The interactive storyboard allows a designer to lay out the link structure connecting distinct pieces of an interactive new media work (Redmond & Sweeny 1995, Kristof & Satran 1995, Crawford 2000). Interactive storyboards are used in many screen and page based environments, but are useful wherever the content can be isolated in logical chunks. In fact, it is difficult for the interactive storyboard to accommodate much else. Works that are planned using this technique can be written in many languages or environments, but they are often presented using the web, HyperCard, hypertext systems, Macromedia’s Authorware, or Director. The distinguishing features of the interactive storyboard are: pictures or descriptions of the contents of each page/screen/chunk (a node) and lines representing links between nodes. Take for example this set of personal home pages.

Structural Map

In the Structural Map illustration, each word, phrase or number represents a web page. The small arrows show the specific links between pages. A link from one page to another implies there is a hypertext link on a page that opens the page at the end of the arrow. Since the pages in this site use frames, some links are available no matter which page is being viewed. The large arrows represent the ability to reach pages from anywhere in the site. In this relatively small example, we can see some of the common low-level forms that exist in this type of interactive new media object. Perhaps the most fundamental form is the linear form, illustrated in the journal and artwork sections. Here, one moves forward and backward in a linear arrangement of pages.

Linear Structure

The second example is essentially a hierarchy or tree structure. In this structure one moves from a central starting point to lower levels within the structure.

Hierarchical Structure

Any interactive new media object of any substantial size will exhibit a combination of structures. The web site that is this thesis is primarily a web structure, since the reader has the option to move to any major section at any time.

Thesis Structure

This thesis is primarily a web structure because, initially, all subsections are hidden and, therefore, unavailable. Once one views a section that contains subsections, the subsections are visible.

The existence of the interactive storyboard as the standard for planning many types of interactive new media work evolves from the prevalence of discrete metaphors in interactive multimedia authoring environments such as the web, HyperCard, and SuperCard. Built into many multimedia systems is the ability to link one chunk to another. HyperCard, one of the first multimedia authoring systems, uses a file card metaphor and hence relies on being able to parcel and package chunks of information. On the web, pages are linked together through hypertext (or image) links. Macromedia Director allows the links between sections or chunks to be more fluid, using animation techniques, but continues to rely on discrete sections. Many of these systems are oriented explicitly towards creating information-based products. What is difficult for the discrete storyboard paradigm to accommodate, let alone embrace, is a work that is constantly flowing and changing.