Introduction to interactive multimedia Available to Purchase

‘Interactive multimedia’ was, only a few years ago, just a fuzzy shape on the horizon of new technology. With rapid developments in computing, telecommunications and home entertainment, interactive multimedia now describes a range of products for corporate and consumer markets which — after more than a decade of promise and potential — are setting standards for the decade to come. A handful of products are of particular interest to libraries now; however, a wide range of products and issues, from electronic books and computer games to compression technology and networking, will profoundly influence the future of publishing and communications. This article identifies some of the key issues and platforms including interactive video (IV), multimedia computers, electronic books, and optical discs in the LaserDisc and compact disc (CD) formats.