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We find ourselves at a significant moment in time, a point of cultural, industrial and technological convergence. This series of satellite transmissions hopes to explore the broad spectrum of this convergence. Rather than trying to offer a flawed definition of what multimedia is (which would be like trying define the shape of a cloud) the first programme takes a look at where it comes from, how is it being made, and avenues for development.
The "Industry": Is there a multimedia industry, from most perspectives it looks more like a Hi-Tec chimpanzees tea party. We are seeing the convergence of companies who all feel they have a vested interest, and of course, untold commercial opportunities in mastering the domain. However, they are all weighed down with the baggage of their own disciplines, and the convergence of skills, practices and traditions is proving problematic. The diagram illustrates the main areas of interest.
The problem for all of these areas is that the desired technologies, skills and mind sets are defused amongst them. For instance, Telecoms companies are trying to master Video on Demand, an activity previously the domain of broadcast and cable T.V. Broadcasting companies are trying to network desktop video, a domain previously defined as computer networking.
