Page 154 - DCAP303_MULTIMEDIA_SYSTEMS

Multimedia Systems

notes The main features of authoring software are:
• Integrated multimedia elements
• Script language programs
• Icon based programs
• DLLs for extending features
• Supporting CD-ROM or laser disc sources
• Supporting video for windows
• Hypertext

• Cross-platform capability
• Runtime player for distribution
integrating Multimedia elements
It is essential for authoring software to support a wide area of format with different media elements.
The final feature of authoring is to build interactivity.
• Authoring programs provide developers with a greater degree of control over each
multimedia element than presentation programs.
• Authoring programs are geared towards education and training applications, as well as
business presentations.
script Language programs
Authoring software offers the ability to write scripts for software to build features that are not
supported by the software itself. Script language programs create multimedia presentations from
a series of programming style commands linked together in a word processing typescript.

The scripting languages are closest in form to traditional programming. The scripting language
specifies (by filename) multimedia elements, sequencing, hotspots, synchronization, etc. A
powerful, object-oriented scripting language is presently available with many authoring systems.
In such languages, the program editing of elements (still graphics, video, audio, etc.) tends to be
minimal or non-existent. The scripting takes longer time in development (it takes longer to code
an individual interaction), but generally allow more powerful interactivity. Since most scripting
languages are interpreted, instead of compiled, the runtime speed gains over other authoring
methods are minimal. However, it supports better and more complex media interactivity. The
script language programs are powerful programs but can be difficult to learn. These programs
are not readily transported to other hardware platforms.
icon-based programs
Although a multimedia project is a big task; makers of authoring software try to make it easy by
using graphical icons as the control features of the authoring package program.
The main features of icon-based programs are:

l Icon-based programs are easier to learn than scripting programs:
l Editing individual elements in a presentation requires only clicking on its icon. Icon-
based authoring programs are object oriented development programs where individual
multimedia elements are represented by icons rather than script commands.
This tends to be the fastest (in development time) authoring style. Such programs are best suited
for rapid prototyping and short-development time projects. Many of these tools are also optimized
for developing Computer-based Training (CBT). The core of such programs is the Icon Palette,

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