How to Write a Specification?

LO1 - Unit 5 Create an Interactive Multimedia Presentation

When do you write a 'Specification'?

The specification should be written after you've carried out initial research but before you begin to work on your multimedia solution.

The specification ensures that the work that you are going to produce will actually meet the needs of the client or scenario.

You should write a number of straightforward statements, clearly outlining the nature of the project to be designed and made.

If the research section has not been completed fully, the specification will also be lacking.

What should be included? Intended audience

Purpose of the product

type of media/ components to be used

delivery format

Success criteria

This should be easy to answer as its usually given by the client or indicated in the scenario. As soon as you start thinking about a project you want to complete, you must consider who the project is for.

The intended audience could be define in many ways, here are some criteria that could be used.

Age Gender Location Religion Social class Income bracket Education level

Intended Audience

Purpose of the Presentation Every product is created for a purpose and this is also true of a multimedia presentation. Here is a short list of possible purposes for a multimedia product.

To convey information To entertain To generate sales To increase sales To publicise

Type of Media to IncludeYou will need to think about the message that you want to convey and then decide what must be included. From that starting point you can add other element that could be included. These may be:

Text Static images Video Sound Animation

Delivery FormatThis should be a relatively straight forward item as it is probably mentioned in the scenario or brief. It is probably a good idea to consider this under two headings.

Web Multimedia CD/DVD

ROM Kiosk

Interactive TV Mobile devices

Where will the product be used. What implications does this have on the end

product.You should consider the format that the completed presentation is to be presented and how it is to be stored. Will it require specific hardware to show it and how will it be distributed? The latter will have an impact on the final file size of the presentation.Possible formats include:

Success Criteria The final part of the specification is the success criteria. Like the other areas of the specification the success criteria may be set out in the Brief or Scenario. On a simple level it could just be 'Does it work'. However there could be far more to be said about the product.

Imagine that you have even asked to create a multimedia product that uses animation and text to explain the Green Cross Code in a way that young children can access. Your success criteria could be:

Success Criteria

Product created Includes animation Includes text Young children can follow the instructions Young children find the content suitable Young children can learn from the instructions.

You are not assessing whether the Green Cross Code increases road safety - the quality and effectiveness of the product advertised are different from the quality and effectiveness of the multimedia product itself.

Imagine that you have even asked to create a multimedia product that uses animation and text to explain the Green Cross Code in a way that young children can access. Your success criteria could be: