tutoring Build innovative project management solutions using the GUI tools and interface it provides OVERALL IMPACT 1. Is the multimedia unique and engaging? The product is quite unique in the sense that it creates a virtual presence that the CDROM is the institute itself and all the various multimedia caterings (real life mock tests, tutoring sessions, CDROM based learning, project management tools and others) are done to promote the college and to embed the multimedia and enhanced techniques for further innovation and development. The computer based tutoring sessions using the multimedia products such as video and audio and building up of project management solutions using the tools provided within the CDROM makes it quite engaging for anyone wishing to make a difference (Dix, 2004). 1.1. Does it demand attention and provide a memorable experience? The product demands great attention and is a memorable experience for one aspiring for Charter Financial Analysts (CFA) and Management of Business Administration (MBA) courses and is willing to work out their project management skills for future development and experience. The innovation in the building up of the project management solution using the tool provided helps in discovering various concepts and make sure that they evaluate themselves to every extent. 2. Are the original objectives apparent? The original objectives are quite apparent in the sense that it serves as a great marketing tool and would make sure to spread the content of the multimedia features used for the institute (Shneiderman, 2005). The extra features like tutoring and project management techniques are add-ons for making the right product mix to spread the good word of the institute. It would impress the prospective audiences in making the right decision for applying to the institute. 3. Is it easily available? It is available on purchase of the institute’s brochure which incurs soft expenditure. It comes handy the very brochure to speak for the organization targeted. 3.1. Is the Distributor well known? The distributors are the well known authorized ICFAI centers in the city who distribute the very brochure and the information regarding the various other university courses. 3.2. Is there order information given on the CD-ROM/website itself? Yes the order information is given. 4. Is the price point appropriate? The price point is quite reasonable and the product is not saleable in the market. It is only available on the purchase of the brochure. INTERFACE 1. Is the structure of the system apparent? The structure of the system is quite planned and organized and is usable enough for any one to locate thinks of their choice. Raskin (2000) mentions that easy accessibility and information representation are the only mantras for fetching the objective. 1.1. Is it intuitive? Yes it is intuitive in the sense that all the user actions are noted and made sure that the system responds to it’s with proper help and message. 1.2. Is it consistent? Yes the system features and formalities are consistent in making the entire system in accordance to the standard norms. The very consistency makes sure that system features are same in every interface and would provide genuine interest for one to follow up with things (Nielsen, 2005). 1.3. Predictable? Yes the system handles errors quite well and makes sure that all system behavior is justified to its full extent (Faulkner, 1998). 2. Are the methods given to objects explicit or easily learned? The methods given to subjects are easily learned because of its high usability features. The icons depict real life objects and scenes which make it usable for any one to understand and learn the system features quite well. 3. Is the visual grammar obvious or easily learned? The visual grammar is obvious so that they would be able to get the message through quite easily. 3.1. Are the icons understandable? Yes the icons used correlate to real world coherences which are easily identifiable and understood easier. 4. Is the delivery of information time sensitive? Yes the delivery of information is quite time sensitive as the product is released every year with several updations and is available to students jus before they are ready to take the preparation for clearing through the institute’s formal country wide exam. 4.1. Are the chunks of acceptable length? The chunks are not of acceptable length as some of the tutoring sessions are quite long and not precise. the project management tool also make sure that all the various objects are to be understood well for making good use of them. 4.2. User-determined size? The user determined size for the product is approximately the same size of a CDROM completely filled. However the information is huge and takes a lot of time to view at one instance. 5. Is the overall design appropriate and pleasing? The overall design is quite pleasing. 5.1. Fonts? The fonts are visible and are dark enough on the background so that it can be easily figured out by naked eyes (Wesley, 2003). 5.2. Colors? The colors used are a combination of blue and white and sometimes red for better visual scenes. 5.3. Use of screen space? The use of screen space is quite efficient as they correlate to right fitting of text and shape. 5.4. Is the shape of the screen respected? The shape of the screen occupies the entire screen according to the resolution of the monitor and is just half inch away from the border for better visibility. 6. Is the implementation of the overall design in each section well executed? Consistency is the key element in the entire multimedia presentation which makes sure that all the various sections are handled well. 7. Can the user alter the presentation of the information? No the user is not allowed to alter the presentation of the information. 7.1. Size of the window? Size of the window occupies the entire screen and makes sure that it adjusts to the resolution of the monitor. 7.2. The language? English is used throughout the entire presentation. 7.3. The categories of information displayed? The various categories are as follows: Admission activities Multimedia tutoring Project management tools 7.4. The layout of the screen? Same size as that of the usual GUI window. 8. Are the navigation paths useable? The navigation parts are highly usable. 8.1. Are they consistently structured? The content and the hyperlinks are consistently structured. 8.2. Do they respond to user interests? It highly responds to user interests. 9. Is a navigational map given? The site map is given and appears in every screen for help. 9.1. Does it help orient the user to the content presented? It orients the user for the content presented and it serves the objectives of the user. 9.2. Does it help the user understand the functions given? Yes it largely helps the user to understand the functions given as all the functions are in Standard English language and depict high usability features. 9.3. Is it accurate and complete? Yes it is accurate and complete. 10. Is "Help" given? Yes help is given at every page for any assistance. 10.1. Is it relevant? Yes it is quite relevant in accomplishing its objectives and help section make sure to fetch the user every kind of query. 10.2. Is it context sensitive? Yes it is context sensitive. 10.3. Does it provide the assistance needed? Yes it provides all the assistance required. 11. Can you stop the presentation when you want? The system is so usable that all kinds of functionality is possible at will. 11.1. If you resume after you stop, do you have to start over? One can pause the facility and start at any point of time by scrolling to the definite point. 12. Can you exit when you want? Yes one can exit when they so desire. 13. For a CD-ROM, is the packaging appealing and appropriate? The packaging is quite appealing, it mentions the contents, price, production, trademarks and year affiliations (Sutliciffe, 1995). 13.1. Is there an orientation brochure included? No. IMPLEMENTATION 1. Does it work? Yes it does to a great extent. 1.1. Are there broken links? There are no broken links. 1.2. Dead-ends? There are no dead ends. 2. Does it work across platforms? Yes it works across platforms as it is easily integrate able with various software platforms. 2.1. With different browsers? It is a desktop application so there is no question of browser integration. 3. Does it require specific environment to run? No it does not require specific environment. 3.1. Are there particular dependencies on hardware or software? It has minimum software and hardware requirements which matches with all PC are up till date. 3.2. Are specific configurations required? Not as such, only a CDROM or DVDROM is sufficient to play it. 3.3. Does a system require particular Plug-ins? No plugins are required. 4. Does it install easily? Yes it installs quite easily. 4.1. Does it change existing system parameters? Not as such 4.2. Is it clear what parameters are altered in installation? Yes, its user friendly in handling and asks the user for every action to the system. 4.3. Does it have an uninstall program? Yes it carries an uninstall program. 5. Is the architecture extensible? No it is not architecture extensible. 6. How migratable is the content? It can be played in the browser. 6.1. Can it be re-used? Can it be archived? Yes it can be. 6.2. Is the system logic machine-independent? Yes it is machine dependent. It can be run only on a PC. 7. Is the implementation upgradeable? Yes one can add few files to upgrade it, even online up gradation is possible. FUNCTIONALITY 1. How interactive is the system? Highly interactive. 1.1. Does it only give pre-defined choices? Yes it does. 1.2. Does it take input from the user in the form of search parameters, but provide a fixed choice of pre-defined categories? Yes search is allowed for finding the user desires for the product. 1.3. Does it respond to user input, and use user input to reconfigure choices given? The project management tools provide such functionality. 1.4. Does it has segments which the user authors and/or which user can save and build on? No such facility is available. 2. Can the user search? Do the search criteria match the users criteria? Yes the user can search. The user criteria somehow matches the search criteria, if it does not it portrays friendly errors. 2.1. Is the search tolerant of missing or unknown values? Yes it offers suggestions in case the user types a spelling mistake. 2.2. Does it give accurate results despite missing values? It offers suggestions. 3. Can the user print all or parts of the information found? Not all parts are printable. 4. Is the user provided with tools or methods to interact with the content? Yes tools are provided for users to interact. 4.1. How many? 15 in number. 4.2. What kinds? Browse, search, play, pause, stop, rewind, others. 4.3. Are they relevant to the nature of the content? Yes they are quite relevant to the nature of content. 4.4. Are the tools appropriate and engaging? The tools are quite appropriate and engaging. 5. Are the functions of the system described in any way? Yes the planning and organizing ability would make sure that happens well. 5.1. Is this clear and consistent? Yes it s clear and consistent. The spacing has been taken care well. 5.2. Are all functions represented? Yes all the functions are represented. 6. Can the user do things that are not possible with the real thing, such as see it in a different light, hears it played or deconstruct/reconstruct it? Yes such functionality is promoted. 7. Does the multimedia record a history of user interaction? No it does not. 7.1. Can the system use this in session based feedback? No. 7.2. Can the system use this to vary the information presented to reflect user history/interest? No. 7.3. Can the user tell where he as already been? Yes breadcrumbs are used to achieve that. 8. Is there a way for users to comment? No. 8.1. Are user comments incorporated in any way? No. 9. Can the content be updated? Yes online updating is possible. 10. How well is knowledge of the multimedias existence reported? Quite high. 10.1. Is it widely available? Yes it is widely available. 10.2. Is it reported to general indexes of available multimedia? No. 10.4. How is the fixed format multimedia distributed? No. CONTENT 1. Is the content compelling and original? Yes as it relates to the college so the information is 100% verified and original. 2. How varied are the modalities of the content? Greatly varied. 2.1. Does it include text, speech, music, still image, motion image, games, tests, free text input, drawing input, speech input, sound input, image capture, multimedia authoring input, other? Yes to a very high extent. 2.2. Are the modalities chosen appropriate to the content? Yes. 3. Is the content appropriate to the chosen delivery format? Yes. How well does the medium fit the message? It propagates the message for all the prospective students. 4. Is the content presented in an understandable way, appropriate to where and how the multimedia is delivered? Yes to a high degree. 5. Are the users perspectives and characteristics considered? Yes, GUI says that. 6. Does the presentation vary by users: 6.1. Expertise? Yes. 6.2. Degree of interest? Yes. 6.3. Prior-knowledge? Yes. 6.4. Age? Yes. 6.5. Prior pathways or system use history? No 6.6. Context of use? Yes. 7. Are the objects represented: 7.1. Accurately? Yes. 7.2. "Truthfully" Yes. 7.3. Responsibly Yes. 7.4. Sensitively Yes. 8. Is the voice always completely authoritative or does it admit of question, doubt and uncertainty? Yes the multimedia features are highly sensitive. 12. How rich & appropriate are the links? How extensive? How useful? The links work fine. 13. Have the rights to use the materials been cleared? Yes it is cleared by the college authorities. 14. Is they explicitly acknowledged? Yes the content and presentation is acknowledged by the college authorities. References/Bibliography Dix et al (2004) Human Computer Interaction, 3rd Ed, Prentice Hall. Nielsen, J (2005) Alert box: Current Issues in Web Usability [Internet], Retrieved 11 April 2008 from http://www.useit.com/alertbox Faulkner, C (1998) The Essence of Human computer Interaction, Prentice Hall Raskin, J (2000) Humane Interface, New Directions for Designing Interactive Systems, Addison-Wesley Professional. Shneiderman, B and Plaisant, C (2005) Designing the User Interface, 4th ed, Addison Wesley. Sutliciffe, A (1995). Human Computer Interface Design. Macmillan. Wesley, Addison (2003). The Designing the User Interface Book site [Internet], Retrieved 11 April 2008 from http://www.aw-bc.com/DTUI3/ Websites: See- www.icfaiuniversity.org/ See- www.glolar.com/sales.html Read More