The Components, Standards, Protocols, Benefits

For those not familiar with multimedia as a media format, it’s best described as the combining of medias or mediums through the computer to better communicate ideas, concepts, etc. Web sites are perhaps the best examples of multimedia, as many of them use text, video, sound and even animated graphics to convey their message.

The use of computer-based multimedia goes back approximately 15 years when point-of-sale interactive CD-ROMs and information kiosks began displaying video, graphics, sound, and animation, interactive to the user.

As the computer tools for producing multimedia evolved and became more affordable, this new media technology became the realm of the individual producer. All mediums such as sound, video, photography, and animation, could now be processed and mixed digitally, through ones’ computer…. Communication would never again be the same.

Today, the term ‘multimedia’ seems to have faded into the background, while its use has become pervasive in our everyday lives. We’ve become used to reading our newspapers on-line, while downloading videos of breaking stories. On-line shopping is an everyday occurrence, as we can get what we want conveniently, and efficiently, without having to leave our homes.

In other words, we not only use multimedia everyday, we’ve become highly receptive to receiving all our information in this format. Yet, why do we continue to be content with receiving printed postcards in the mail? Tradition, most likely. We like receiving things in the mail, especially from friends and family while they’re away. We’re not accustomed to receiving audio or video grams or even digital pictures of travelers while they’re away! But it’s here now!

ePostcardXpress™ ‘Stations„ add the unique feature of allowing travelers and others to create their own multimedia ‘mix’, allowing users to ‘embed’ still photos or (talking) videos of themselves on their postcard, and send it digitally or physically anywhere. EPC feels confident that as more people use this new traveler ‘service’, it will eventually change the concept of the traditional postcard. The question may be asked: “..will it still be a postcard?..” Whatever it is, the ePC kiosks are unique messaging stations for today’s multimedia savvy media consumer.