The Institute for Multimedia Applications (IMA) is a resource center for computer visualization, animation and multimedia integration. It provides a facility where students, faculty, and staff interact with state-of-the-art technology to create new products, procedures and applications. IMA's focus areas are scientific and engineering research, education and entertainment technology.

IMA suppports many Howard University (HU) technical initiatives. Projects have included software development for Boeing, SAIC and the U.S. Air Force. Students involved in these projects gain invaluable practical experience. Many have since accepted positions at major corporations such as Hewlett-Packard, Motorola and Tandem. Other former students attend competitive graduate schools including the University of Southern California, School for the Visual Arts (New York City) and University of Maryland. A few enterprising students have even started their own businesses.

Software from Adobe and Alias|Wavefront is used to teach the students in the animation and multimedia courses taught in the IMA. The Howard University Bridge Building team was able to garner first place in the 1997 regional competition after using the I-DEAS software, available in IMA, to design their entry. This software was also used by the HU Solar Car team. Other credits include developing the web sites of the university's radio station, WHUR, and the campus newspaper, The Hilltop. IMA also regularly sponsors multimedia demonstrations for Washington area grade school children.

• Increase the quantity and quality of multimedia applications in Howard University research, education and administration.

• Provide students, faculty and staff access to state of the art multimedia technology.

• Promote and perform multimedia research and application development among academia, government and industry.