A Taxonomy of Media Usage in Multimedia ( T - MUM )

Problem Statement Multimedia is a polysemous term, and the field of multimedia is not much clearer Those working in the discipline have been striving for more definition, for clearer outlines of roles and functions (Heller et al., 2001). Taxonomies assist in the clarification and definition of information, and therefore are vital to the advancement of multimedia as a field of research. Clarity is needed in the area of media usage in multimedia; this project offers that clarification. Goals The purpose of this study is to create a Taxonomy of Media Usage in Multimedia (T-MUM) and validate it, using a series of evaluations involving a variety of experts in the field. The T-MUM will define the various media expressions in media usage. The author has identified the media expressions as decorative, relevant, purposeful, and functional; and the literature has identified the media types as text, sound, As Table 1 demonstrates, in the T-MUM the graphic media type could have its media expression defined in the following ways. 1. Images that serve no purpose other than to be pretty are decorative media expressions of the graphical media type. 2 2. An image that is pertinent to a topic being discussed in the same screen would be a relevant media expression of the graphical media type. 3. Diagrams or maps would be purposeful media expressions of the graphical media type because they convey primary information. 4. Finally, imagemaps are functional media expressions of the graphical media type because they have more than passive interactive capabilities. This terminology aligns with the previous work documented in the literature be demonstrated in the following sections. Table 1. Example of T-MUM media expressions of the graphical media type. Graphics Images only intended to be aesthetically pleasing or evoke an emotional response. Related, but extraneous, graphics Images intended to portray primary information. Passive user interaction. Images the user actively interacts with; they may contain information that requires passive interaction as well, but they will also have some active functionality available. is often referred to as the Father of Taxonomy. His taxonomy – used for naming, ranking, and classifying organisms – has been key to the area of biology and is still extensively used today in its advanced form (Swedish Museum of Natural History: 3 Department of Phanerogamic Botany, 2002). Taxonomies are widely used in science due to Linnaeus' foundational work. Taxonomies began to spread in their use, and …