Interactive Media Authoring

Unit 60 Assignment 1

What is Multimedia
Multimedia is media that utilizes a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as
a noun (a medium with multiple content forms) or as an adjective describing a medium as having
multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which only utilize traditional forms of
printed or hand-produced text and still graphics. In general, multimedia includes a combination of
text, audio, still images, animation, video, and interactivity content forms.

Audio

Video

Text
Interactivity

Still
Images

Animation

Multimedia Authoring (Definition)

Multimedia authoring (sometimes called authoring software) is software specifically designed to
help you create a multimedia application. Multimedia is the simultaneous presentation of
information through many forms of media that you can control. Multimedia authoring is the process
of adding graphics and interactive content to an audiovisual DVD. This will include an opening logo,
main menu page, index, or scene selection. Multimedia authoring is usually only used on
audiovisual DVDs and not on music disks. By defining the objects' relationships to each other, and
by sequencing them in an appropriate order, authors (those who use authoring tools) can produce
attractive and useful graphics applications.

Multimedia Authoring in 4 easy steps:

Create the pages you need
Add contents
Create interactivity
Distribute with a mouse click

Interactive
media
authoring tools
Definition

Planning

Multimedia Authoring
Design

Production
Development

Multimedia Authoring tools

Typically authoring tools require less technical knowledge to master and are used exclusively for
applications that present a mixture of textual, graphical and audio data. Multimedia authoring tools
are Tools for making a complete multimedia presentation where users usually have a lot of
interactive controls
Mediator 9 is a premier multimedia authoring tool that allows you to create interactive CD-ROM
presentations, dynamic HTML pages and Flash projects. Recognized for its award-winning iconbased editing, Mediator remains the leading multimedia authoring software for creating highly
professional presentations, without requiring any coding or scripting..

Multimedia Authoring Programmes,

Create multimedia
Produce Content w/paint, text and animation tools.
Design Screen layout.
Create interactivity.
Incorporate text, sound, video, animation and graphics.
Create Hyperlinks.
Microcosm
Question Mark
Emblaze
Creator
Flash
Flash 3.0
HyperStudio

Example of
authoring
tools

Planning &
Design
When planning and designing a multimedia
project we should think carefully about the
following,
Analysis
Determining if multimedia is
appropriate
Selecting the best media
Building the team
Idea generation
Designing multimedia components.

Development &
Production

Producing multimedia requires new tasks

. skills for technical communicators.
and
Based on the authoring program of your
choice, you need to make decisions
regarding backgrounds, organization, audio
and video, text and graphics, and
navigation. You will also make decisions
regarding media types such as text,
graphics, images, animation, sound, and
video.
Make sure that you are aware that all your
production team is in the right place at the
same time, all the equipment is available
ready for production, because if everything
apart from your camera man is there then
you cant develop your production these are
very important issues you should take into
consideration when developing or
producing a multimedia production.
Production
Collection and translating assets
Originating assets (graphic, sound, video)
Programming
Designing product packaging
Writing support materials
Action planning
Production Team (Who does what)
Scrum chart( to monitor development)

Multimedia Applications (Uses)

Multimedia applications are basically things that can either show or play multimedia, complex
computer software which typically includes visual images, short video clips, animation and sound,
often alongside large quantities of text ... for example,
Television
Multimedia can be used for
Interactive information points
entertainment, corporate presentations,
Games consoles.
education, training, simulations, digital
Music players
publications, museum exhibits and so
World Wide Web
much more. With the advent multimedia
authoring applications like Flash,
Hypermedia courseware
Shockwave and Director amongst a host
Video conferencing
of other equally enchanting applications,
Video-on-demand
your multimedia end product is only
Interactive TV
limited by your imagination.
Groupware
Home shopping
Games
Virtual reality
Digital video editing and production systems
Multimedia Database systems

Presentations

Marketing

Product
catalogues

Entertainment

Documentation

Multimedia Applications
Assessment

Game
s
Education

Computer-based
training

Multimedia application in entertainment

The field of entertainment uses multimedia extensively. One of the earliest
applications of multimedia was for games. Multimedia made possible innovative and
interactive games that greatly enhanced the learning experience. Games could come
alive with sounds and animated graphics.
Multimedia application in presentations
Multimedia presentations are a great way to introduce new concepts or explain a new
technology. In companies, this reduces the Design and Training time of multimedia.
Individuals find it easy to understand and use.
Multimedia application in Product catalogue
The company Logicom has produced various database driven catalogue applications.
These enable users to access product information by either selecting from tree-type
menus, or performing a search on the content. These products utilise Logicom's high
quality interface design for CD-ROM and DVD, delivering a rewarding and fast user
experience.

Multimedia application in Education

For this section I found an example of this on out own intranet in college, they offer
assignment help in text format, video format and also in some cases voice format.

Multimedia application in Computer-Based training

computer based training services include training, assessment, content design,
programming and implementation are the core in which ICS learning groups are now
offering. They pay attention to your particular learning objectives, technical
requirements and business environment to ensure that the software will deliver on all
fronts. Computer based training covers the following,
Software Simulation
Manufacturing Processes
Medical and Continuing Medical Education
IT Security Awareness
Professional Certification
Sales Training
Pharmacy Competence Assessment
Financial Systems
Multimedia application in marketing
These are some of the key point in marketing a multimedia application,

Strategic & Tactical Consultancy

Corporate Identity

Tone of Voice / Copy

Company Literature

Design & Print Services

Corporate Presentation

Corporate Video Production

Voice Over / Narration

Interactive CD ROM / DVD Authoring

Website & Intranet

3D Visualization & Animation

Exhibition / Conference

Music Composition

CD/DVD
ROM
Information
Kiosks

Web

Multimedia Format
Handheld
devices

Presentations

Interactive
TV

Multimedia Format

CD ROMs
Engaging sales and marketing tools.
Interactive training and education solutions.
Playable on PCs and Macs.
Easy to replicate and inexpensive to ship.
DVDs
Excellent for lengthy, high-quality video programs
A great alternative to laserdiscs and looped videotapes used for tradeshows, museums, and
kiosks.
Kiosks
Perfect for Point-of-Sale encounters.
Excellent sources of info at airports, trade shows, store and business lobbies, and museum
exhibits.
Displays products, promotes services, and engages customers.
Digital Presentations

Dynamic sales and marketing tools.

Assist presenters with providing consistent messages.
More than a PowerPoint presentation - they can include custom graphics, video, multiple audio
tracks, complex 3D animations, web site links, multiple menus, and more.

Interactive TV
Interactive television describes a number of techniques which allow viewers to
interact with television content as they view it. An example of a company that
does this is MX telecom, MX provides its customers with unified interfaces to the
full spectrum of modern telecommunication, from SMS and MMS to Voice and
Video. For those wishing to couple the interactive potential of these gateway
platforms with the unique medium of television, MX Telecom offers the MX
telecom interactive television platform.

Hand held Devices

A mobile device (also known as converged
device, handheld device, handheld computer,
"Palmtop" or simply handheld) is a pocketsized computing device, typically comprising a
small visual display screen for user output
and a miniature keyboard or touch screen for
user input.
HHCD are smaller than portable PCs. This
makes it easy to carry around and fits well
into ones' pocket.
Users need less paper. Users can write on the
HHCD or make sketches, and transmit this
data onto a PC at a later time.

Interactive Multimedia can be

used for

Structured sales messages designed for low cost mail shot, helping sales
reps introduce your company or to close deals.
Digital brochures that speak and create exciting experiences that people
will genuinely enjoy receiving
Interactive business and top corporate presentations designed to inform
and impress
Interactive training packages to replace old CBTs, or where intranet access
is not available

How does Multimedia compare to

the alternatives ?

It offers the power of persuasive presentations and professional training

packages.
It makes audiences react by involving them.
Audiences learn. They appreciate what you have to tell them, and they
remember it.
Research shows that by combining sight and sound retention of
information is doubled.

Text

Sound

Video

Multimedia Assets
Vector
Graphics

Image
s
Animation
s

Multimedia Assets
In multimedia, multimedia media assets are various components such as text, still images, and
video these are all defined as assets, each asset has its own standard format, and trade-offs in size
and quantity. Documents which include these such assets are called hyperdocuments.

Multimedia media assets in sound

The MIDI Format.
The RealAudio Format.
The AU Format.
The AIFF Format.
The WAVE Format.
The MP3 Format. (MPEG)
The SND Format.

Multimedia media assets in Video

The AVI Format.
The Windows Media Format.
The QuickTime Format.
The RealVideo Format.
The Shockwave (Flash) Format.
The MPEG format.

Multimedia Assets in animation

2D animation

Analog computer
animation

Flash animation

PowerPoint
animation

3D animation

Cel-shaded animation.

Morph target animation.

Skeletal animation.

Motion capture.

Crowd simulation.

Multimedia Assets in Text

Text is the most widely used and flexible means of presenting information on screen and
conveying ideas. The designer should not necessarily try to replace textual elements with pictures
or sound, but should consider how to present text in an acceptable way and supplementing it with
other media. Conventional upper and lower case text should be used for the presentation since
reading is faster compared to all upper case text.
All upper case can be used if a text item has to attract attention as in warnings and alarm
messages.

The length of text lines should be no longer than around 60 characters to achieve optimal reading
speed.

Only one third of a display should be filled with text.

Proportional spacing and ragged lines also minimises unpleasant visual effects.

12 point text is the practical minimum to adopt for PC based screens, with the use of 14 point or
higher for screens of poorer resolution than a normal desktop PC

If the users do not have their vision corrected for VDU use e.g. the public. It is recommended that
text of 16 point is preferred if it is to be usable by people with visual impairments.

Sentences should be short and concise and not be split over pages.

Multimedia Assets in
Vector Graphics

Vector graphics (also called geometric modeling or object-oriented graphics) is the use of
geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and polygons, which are all based upon
mathematical equations to represent images in computer graphics.
Vector graphic (image) file extensions
EPS
AI
FLA

Events

Hotspots

Scripting

Buttons

Multimedia Interactivity and

control
Timeline
s

Effects
Slideshow
s

Multimedia Assets in Images

Things to think about when we use images in our multimedia projects/documents ETC,

Copyright of the image

Cost of what the image would be for you to use.

Cost of the image you would sell to third parties.

File size of the image.

Image placement.

Multimedia Interactivity and

Control Buttons
This control provides push buttons that issue MCI commands to supported devices. The application
should have the MCI device open before the user is allowed to push buttons. When recording audio,
open a new file to be sure that the data file is in a format compatible with the system's recording
capability. Issue the MCI Save command before closing the device to store the recording in the file.
General

DeviceType

FileName

MousePointer

Orientation

BorderStyle

Frames ETC
Controls

Button

button Enabled

button Visible
Picture

MouseIcon

Example of buttons

Multimedia Interactivity and

Control Events
Example of SVG Events

On load

On click

On activate

On mouse down

On mouse over

On mouse move

On mouse up

On mouse out

Multimedia Interactivity and Control

Hotspots
An image map is a graphic object that has many hotspots or transparent hyperlinks to other
objects or websites. For example - in a photograph showing a variety of women's clothing, if
you clicked on the dress, you would be sent to another slide or website containing all the info
about the dresses; when you clicked on the hat, you would be sent to the slide or website.
10 steps to make a hotspot,
1.
Decide Where to Place Hotspots on the Image Map
2.
Use Action Buttons to Make Hotspots on the Image Map
3.
Draw a Rectangle Around the Area That Will Be the Hotspot on the Image Map
4.
Link the Hotspot on the Image Map to a Specific Slide
5.
Select the Slide That the Hotspot Will Link To
6.
PowerPoint Action Settings Dialog Box Options
7.
Format the Image Map AutoShape to Make the Hotspot Transparent
8.
Rectangle Hotspot on the Image Map is Now Transparent
9.
Check the Hotspot on the Image Map in Slide Show View
10.
Test the Hotspot on the Image Map

Multimedia Interactivity and control

Scripting
Scripting allows you to control the movement within the multimedia product, allow you to quickly
add interactivity to your movies. A programme which allows this is Macromedia director, Scripts in
Macromedia Director MX 2004 support all kinds of functionality in movies that would not be
possible otherwise. As you write scripts, you may find the need for increasingly advanced scripts to
support complex interactivity in your Director movies.

Example of scripting

Multimedia Interactivity and Control

Timelines
The Timeline is one of the most important areas which can be compared to the editing area of the
movie set. Flash uses Timelines to plan and lay out the movie, allowing you to choose where and
when a particular object starts, how long it runs, and where and when it ends.
A timeline consists basically of blocks laid in a linear pattern - each block or frame represents a
moment in time. Just like the frames in a movie reel, only laid out flat for you to work with. The
major components of the Timeline are layers, frames, and the playhead. Special frames called key
frames mark significant changes in the timeline. Key frames are used to designate a special effect
such as a motion change, morphing, a change in scenery or alpha blending. A key frame span have
a light-gray background and consist of a single key frame followed by one or more frames of
identical content.

Multimedia Interactivity and Control

Slideshows
Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the most popular tools for creating slide show presentations. It is
a popular way to organize thoughts for a meeting or lesson, to attractively present key points in
a live presentation, and even to create handouts. Even though PowerPoint files are normally
used in live presentations, they are extremely common on the web. For example, teachers may
use them to organize lesson plans, or online conference proceedings might link to the files used
during keynotes and workshops.

There are three main ways to deploy a slide show presentation on the web:
Post the original PowerPoint (PPT) file.
Convert the original file to HTML and provide this in addition to or instead of the PowerPoint file.
Create an original slide show in HTML.

Advantages of PowerPoint to create slideshows,

1. enhances the level of learning, enjoyment, and excitement in the classroom.
2. offers teachers a new way of presenting information to the students.
3. stimulates students.
4. gives an alternative to overheads, easels, and blackboards.

Multimedia Interactivity and Control

Effects

There are many effects which can be used to create various presentations and projects
for example the software Adobe Photoshop has many effects,
Neon Glow.
outer glow.
linear burn.
Lighting effects.
Wind.
luminosity.
Fibres ETC.

And much more, all the effects give a professional and more pronoun feeling and look to the
product.

Download
Time

Size

Type of
content

Limitations of Multimedia
Requirement for
plugins

Limitations of Multimedia
Limitations in size
In multimedia there are all kinds of
limitations which cause us to change
the size of our multimedia
component for example when we try
and transfer a component to a USB
drive if the size is left is limited
transfer will not take place, this is
imitating us to how much can be
transferred, the alternative to this is
to change the size of the component
or purchase a bigger USB.

Limitations in type of content

again this is quite simple depending
on the type of content you want to
download it may be accepted for
example, in a school they have
blocks which prevent children
download obscene content from the
internet, and because of the blocks
and firewall it limit's the content in
which can be downloaded.

Limitations in download time

this section is quite simple as the
download time depends on how
large the file is you are trying to
download is, for example if the file
was 5gb it would take a lot of time
to download whereas a 1gb file
would be quicker, when downloading
take in consideration the size of the
file you are downloading.

Limitations in requirement for plug-ins

plug-in (plug-in, adding, add-in, add-on,
or add-on) is a computer program that
interacts with a host application (a web
browser or an email client, for example) to
provide a certain, usually very specific,
function "on demand". Applications support
plug-in for many reasons. Some of the main
reasons include: enabling third-party
developers to create capabilities to extend an
application.