9: AUTHORING TOOLS

MMP3013
Topic Outline

What is multimedia Authoring tools.

Criteria for multimedia tools selection

Multimedia tools features

Categories of multimedia authoring tools.

AUTHORING TOOLS

Have 2 basic features:

Abilityto create and edit product.
A presentation scheme for delivering
the product.
AUTHORING TOOLS
4 perspectives :
Tool : software package that authors
multimedia products, include programming
environment, graphical presentation and
complex interactive multimedia authoring.
Product (application): result of combining
content and procedures by using multimedia
authoring tools.
Developer : programmers, multimedia
authors and designers.
End user: customer or viewer.
CRITERIA FOR MULTIMEDIA TOOL
SELECTION
Function: complete understanding of how
product work.
Content: nature volume, format and types of
data incorporated into product.
Hardware: platforms expected to run a
product, requirement for displaying or playing
media elements.
Software: s/w requirements, OS or interface,
database.
CRITERIA FOR MULTIMEDIA TOOL
SELECTION
Performance: speed and efficiency expected.
User Interface: screen layout, data
presentation, positioning of controls and visual
and auditory cues for the end user.
Database: support to large set of structured
information.
Reliability: essential within product itself.

Maintenance and Update: support for

maintenance
CRITERIA FOR MULTIMEDIA TOOL
SELECTION
Personnel skills:
Cost

Schedule: amount of time needed to

develop project.
MULTIMEDIA TOOL FEATURES

Page
Controls

Data

Execution
MULTIMEDIA TOOL FEATURES
(PAGE)
Also known as frame, stage, template,
windows.
Act as a container for other features or object
such as text or graphic content or controls such
as buttons.
Enable user to interact with the product.

Used to manage or direct sequences of events

or to collect data, manage data objects
(zooming, video control).
MULTIMEDIA TOOL FEATURES
(CONTROLS)
3 general categories :
Navigation: Button, hot spots, hypertext.
Input: text, check boxes, radio buttons,
combo list boxes.
Media controls: managing or presentation of
font graphic, audio video.
Fonts:
select type, size, bold , italic
Graphics: zoom, scroll, mark-up/edit
Audio/video: play, stop, pause, rewind, step,
volume, zoom.
MULTIMEDIA TOOL FEATURES
(DATA)
Stored as internal or external files.
Internal storage means faster data
presentation and easier transport of the
applications and data.
External storage; smaller executable programs

and faster program startup.

-Data can be modified to change the applications
without having to use the authoring tools.
MULTIMEDIA TOOL FEATURES
(DATA)
Data types: Text:
Text Stored or access
Graphic as ASCII, RTE or
Audio
others.
General types:
Video
caption, small
Liveaudio/video
string for titles,
Database
headers and text
boxes, scroll bar.
MULTIMEDIA TOOL FEATURES
(DATA)
Graphic: Audio:
Bitmap common Wave file
format used to commonly store in
minimize CD-ROM follow by
decompression AIFF and RIFF
during program because of the
operation and large number of
provide maximum these types of files
quality. on the internet.
MULTIMEDIA TOOL FEATURES
(DATA)
Video: Live audio/video:
Integratedinto
Various file format product as an
and compression external function;
standards. requires
Stored externally
specialized
hardware for
because of the file compatibility with
size. the tool and
product.
MULTIMEDIA TOOL FEATURES
(DATA)
Database:
Large sets of structured data that can
be queried or browsed; often stored in
commercial database applications.
MULTIMEDIA TOOL FEATURES
(EXECUTION)
Process that Mechanism:
control the Linear sequenced
presentations and Program
sequencing of the controlled
application. Temporal
controlled
Interactively
control.
MULTIMEDIA TOOL FEATURES
(EXECUTION)
Linear Temporal control:
sequenced: Control by timer that
Presentation
control by user. initiates event in a
predetermine order.
Program control:
Code or scripting Interactive control:
within application, - wait for user to
ctrl program
execution either select a function such
fixed or alter by as pressing button
user. before continue.
CATEGORIES OF AUTHORING TOOLS
Simple authoring tools: word processor and
presentation software.
Programming tools: enables developer to
create applications with data and controls for
basic interactivity.
Simple interactive authoring tools: enables
the developer to create applications with data
and controls for basic interactivity.
Complex interactive authoring tools: allow
developer to use programming construct to
provide a fine degree of application control.
 SIMPLE AUTHORING & DELIVERY
TOOLS
Word processors:
provide ability to
display text in
variety of font
types, sizes and
color.
Enable user to
develop very simple
presentations.
SIMPLE AUTHORING & DELIVERY
TOOLS
Graphic software: ranges from simple to
complex, include powerful paint programs.
Useful to create graphics that can be placed in
other applications but limited for complex
presentations.
SIMPLE AUTHORING & DELIVERY
TOOLS
Presentation Packages:
Provide a multiple page-based medium for text
and graphic with content delivers as a sequential
series of slides.
Also contain audio and video as embedded
objects.
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES FOR
AUTHORING
Multimedia products Disadvantages:
can be developed Programming
by assembly expertise is require
languages, C, BASIC. to create and
Advantages: maintain the product.
Languages like C Much more code is
and assembly required making long
languages very term maintenance
efficient & fast. difficult & expensive.
Easy integration with
other software.
SIMPLE INTERACTIVE AUTHORING
TOOLS
Provide critical feature of being able to
interactivity navigate through a product.
Simple refer to limited interaction available for
end user.
Useful for corporate briefings and
presentations where interactivity is used to
present complex information.
SIMPLE INTERACTIVE AUTHORING
TOOLS
Advantages: Disadvantages:
Allow to create Difficultto
WYSIWYG. integrate with
Easy to learn, other applications.
provide a number Limited to
of powerful WYSIWYG tools.
interactive
features.
Reasonable price
COMPLEX INTERACTIVE AUTHORING
TOOLS
Combine feature in simple interactive
tools with programming features.
3 categories:
Page/Card based layout
Temporal/Time based
Icon based.
PAGE/CARD BASED AUTHORING
Similar to simple interactive tools with ability to
add scripting to various objects.
If user have experience in programming this
type of tools are easy to learn and apply.
Example: Toolbook, Hypercard 2.4,
Hyperstudio, Supercard.
PAGE/CARD BASED AUTHORING
TEMPORAL/TIME BASED AUTHORING

Provide developer with ability to develop

an application that runs like a movie.
Frame are create with objects that are
sequentially played of halted to allow user
input to change the flow of the program.
TEMPORAL/TIME BASED AUTHORING

Features:
A page or display frame on which object
such as button, text or audio/video data are
placed.
An array for keeping track of pages/frames
including their sequence, timing and content.
Controller for playing stopping, stepping or
rewind a presentations.
TEMPORAL/TIME BASED AUTHORING

Advantage; ability to create complex

animation and transition.
Example: Macromedia Director, Flash
ICON BASED AUTHORING
Enables complex interaction and layering of
multimedia products.
Ability to graphically design complex

interaction for repetitive application.

Example : Macromedia Authorware
 P : Programming
W : word processor, presentation
TOOL SELECTION AND PB: Page based
TB: Time based
USE ISSUES IB : Icon based

P W PB TB IB
Easy & quick to develop, effective
for prototyping; easy to update and
modify.
Greater flexibility for development(=
better interface for end user)
Extensive training and experience
required for developers
Programming features included
Cost (1=lowest, 5=highest) 1 2 3 4 5
 Application/Product
Informal briefing or presentation
Formal briefing-classy look
Standalone kiosk
Database application, or needs to Programming languages
communicate with a database
Complex training applications
Entertainment product
Interactive page
Choice for Tool
Simple authoring &
presentation package
Simple interactive
authoring tools
Complex interactive
authoring page based
Complex interactive
authoring -icon based
Complex interactive
authoring -temporal based
Complex interactive
authoring -temporal based
Conclusion

What is authoring tool?

What is 4 perspective of authoring tool?

What is 4 general features of authoring

tool?
Give 4 categories of authoring tool.

Explain 2 from 4 categories.