These two major activities have generated a synergy that makes California the center for multimedia. Using the sum of the SIC codes above, an estimate can be made of multimedia-related activities in the state. California is home to more than 16 percent of the nation s multimedia establishments and 21 percent of the employment. The big leaders are motion pictures and computers with 42 percent and 29 percent, respectively, of the nation s total multimedia firms. California also builds the satellites to send information around the world, and to receive the data on home satellite dishes.
Employment is more difficult to determine.
All of the industries listed previously employ a combined total of about 580,000 people. However, these industries vary as to multimedia activity. Manufacturing of prepackaged software, home satellite antennas, and computers, including peripherals, have an especially large California representation and are highly influenced by the multimedia industry. Major Users of California Products Everyone with a CD-ROM computer game or access to the Internet is enjoying the benefits of multimedia. Movie producers use multimedia capabilities to create computer-generated special effects.