Authoring Platforms
Development Tool Categories
Authoring Program Elements
Authoring Tools
Authorware, Everest, Icon Author, ImageQ, Director, FLASH
1. “Scheduling” is done at which stage of multimedia project creation.
a) Designing
b) Planning
c) Production
d) Distribution
2. Most important element to create a balanced layout is.
a) Text Font
b) Image resolution
c) Space planning
d) Colour selection
3. The most important reason for choice of “CD” as a media to distribute a multimedia title is.
a) It is Fast.
b) It is Low cost.
c) It contains sufficient space for multimedia.
d) It is widely available.
4. “MCI” in context of multimedia for windows stands for
a) Media Control Interface
b) Multimedia Control Interface
c) Media Control for Interactivity
d) Machine Code for Interactivity
5. “SWF” type files can carry
a) Only Audio Data
b) Only Textual Data
c) Both Audio & Text Data
d) Audio, Video, Text or Animation Data
6. “PREMIERE” software from Adobe is for
a) Audio Editing
b) Word Processing
c) Video Editing
d) Programmable Multimedia Authoring.
7. Both “BMP” and “WMF”
file types are scalable in size without distortion. (
8. A movie higher than 15 frames/second is fully jerk free (TRUE/FALSE)
Making MultiMedia – How? - 1
Multiple Media Properties
· Integration of Text, Graphics, Audio, Video, Animation.
· Interactivity.
Questions?
· How to use Multiple Media?
· How to make it interactive?
Answers
· Using Authoring Platforms
· Using Programmable Authoring Platforms
· Using Generic Languages ( C, C++, Java etc.)
Making MultiMedia – How? - 2
Authoring Platforms
· Can be used by authors (Content Writers) directly with very little learning.
· Are able to combine media elements easily, but formats are usually limited.
Programmable Authoring Platforms
· Specially designed authoring languages are also used.
· Programmer and content writer work hand in hand.
· Scripts are often available for non programmers also.
Generic Languages
· Possible to plan any type of interaction as per the wish of the visualiser.
· Complex Hardware controls are also possible.
· Platform independence can be better achieved.
· Development is substantially high.
Authoring Tool Categories
Slide Presentation Environment
· One by one advance of frames in a sequence.
· Cross linking and condition based flipping usually not available.
· E.g. POWERPOINT, SCREENSAVERS
Interactive Presentation Environments
· Simple Interaction and conditional change of presentation paths are available.
· Simple Icon based environments for Non-Programmers.
· E.g. Authorware, FrontPage, Adobe PDF maker.
Authoring Environments
· Fully ICON based or script program control.
· Usually interpreted programming environments.
· Specially designed for distributable multimedia projects.
· E.g. Everest Authoring, Director, Flash, Hypercard.
Elements in an Authoring Program
Capability to smoothly integrate media elements
· Special components for various media types and formats.
Scripting for complex interactions
· Sequencing, Hotspots, Synchronisations
· Database access
· Common controls
· E.g. Lingo, ActionScript
Object Based Development
· Instancing
· Sub-Classing
· Icons of Items and actions.
·
Pre-Developed feature extension components
· DLLs, Plug-ins, Extras
· Audio, Video
· Special Effects
· Virtual Reality
Support for CD-ROM,
Direct Support for Video formats (sometime editable also)
Hypertext Capability (Hot Words)
Cross Platform Components
Distribution Components (Setup environments, Run-Time Players for e.g. Flash Player)
Updation Mechanism
Authoring Tools - Overview
Interactive application creation
Interaction
· Bi-Directional Information Flow between application and the application user.
Types
· That which rely on point and click interaction only.
· More complex interaction with scripting
New Requirements include
· Object Instancing (Everest, Flash)
· New events or Methods ( Media Verse, Oracle Media Object)
Templates for Object Styling
Handling Task Variety
· CBT Titles
· Interactive Catalogs
· Kiosks
· Web Authoring
· Database Interface
Authoring Tools – Available in Market (1)
Authorware
· From Macromedia
· Team contribution allowed ( Artist, Programmer, interface design, content writers)
· Output for Windows and MAC-OS
· ICONIC interaction with AVI, WAW, QT etc.
· RTF (Rich Text Format) imported to framework icon – Page by page conversion
· Text styling, scroll boxes.
· Variable Names Integrity.
· Timers, Flow Control, score-keepers
· CD-Playing
· Not so good for Database connectivity, order forms etc.
Everest Authoring System
· Object orientation (Instancing)
· Iconic , Direct Interface Manipulation, Procedural programming.
· Windows based development.
· Multiple application views.
· Starts from layout object for background
· Media Objects – Video – Audio – Controls (combo, list, Edit, radio, check, Bitmap, slider, gauge etc.)
· Third party modules available.
Authoring Tools – Available in Market (2)
Icon Author
· Icon based Flowcharting
· Ancillary Programs for content Management.
· Small Object Editor ( Media Objects with properties)
· Easy Pre-Built Controls.
· Easy Database Object Imports.
Image Q
· Distributable Slide Shows
· Series of background images with interface control and associated programming.
· Run-Time Implementation of controls thru code. Controls not visually arranged.
· Images are imported as reference only. They remain in files in their native format only.
· .IMQ presentation file.
· Distribution as .EXE files.
· Royality free distribution.
Macromedia Director
· Best Tool in its category
· Central Scoring window for precise timing control
· Cross platform components
· Strong and intuitive animation
· Background Stage, channels, layers, Sprites (Media Objects) , custom palettes etc.
· Special channels for frame, transition, palette, tempo, script etc.
· For windows and macintosh (binary compatible)
· Multi-format media import (formats of graphics, sound and video)
· Easy interface changing by non-programmers.
· Popular Lingo scripting. (Easy to start but grows complex as you proceed). Thus good for complex interaction also.
· Third Party Libraries available.
· Smooth Transition of Projects to Web-based Projects using shockwave files.
Authoring Tools – Available in Market (3)
FLASH
· Currently Most Popular Tool (From Macromedia).
· Supports both Bitmap and Scalable Vector Graphics.
· Produces Very Small File size.
· Suitable for Animation Based Presentation for Web also.
· Standard based Players freely available.
· Object oriented program support with Action-Script.
· Key-frame based Animation. Allows smoother animation.
· Seamless media integration with all modern media formats supported.
· Integrated vector drawing tools, suitable for most presentation requirements.
· Support for XML files.
· Rich support for third-party libraries.
· Forms Support Available in latest versions.