Why are Graphics Fundamental to Multimedia? e-Portfolio Chunk #2

Reading:  RBWD&U, Ch. 14 – Graphics, Images, and Multimedia

"When used appropriately, images, animation, video, and audio can add tremendous value to a Web site" (RBWD&U, p. 142, emphasis added) and perhaps this notion can be extended to applications in general - as it applies to the Production Task phase of our development project.  The key words in this statement are in italics:  when used appropriately, but what exactly does this mean?  What implications does this have for our production task?  As I read through the text, I kept the following list of the guidelines that I felt had applicability to our application/Production Task:

• graphics should not be so large as to slow down page loading (p. 142)
• it is not a good idea to use images as an entire background (p. 142)
• use simple background images as they can interfere with reading foreground text (p. 143)
• label clickable images (p. 144)
• use video, animation, and audio only when they help to convey, or are supportive of, the Web site's (or tutorial's) message or other content (p. 146) - they easily capture users' attention, therefore they should be meaningful and not unnecessarily distracting
• provide an introductory explanation of animation before it begins (p.153)
• use images to facilitate learning - "the superiority of pictures over text in a learning situation appears to be strong" (p. 156).

But the above hasn't addressed the topic of this post, which is "Why are graphics fundamental to multimedia?"

As the Merriam Webster dictionary explains, multimedia is: a technique (as the combining of sound, video, and text) for expressing ideas (as in communication, entertainment, or art) in which several media are employed; also : something (as software) using or facilitating such a technique.

When I think of multimedia, I think of something beyond mere text or words - something that includes images or video, sound, or maps, or pictures of some sort.  The key here then 'several media', as the term suggests.  Where does this definition refer to graphics?  I suppose that video would contain graphic images and Merriam Webster defines 'graphic' as "a graphic representation (as a picture, map, or graph) used especially for illustration". 

Perhaps the reason is that images are more capable of effectively and efficiently communicating ideas, or, as RBWD&U notes, pictures have superiority over text in learning situations.  The 'take-away' for our group in our Production Task is to incorporate images into our tutorial - images that contribute to the message, rather than serve as unnecessary distractions.