Multimedia vs. Hypermedia

Main Difference

The world of computer and internet has introduced several phenomena which were unknown to the people in the past, with this it brings many different terms which have been unknown to people and they get confused with the ones which seem similar to them. Such terms are then used for one thing while they are actually different from each other. To perform tasks on the computer a person needs different options and most of them need to include the ones which are text based, video based, has visuals and makes for easy viewing on the device. The development in technology has made the advancement in these products even more and they need to be clarified in a proper way, which will be done in this space. Two terms which are of this nature, Multimedia and Hypermedia will be explained. There are many differences between the two terms but there are similarities too, the main one is that they both are based on the use of visuals for the betterment of people who are using certain devices. To explain the difference between the two it is important to look at the definitions of both these terms. A multimedia in simple terms means multiple types of media. This media can include an option such as still graphics, pictures, videos, sounds and other animation. Hypermedia, on the other hand, is the software representation of all these options, it means that they are not present individually or in the form of separate apps but are linked together in such a way that all elements of a computer are connected to each other for the ease of use. Multimedia is a term which has been used for a long time and is the use of multiple modes of communication to send a message in a presentation. Hypertext was a term which was introduced around the 1970s and is the collection of all the options in a complex way, in this, the hypertext is used to convert all the options in the form of text which is then displayed through visuals which are seen on the computer screens once the program is run on the devices. One way of simplifying them is that multimedia is a broader term which can be used for many options while hypermedia is a specific term. There are other ways of showing the difference as well but a brief explanation of both these types will be given in the next two paragraphs while differences, in a nutshell, will be given at the end of this article to clarify how they differ.

Difference Between Multimedia and Hypermedia

Comparison Chart

Definition of Multimedia

Multimedia is the collection of different types of media which can be helpful in displaying information for the user. This can include forms such as text, audio, video, animation, pictures, and other types. This differs from other media as it has a variety of options present in it which are linked to each other from the computer and can be easily displayed when the user wants. This helps in using it as a universal option since anyone who has basic has a basic understanding of computers can use this option and can make full use of all the features. It can be displayed easily and can even be recorded. People can play it with the help of video players and open the files of the system in the text software which is already present in the device. It can also be used for live activities such as a music concert or presentation in the office environment and gives people the option to make life easier by using these options in a better way.

Definition of Hypermedia

This is a specific term which is used for all the media which is present until here it is similar to multimedia but the difference starts when the display time comes. The options which are present in the computer are easily converted into hypertext which is then converted in the form of a computer program and then run whenever there is a need to display all these options. This is a rather complex system which can only be understood by the people who have relative qualifications in the field therefore gets difficult for people who want to use it for simpler terms. The main benefit is that the options can be placed in one place without being dependent on the computer systems though in the end it performs the same task as multimedia but just in a different way. It has linear and non-linear formats, the non-linear one is absent in the multimedia.

Conclusion

This article has explained the main terms and issues related to these two terms hypermedia and multimedia and therefore, give a detailed analysis of the differences between them. It also helps in making sure people are able to learn more about the and end up getting to know how they differ from each other even though they may seem similar.