Multimedia-based delivery of research findings

This paper describes the use of multimedia technology to deliver the results of a study to investigate whether investments in R&D could have significant impact in either reducing the cost and/or enhancing the effectiveness of manufacturing assembly. The electronics assembly area is specifically considered and opportunities for R&D investment are presented. We use extensive graphics, sound, and animation in a multimedia software system to explain the findings of this research to audiences with widely varied backgrounds. We describe how this approach to research documentation is effectively used to convey complex, interrelated concepts that are uncovered during a research effort by concurrently building the delivery system with the ongoing research. We envision the use of this technology as an improvement on the conventional technical report and describe our experience with the technology.