Oman College of Management and
Technology
Course 503407 – MM
Multimedia Authoring
Programs
CS/MIS Department
Multimedia Authoring Programs
Create multimedia titles
Produce content w/paint, text & animation tools
Design screen layout
Create interactivity
Incorporate text, sound, video, animation & graphics
Create hyperlinks
Multimedia Uses
Multimedia Presentations
One-way, linear communication process
Similar to slide show
Stand-Alone Applications
One-on-one situations
User control – view & review selections
hyper linking
How Authoring Systems Work?
Metaphor Used
Electronic Slide Shows
Card Stack and Book Metaphor
Icon-based Authoring Programs
Time-based Authoring Programs
Electronic Slide Show Metaphor
Show slides one at a time
Similar to overhead transparencies or 35mm slides
Intuitive (simple) systems
Can include multimedia elements and hyperhyper-linking
Example: Microsoft PowerPoint
Advantages
Easy to learn & use
Inexpensive
Provide templates
Cross-platform capability
Can play on systems without the software
Electronic Slide Show Metaphor
Disadvantages
Linear
Non-interactive nature
Not attractive for interactive titles
Delivery
Self-running (through kiosk)
Distributed on CD to users
Played from Internet
Can supplement Web-based lectures
Microsoft PowerPoint Terms
Presentation
Slide
Objects
Development environment
Microsoft PowerPoint Features
Design templates
Auto layouts
Autoshapes
Customization
Animation
Multimedia
Views: normal, outline, sorter, slide show
Card Stack and Book Metaphor
Card/page-based authoring metaphors and authoring
systems organize elements as pages of a book or a stack of
cards (Kenez, 1995). The method is best used when the
multimedia content consists of elements that should be
viewed individually. A card/paged-based authoring system
links the pages or cards into organized sequences and is well
suited for hypertext applications.
The card/page-based authoring metaphor would be
an effective means of presenting and organizing the
"points of interest" section.
Card Stack and Book Metaphor
Examples:
• HyperCard – linked cards
• ToolBook – each page is a screen
•Apple - HyperCard, Allegiant - Supercard, Microsoft FrontPage, and Asymetrix - Multimedia Toolbook.
Advantages
Easy to understand metaphor
1 screen = 1 card = 1 page
Easy to use
Provide template
Short development time
Disadvantages
Some run only on one
platform
Tools not as powerful as
equiv. stand-alones
Hypercard Authoring Program
Developed in 1987 on Apple computers
Develop cards with different elements
associated with them
Put cards in stacks
Link the cards with buttons to jump to a
different card
HyperStudio is a more recent version
Toolbook Authoring Program
Based on a book metaphor
Author level creates the title
Reader level interacts with the program
Developed by Asymetrix
Easy to use
Toolbook Terms
Book
Page
Object
Properties
Toolbook Features
Template
Animation editor
Media Player
Coach
Catalog
OpenScript
Distribution
IconIcon-based Authoring Programs
The icon/flow-based authoring metaphor provides the
multimedia developer with a visual programming technique for
sequencing multimedia events (Lopuck, 1996). The icons used
represent graphics, audio files, animations, and text. Icon-based
authoring systems provide the fastest development method.
They are best suited for rapid prototyping and rush projects.
The icon palette is the core of the paradigm.
An icon/flow-based authoring metaphor and development tool
such as Authorware would be an excellent choice to develop a
prototype
IconIcon-based Authoring Programs
Authorware – uses symbols
in a flowchart scheme
Example: Macromedia Authorware, Aimtech IconAuthor, and HSC InterActive.
Advantages
Easy to see structure, flow and
branching
Easy to edit and update
Disadvantages
Less intuitive
Difficult to learn
Macromedia Authorware Terms
Application
Design Window
Presentation window
Flowchart
Flowline
Icons
Knowledge objects
Macromedia Authorware Features
Drag and drop
Text and graphics editing
Text search and spell check
Knowledge Object wizard
Path animation
Data tracking
Packaging
Web packager
TimeTime-based Authoring Programs
Uses a movie metaphor
Plays movie until an action causes it to stop or pause
Allows branching to another part of movie
User has control
The time-based authoring metaphor and Director 8 would
be appropriate to use for the introduction and conclusion .
TimeTime-based Authoring Programs
Macromedia Director - movie metaphor
Example: Macromedia - Director 8 and Adobe -
Premiere.
Advantages
Good for creating animation
Branching, user control,
interactivity
Disadvantages
Expensive
Steep learning curve
for advanced features
Macromedia Director Terms
Movie
Stage Window
Score Window
Cast Window
Cast Members
Sprite
Channel
Frames
Macromedia Director Features
Animation
Property inspector window
Paint window
Cast manager
Projector
File format support
Multi-user support
Web delivery
Programming Languages
Creates programming code
C++ (most popular)
Visual Basic
Perl
Java (Web)
JavaScript (Web)
Programming Languages
Advantages:
– Flexibility
– Lets you tailor the application
– Ability to run on different platforms
Disadvantages:
– Not specifically designed to create multimedia applications
– More difficult and timetime-consuming
Programming Languages
Examples:
Toolbook
to handle buttonClick
Flip 4 pages
end buttonClick
Buttons (action to take if user clicks on it)
Developer would select the correct button on the screen and
create this script
Java Language
Developed by Sun Microsystems
Capability of being cross-platform
Can create animations and search databases
Can extend functionality of HTML with Java applets
Java Applets
Small programs developed for a specific purpose
Can be shared with other applications, especially on the Web
Downloaded to user machine from Web server
Can create your own if you are an expert
Custom codes available from:
User groups and Free From the Web
Sun Microsystems & other developers
Third-party developers
Java Script
Scripting language for Web interactivity
Mouse rollovers
Can interact with a Java applet
JavaScript creates dialog box
User enters text
Java applet checks the text and modifies the font to fit on the
screen
Common Gateway Interface
CGI is a specification for programming languages
Programs run on the server
Can obtain and return information to the user
Example: Web searches
HTML
Standard for creating web pages
Markup (not programming) language
Uses tags to mark elements
Browser interprets these tags to display the web page
More limited than programming languages
Cannot create multimedia applications, but can
incorporate these elements into web pages
Scripting Languages
Programming languages that create scripts
A script is program code for a specific task
Example:
Authoring Programs and Scripting
Authoring program creates programming code automatically
Authoring program has its own scripting language for
Accessing external media (CD-ROM)
Creating interaction
Controlling speed of animation, etc.
if rollOver(5)
rollOver(5) then
put “Roadster” into field
“Message”
end if
Macromedia Director’s Lingo Rollover Example
Choosing Authoring System
Based on:
Target playback system
Desired features
Development timeline
Budget
Developer’s expertise