
A multimedia programmer gives a multimedia product its functionality by writing computer programs that draw together multimedia features, such as text, sound, graphics, digital/analogue photographs, 2D/3D modeling, animation, video, information and virtual reality, according to a designer's specification. Multimedia products work on particular 'platforms', such as the internet, interactive television, CD-roms, information kiosks, DVDs, computer games consoles and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) mobile phones.
Programmers may come from a design or computing background, but the role demands a combination of both creative and technical skills.
The term multimedia is used interchangeably with other terms such as interactive media, digital media, new media, and online/internet services.
Typical Work Activities
Programmers are involved at different stages of the system life cycle: initial analysis, implementation, integration, testing, debugging and support.
A programmer's role includes the following:
- working with the designer and other creative specialists to understand the design concept and advising on how it can be implemented technically within constraints;
- sorting out operational logic and business rules that are necessary for the feature to be reproduced correctly according to the designer's specification;
- writing efficient computer code or script to make the various features work, ensuring that sound, graphics, animations and timings work as intended and make good use of processing and data storage capacity;
- creating and linking databases to the user interface so that information can be retrieved, stored and processed interactively via the application;
- writing HTML or similar input and using authoring packages where appropriate to create content and effects;
- running tests of the application to identify bugs which need to be rectified;
- solving the problems by re-writing the code or adding new code which works around the problem;
- providing technical support to an application once it is running and making further adaptations or patches to the code, or creating new versions;
- researching and keeping abreast of emerging technologies in order to be able to deliver the most up-to-date solutions. This may mean learning new programming languages or technologies.
The programmer works in a team with the designer and other specialists, such as animators, video producers and 3D modellers, who create the multimedia features. Because of the size and complexity of some applications, there may be several programmers working on one or more aspects of the application. In smaller projects, the programmer may take on other roles, such as design and animation, depending on his or her expertise.
Programmers may become specialised in particular output formats, such as interactive television, web applications or mobile technologies, depending on their range of expertise.
Companies recruiting for Mutimedia Programmers
Knowledge Horizon
- Location: Pune, India
- Salary: Negotiable DOE
Web Recruit Ltd
- Location: UK-SW-Somerset, Crewkerne North Somerset
- Salary: 16,000.00 to 18,000.00 GBP per year
Bytes Technology Recruitment
- Salary: 20,000 to 24,000 per year
Enigo Company
- Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kulim Technology Park Corporation
- Location: Kulim, Malaysia
GDR Media