Tracing the fertile and fascinating series of collaborations between arts and sciences throughout the 20th century, Randall Packer and Ken Jordan present the often overlooked history behind multimedia - the interfaces, links and interactivity we all take for granted today. They bring together a collection of the groundbreaking visions of scientists like Vanneva Bush, Douglas Englebart and Norbert Wiener, and artists like John Cage, Nam June Paik and William Gibson. Their explanations of the core concepts behind multimedia provide historical context for modern technology.