Page 18 - DCAP109_GRAPHIC_TOOLS

Unit 1: Computer as a Design Tool

1.3.1 Configuration of a Multimedia Computer Notes

A good multimedia system should have a Dual Core Processor (or the one with similar
capabilities) onwards processor, at least 1GB of RAM, 320 GB onwards hard disk drive, 15 inch
onwards SVGA monitor 1Gb N-Vidia or ATI Radeon Graphics card, DVD drive, a 64-bits sound
card, keyboard, optical mouse and a 56k fax data voice modem. The combination is dependent
on the nature and contents of the multimedia project you are dealing with.

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Caution There is no set rule to define the exact hardware combination of a good multimedia
computer.

1.3.2 Integrated Design Software

Multimedia authoring tools provide the framework for organizing and editing the elements of
a multimedia project. Authoring software provides an integrated environment for combining
the content and functions of a project. It enables the developer to combine text, graphics, audio,
video, and animation into an interactive presentation/project. Authoring systems include editing
tools to create, edit, and convert multimedia elements such as animation and video clips. There
are four basic type of authoring tools, viz. Page-based tools (like Tool book), Icon-based authoring
tools (like Icon Author), and Time-based authoring tools (like Macromedia Director) and Object
Oriented tools (like Media Forge).

Notes Designers or teachers are aided by computer-based tools for Instructional Design
(ID) to perform one or more of the various activities that can be prepared according to the
ADDIE model that is the Analysis, Design, Development or production, Implementation
and Evaluation of instructional systems. The history of computer-based ID Tools is closely
associated to the history of computer-based instruction. After it was decided to use the
computer as the primary instructional medium, it was an apparent move to use the
computer not only for the delivery but also for the production of the instruction.
Consequently, authoring tools for the development or production of computer-based
instruction still dominates the research and development work in the field of ID tools.
Many of those softwares are commercially available (e.g. ToolBook, Macromedia Director,
Authorware, etc.). Currently the most popular form of computer-based instruction is
dedicated systems for authoring Web-based instruction.

Page-based tools provide a simple and easily understood metaphor for organizing multimedia
elements. It contains media objects such as buttons, text fields and graphic objects. It provides a
facility for linking objects to pages or cards. Icons or objects based authoring tool is the simplest
and easiest authoring process. Icon-based, 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. In Time based 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. Object-oriented tools organize the elements in a

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