Introduction

Interactive Authoring Systems

Interactive authoring systems allow a multimedia creator to design and create interactive multimedia that seamlessly integrates a variety of media. It also tends to emphasize dynamic media including animation, sound and video. A few years ago, all the multimedia work was designed to stand alone and be delivered on either floppy disk or CD ROM. Recently with the proliferation and popularity of the web these systems have adapted use the web as another delivery method.

Fundamentals

The first issue that must be dealt with and understood with any authoring tool is its metaphor. HyperCard and Director use quite different metaphors but can be used to create works that look very similar. I will compare the two to point out useful disctinctions. HyperCard was one of the first tools of its kind available. It is based on the file card metaphor. A HyperCard file is called a stack. The idea is that you have a stack of cards that you can flip through. HyperCard stays still by default. You have to click on a button to go to another card. Director has its roots in two-dimensional animation. It uses ideas like score, stage and cast. A Director file is called a movie and contains a number of frames. Director is moving by default. You have to tell it to stop or jump to different parts of the score.

Tools

This course uses Macromedia's Director but there are many other interactive authoring tools available. Here are some links to info about other systems:

Valid for Fall/Winter 2003-2004

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Last modified on 14-Nov-03 at 9:28 AM.