Multimedia : Technology Push vs. Customer Pull

Misunderstanding of multimedia in the computer industry, the confusion of consumers, and the lack of understanding of technology in the human context provide an impetus for examining and speculating on the future of multimedia. "What can a multimedia technology do ?" is not a sufficient question for consumers until we add "for whom." Both how the relevant technology is likely to develop and how human choices would be made are examined with a focus on historical trend in media technology adoption.