The Power of Sound

Without a doubt, sound attracts attention. Sound can provide the listening pleasure of music for a mood setting background, special effects, or a human voice for direction or narration. For example, if one is developing an electronic brochure to promote a product or service, simple sound effects can easily be used to draw attention to various aspects of the electronic brochure.

For more complex projects, voice-overs and music add depth, making the multimedia presentation more enjoyable for the user. The most important factor to consider: will sound add to the effectiveness of the message or information? When considering whether or not to add sound to a multimedia project, Boyle suggests some general guidelines for the process. Keep the segments "short, manageable, integrated, and complementary to the text" (Boyle 173).

Horton cautions to consider the needs of hearing-impaired users, using sound where appropriate. He reminds the communicator never to rely on sound alone to communicate critical information (1996:305).

"How you use the power of sound can make the difference between an ordinary multimedia presentation and a professionally spectacular one" (Vaughan 239).