Multimedia Authoring Tools

1
Multimedia Authoring Tools

• Jon Ivins
• DMU

2
Objects

• Most modern software uses object-oriented
  technology
• Objects have
• pre-defined properties
• pre-defined behaviors
• are either a sub-set or a super-set of other
  objects
• inherit properties and behaviors from the
  super-set

3
Commercial Packages

• Astound
• Authorware
• Mediaview
• ToolBook
• Director
• There is no one package that is suitable for all
  development work

4
Metaphors

• Each is based on a metaphor
• Astound - Slide show
• Authorware - Flowcharts
• Mediaview - Hypertext
• ToolBook - Book
• Director - Movie

5
ToolBook

• Produced by Asymetrix
• Conceptually easy to understand
• Has a library of basic behaviors i.e.
  mouse_click, transitions, etc
• Has its own programming language OpenScript
• Easy to learn OpenScript
• Will import a variety of different types of media

6
ToolBook

• Easy to modify initial design
• Flexible, many layers on each page
• Very good for CBT applications, marking and
  assessment
• Interpreted
• Not suitable for fast games
• Can be exported as HTML but not very web-friendly

7
See image toolbook1.gif
8
Director

• Produced by Macromedia
• Conceptually harder to understand - prior
  planning is a must
• Has a library of basic behaviors i.e.
  mouse_click, transitions, etc
• Has its own programming language Lingo
• Easy (ish) to learn Lingo
• Will import a variety of different types of media

9
Director

• Not easy to modify initial design
• Interactions and events can be synchronized
• Not suited for CBT applications, marking and
  assessment
• Not suited for applications with a large amount
  of text
• Very web-friendly - supports streaming etc

10
See image director1.gif
11
Conclusions

• All authoring tools have their strengths and
  weaknesses
• There is no one best authoring tool
• ToolBook is ideal for book applications
• Director is ideal for web / movie applications
• Both will produce CD-ROMs