Module 9

"A website without multimedia is like a cupcake without icing: Functional but lacking" (Sniderman 2012). Multimedia enhances both a readers understanding and engagement level with what he or she is consuming. Text allows readers to form their own opinion about how something may have looked or happened, but when text is paired with photos, or images, the reader can reference the visual and have a better understanding of what they're reading. When paired with audio, text can evolve based on tone of voice. Multimedia makes text multi-dimensional, which allows us to understand better. 

Because the reader understands better, they are engaged more fully. Multimedia makes the information more tangible to the reader, which deepens their reaction to what is being said. For example, In the article Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek, the first hand recount of the avalanche by Elyse Saugstad made the situation more real to me, as well as more emotional. I was much more engaged with the story because of the deeper connection I had to the event, as well as those involved (Branch 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/#/?part=tunnel-creek).

The three main types of multimedia are audio, photo, and video. Depending on the situation, each can be equally as effective. If tone of voice is important, audio will be best to use. For example, in the blog http://israelkeyes.blogspot.com/ there are sound clips of interviews from Israel Keyes where he is recounting certain events in which his sociopathic tendencies were put into play, and which Keyes is recounting these events he is laughing. This truly demonstrates his state of mind, and gives the reader/listener a better insight and a deeper connection to the story. On that same blog, there is video of Keyes actually kidnapping one of his victims, which is more powerful than text could be. It, once again, evokes more emotion because of the situation that is being depicted. Video and photos are generally used in the same types of situations, just depending on which is available to depict the subject.

Anonymous. (2014). Acting at random: a study of Israel Keyes. Blogspot. Retrieved from http://israelkeyes.blogspot.com/.

Branch, J. (2012). Snow fall: the avalanche at Tunnel Creek. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/#/?part=tunnel-creek.

Sniderman, Z. (2012, Jul 28). How to: add multimedia to your blog. Mashable. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2010/07/28/add-multimedia-to-blog/.