Introduction to Interactive Digital Media

Introduction to Interactive Digital MediaConcept and PracticeBy Julia V. Griffey 194 Pages - 112 Color & 4 B/W Illustrations This book offers a clearly written and engaging introduction to the basics of interactive digital media.As our reliance on and daily usage of websites, mobile apps, kiosks, games, VR/AR and devices that respond to our commands has increased, the need for practitioners who understand these technologies is growing. Author Julia Griffey provides a valuable guide to the fundamentals of this field, offering best practices and common pitfalls throughout. The book also notes opportunities within the field of interactive digital media for professionals with different types of skills, and interviews with experienced practitioners offer practical wisdom for readers.Additional features of this book include:    An overview of the history, evolution and impact of interactive media;    A spotlight on the development process and contributing team members;    Analysis of the components of interactive digital media and their design function (graphics, animation, audio, video, typography, color);    An introduction to coding languages for interactive media; and    A guide to usability in interactive media.Introduction to Interactive Digital Media will help both students and professionals understand the varied creative, technical, and collaborative skills needed in this exciting and emerging field.Table of ContentsIntroduction      Why Learn About Interactive Digital Media?      How this Book is Organized      References1. What is Interactive Digital Media?      Introduction      What Makes Interactive Digital Media Different from Other Forms of Media?      Forms of Interactive Digital Media      Developing Interactive Digital Media      Essential Skills for the Interactive Digital Media Developer      The Impact of Interactive Digital Media      Career Opportunities in Interactive Digital Media      Practitioner Interview—Heidi McDonald      Discussion Questions      References2. History of Interactive Digital Media      Introduction      Origins of the Computer      Evolution of the Computer      The Computer Gets Personal      The Graphical User Interface      Video Games      The Birth of the Internet      Growth of the Internet      The Birth of the World Wide Web      Multimedia      Web 2.0      Interactive Digital Media in the 2010s and Beyond      Practitioner Interview—Elizabeth (Jake) Feinler      Discussion Questions3. The Interactive Digital Media Development Process and Team      Introduction      Team Members      Pitching the Project      The Development Process      Practitioner Interview—Tim Frick      Discussion Questions4. Fundamental Components of Interactive Digital Media      Introduction      Analog vs. Digital Media      Bits and Bytes      File Formats      Analog to Digital      The Pros of Digital Media      Compression      Description vs. Command-Based Encoding of Media      Color on the Screen      Practitioner Interview—Chris Cox      Discussion Questions5. Media Content      Introduction      Graphics      Pixel-based Images      Vector-based Images      2D Animation      3D Graphics and Animation      Audio      Video in Interactive Digital Media      Text      Practitioner Interview—Ana Monte      Discussion Questions      References6. Aesthetics in Interactive Digital Media      Introduction      Typography      Color      Layout Principles      Practitioner Interview—Brian Lucid      Discussion Questions      References7. Authoring Interactive Digital Media      Introduction      Multimedia Authoring      Making Video Games: Casual and Console      Building Apps      Building Interactive Media for Performance and Public Spaces      Building Websites      Practitioner Interview—Jans Carton      Discussion Questions      References8. Usability      Introduction      Why Good Usability is Important      Achieving Good Usability in Every Phase      Guidelines for Good Usability      Guidelines for Fun      Usability and Play Testing      Practitioner Interview—Julie Gaieski      Discussion Questions      ReferencesIndexAuthor BiographyJulia Griffey, M.A., M.F.A., is a creative technologist, entrepreneur and associate professor of interactive digital media at Webster University in St. Louis, MO. At Webster, she teaches a variety of courses within the realm of interactive media design/development and its intersection with marketing, promotion and online business. When not teaching, Griffey builds apps and websites and runs her own creative online businesses.