Technology is rapidly changing and constantly evolving in areas such as multimedia computers, compression, and multimedia networks as well as transport mechanisms for these networks. As technology changes so does the standards that has to be met for everything to be compatible. The changes in technology is affecting everyone from school age children to practicing professionals.

A direct interactive environment is provided to users through applications provided in multimedia software. Computer equipment with sound input/output interface, speakers, a camera, a CD-ROM or a digital video disk (DVD) is used to enjoy multimedia applications. Distributing material using multimedia networks is an economical solution, because the material can be maintained, updated and delivered at a reasonable cost. Low-cost computers or set-top boxes are being made by several companies so that users can access multimedia through communication networks. One good example of this is WebTV http://www.webtv.net/. Using WebTV you can access the Internet from a TV using a phone line and a WebTV Internet terminal box.

When communication networks are used for transmission, contraints are used to ensure adequate video and audio at the receiving end. Constant upgrading must be done to ensure that communication networks have the proper capabilities for multimedia communication. For an example of a multivendor, multiplatform, multiprotocol network click on the button.

Multimedia networks all come under four different types of networks: local area networks, the Internet, telephone company (Telco) networks and cable TV networks. Local area networks are typically used to connect local computers and other equipment such as printers. The Internet connects the local area networks together. Wide area networks provided by the Telcos, offer voice, video and data services. A new generation of networks and protocols is emerging for LANs, WANs and the Internet: for example, the (ATM/BISDN) asynchronous transfer mode/broadband integrated service and the resources reservation protocol (RSVP) for reserving the bandwidth necessary for multimedia communication through the Internet. BISDN and WAN technology that is based on the use of ATM switches in synchronous optical networks (SONET), which consist of high-bandwidth fiber links.