PowerPoint And Multimedia - Part I
By: Austin Myers
Date Created: December 5th, 2000
Last Updated: March 3rd 2009
Preface
Multimedia and File Formats
Versions
Of Definition Multimedia and File Formats
Everyone knows what multimedia is, right? For the purposes of this discussion we will be addressing two specific forms of multimedia - movies and sounds, and their role in PowerPoint. PowerPoint has the ability to insert and play the following type of files.
Video (Movies)
QuickTime (*.mov, or *.qt) created with versions 1 and 2 of QuickTime. (versions 3 and 4 are not supported.)
Audio Video Interleave (*.avi)
Motion Picture Experts Group (*.mpg, *. mpeg, *.m1v, *.mp2, *.mpa, *.mpe)
Microsoft Streaming Format (*.asf, *.asx, *.wmv)
Animated GIF (*.gif) While animated GIFs are not movies, they come close enough for discussion in this document. (Note: Only PowerPoint 2000 and higher supports animated GIFs.)
While other, less popular video formats exist, these are the most common and most likely to be used in PowerPoint. Should you need to use one of the less popular formats I strongly suggest converting it to an AVI or MPG format.
Sounds
Audio Interchange File Format (*.aiff, *.aif, *.aifc)
Motion Pictures Expert Group Layer-3 (*.mp3, *.m3u) (Note: May only be inserted with PowerPoint 2000 but may be played back with PowerPoint 97 or the 32-bit PowerPoint Viewer.)
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (*.midi, *.mid, *.rmi)
Unix Environment (*.au, *.snd)
Microsoft Wave (*.wav)
Microsoft Streaming Format (*.asf, *.asx, *.wma)
CD Audio (*.cda)
Again, there are less common formats, but these are the ones most users will be using.
Operating Systems And PowerPoint Versions Discussed
For purposes of this discussion we will be working with PowerPoint 2000. Most, if not all, of the information in this document will also apply to PowerPoint 97 and I will try to make a special note when there is a difference.
Operating systems discussed are Windows 98, Windows ME, and Windows 2000. Again, most of the information presented will apply to the other Windows operating systems such as Windows 95 and Windows NT. However I don't have access to computers running these operating systems where I can "experiment" with them.
What about Mac users? Sorry folks, I've never worked with the Mac so there isn't much I can contribute in this area. However, if there are any Mac types out there that would like to contribute their experience please, by all means, contact me, so we can include it.
A lot is at stake -- power, money, reputation, future plans, justice. You need to win this case. Your presentation materials surely will play an important role in helping the judge and jury experience the sights, sounds, and details of the case ... or not. The choice is up to you, says one tech-savvy attorney.
The choice is up to you, says one tech-savvy attorney. It all depends upon whether you are willing to push PowerPoint beyond its normal boundaries to maximize its interactive and persuasive potential. This article by Robert Lane and
Bruce A. Olson
provides a better idea of using PowerPoint in court. 
