Multimedia Authoring Tools Lecture 13 By Razia Nisar

Multimedia Authoring Tools Lecture 13 By Razia Nisar Noorani

Multimedia Authoring Tools Multimedia authoring tools provide the important framework you need for organizing and editing the elements of multimedia like graphics, sounds, animations and video clips. • Authoring tools are used for designing interactivity and the user interface, for presentation your project on screen and assembling multimedia elements into a single cohesive project. •

Multimedia Authoring Tools Authoring software provides an integrated environment for binding together the content and functions of your project. • Authoring systems typically include the ability to create, edit and import specific types of data; assemble raw data into a playback sequence or cue sheet and provide structured method or language for responding to user input. •

Types of Authoring Tools � Card or page based tools �Icon based, event driven tools �Time based tools

Card or page based tools • • • In these authoring systems, elements are organized as pages of a book or a stack of cards. These tools are best used when the bulk of your content consists of elements that can be viewed individually, like the pages of a book or cards in a card file. The authoring system lets you link these pages or cards into organized sequences. You can jump, on command, to any page you wish in the structured navigation pattern. It allows you to play sound elements and launch animations and digital video.

Card or page based tools • Advantages – Easy to understand metaphore – 1 screen= 1 card= 1 page – Ease of use • Provide templates • Short development time • Disadvantages – Some run only on one platform – Tools not as powerful as equiv stand alones • Software – Hypercard

Card or page based tools

Icon based, event driven tools • • • Icon or event driven tool is the simplest and easiest authoring system. Simple branching is the ability to go to another section of multimedia production. Multimedia elements and interaction cues are organized as objects in a flow chart. Icon- base, event-driven tools simplify the organization of your project and typically display flow diagrams of activities along branching paths. In complicate structures, this charting is particularly useful during development. Flowchart can be built by dragging appropriate icons from library and then adding the contents.

Icon based, event driven tools �Advantages ◦ Clear structure ◦ Easy editing and updating �Disadvantages ◦ Difficult to learn ◦ Expensive �Softwares ◦ Authorware ◦ Icon. Author

Icon based, event driven tools

Time based tools In these authoring systems, elements and events are organized along a timeline, with resolutions as high or higher than 1/30 second. • Time based tools are best to use when you have a message with a beginning and an end. • Sequentially organized graphic frames are played back at a speed that you can set. • Other elements are triggered back at a given time or location in the sequence of events. The more powerful time based tools let you program jumps to any location in a sequence, thereby adding navigation and interactive control. •

Time based tools �Softwares ◦ Macromedia Director ◦ Flash

Macromedia Director �A multimedia database, ‘cast’, contains still images, sound files, text , shapes, script, movies and other director files. �Score is a sequencer for displaying, animating and playing Cast members. �Lingo is an object oriented scripting language that enables interactivety and programmed control.

Macromedia Director �Advantages ◦ Good for creating animation. ◦ Branching, user control interactivity �Disadvantages ◦ Expensive ◦ Steep learning curve for advance features.

Macromedia Flash �Flash is used for delivering rich multimedia contents to the web. �It allows the creation of of simples static HTML with the flash player plugin.

Macromedia Flash �Advantages ◦ Easy to put animated and interactive movies. ◦ Interactive menus �Disadvantages ◦ Increase in file size ◦ Music and sound files embedded in flash movies increase file size and increase the file size.

Top seven Authoring Tools �Adobe Captivate �Articulate Presenter �Articulate Engage �Adobe Connect �Tech. Smith Camtasia �Adobe Presenter �Harbinger Raptivity

Categories � Best Use: Can you use the product to create applications of a certain type; e. g. software simulations? � Interface: Do you use the product online or in Power. Point? Does it use wizards or a stage? � Can Insert: What media formats can you put in your e. Learning by using the tool? � Platforms: Does the application run in Windows, on a Mac, or online? � Publish to: To which formats can you publish your e. Learning? � Cost: What are the initial and update costs of the product?

End of Lecture 13