IMAT - Professional Development - SIGS

The Interactive Multimedia Arts & Technologies Association (IMAT) promotes industry growth, development and education through a network of special interest groups (SIGs) which provide a forum for members and offer educational and professional development opportunities.

These monthly meetings provide New Media producers with access to vital knowledge and opportunities to network with those involved in specific areas of interactive media. SIG members receive timely information on professional development sessions, as well as surveys, reports and news that affect each area of expertise.

The SIGs are built around the interests and needs of the New Media Industry and are focused around current and emerging technologies and issues vital to creating leading edge New Media. Over the seven years the SIGS have been in existence, SIG topics have evolved to meet the needs of the new media industry. Past SIGS have included Web Publishing, Project Management, Digital Video and Audio, Cool Tools, and a Content Producer's Round Table.

Below are the current Special Interest Groups IMAT produces and supports. Each SIG is presented once a month. SIG topics change over time to reflect the real world needs of new media professionals.

Dynamic media has changed the face of the Internet and Flash animation technology has created greater visual impact than any other technology. In fact, Flash is now integrated into the latest version of all Web Browsers. The capabilities of Flash technology has grown with each version of the software.

Emerging technologies are the vanguard of growth for any new media company. Wireless technologies are changing the way people connect to the internet, has changed the face of commerce and how people and customers interact with those companies. The Wireless SIG's provide a series of in depth technical seminars lead by industry experts; to take an industry professional from the basics to the ability to build WAP web sites that will increase the value and performance of client business.

XML has been called a transformational technology and its rapid acceptance by such industry leaders as Microsoft, Sun, IBM, and Oracle has proven that XML is a sound technology and an emerging force in information technology. The XML SIG brings industry leaders from Canada and the US together to detail its usage, protocols, implementation and integration with Internet and database technologies.