!user
Subject: Multimedia Authoring Systems FAQ (1/3)
Date: Sun, 01 Jun 1997 20:25:07 -0400
Summary: This posting addresses the multimedia developers who monitor comp.multimedia; however, it is not a comprehensive FAQ for the newsgroup.

Archive-name: multimedia/authoring-systems
Posting-Frequency: monthly (first Sunday)
Version: 2.12
URL: http://www.tiac.net/users/jasiglar/MMASFAQ.HTML
     http://www.tiac.net/users/jasiglar/MMASFAQ.TXT

Multimedia Authoring Systems FAQ Version 2.12
1 June 1997

1.  What is an Authoring System?
2.  Why would anyone want to use an authoring system?
3.  What is an authoring paradigm?
4.  What is the Scripting paradigm?
5.  What is the Iconic/Flow Control paradigm?
6.  What is the Frame paradigm?
7.  What is the Card/Scripting paradigm?
8.  What is the Cast/Score/Scripting paradigm?
9.  What is the Hierarchical Object paradigm?
10. What is the Hypermedia Linkage paradigm?
11. What is the Tagging paradigm?
12. Can I develop all of my material in the authoring system?
13. What is the best authoring system?
14. Given that my subject matter is <>, my delivery platform is <>, and my 
    design specifies <>, which authoring system should I use?
15. What are the names of some authoring systems?
16. What print magazines deal with authoring systems?
17. What books deal with authoring systems?
18. What software titles deal with authoring systems?
19. What USENET newsgroups deal with authoring systems?
20. What Independent WebSites deal with authoring systems?



1. What is an Authoring System?

An Authoring System is a program which has pre-programmed elements for the 
development of interactive multimedia software titles.  Authoring systems vary 
widely in orientation, capabilities, and learning curve.  There is no such 
thing (at this time) as a completely point-and-click automated authoring system; 
some knowledge of heuristic thinking and algorithm design is necessary.  Whether 
you realize it or not, authoring is actually just a speeded-up form of 
programming; you don't need to know the intricacies of a programming language, 
or worse, an API, but you do need to understand how programs work.



2. Why would anyone want to use an authoring system?

It generally takes about 1/8th the time to develop an interactive multimedia 
project, such as a CBT program, in an authoring system as opposed to 
programming it in compiled code.  This means 1/8 the cost of programmer time 
and likely increased re-use of code (assuming that you pass this project's code 
to the next CBT project, and they use a similar or identical authoring system).  
However, the content creation (graphics, text, video, audio, animation, etc.) 
is not generally affected by the choice of an authoring system; any production 
time gains here result from accelerated prototyping, not from the choice of an 
authoring system over a compiled language.



3. What is an authoring paradigm?

Also known as the authoring metaphor, this is the methodology by which the 
authoring system accomplishes its task. There are various paradigms, including:

      Scripting Language
      Iconic/Flow Control
      Frame
      Card/Scripting
      Cast/Score/Scripting
      Hierarchical Object
      Hypermedia Linkage
      Tagging



4. What is the Scripting paradigm?

The Scripting paradigm is the authoring method closest in form to traditional 
programming.  The paradigm is that of a programming language, which specifies 
(by filename) multimedia elements, sequencing, hotspots, synchronization, etc.  
A powerful, object-oriented scripting language is usually the centerpiece of 
such a system; in-program editing of elements (still graphics, video, audio, 
etc.) tends to be minimal or non-existent.  Scripting languages do vary; check 
out how much the language is object-based or object-oriented.  The scripting 
paradigm tends to be longer in development time (it takes longer to code an 
individual interaction), but generally more powerful interactivity is possible.  
Since most Scripting languages are interpreted, instead of compiled, the 
runtime speed gains over other authoring methods are minimal.  The media 
handling can vary widely; check out your system with your contributing package 
formats carefully.



5. What is the Iconic/Flow Control paradigm?

This tends to be the speediest (in development time) authoring style; it is 
best suited for rapid prototyping and short-development time projects.  The 
core of the paradigm is the Icon Palette, containing the possible 
functions/interactions of a program, and the Flow Line, which shows the actual 
links between the icons.  These programs tend to be the slowest runtimes, 
because each interaction carries with it all of its possible permutations; the 
higher end packages, such as Authorware or IconAuthor, are extremely powerful 
and suffer least from runtime speed problems.



6. What is the Frame paradigm?

The Frame paradigm is similar to the Iconic/Flow Control paradigm in that it 
usually incorporates an icon palette; however, the links drawn between icons 
are conceptual and do not always represent the actual flow of the program.  
This is a very fast development system, but requires a good auto-debugging 
function, as it is visually un-debuggable.  The best of these have bundled 
compiled-language scripting, such as Quest (whose scripting language is C) or 
Apple Media Kit.



7. What is the Card/Scripting paradigm?

The Card/Scripting paradigm provides a great deal of power (via the 
incorporated scripting language) but suffers from the index-card structure.  
It is excellently suited for Hypertext applications, and supremely suited for 
navigation intensive (a la Cyan's "MYST" game) applications.  Such programs are 
easily extensible via XCMDs and DLLs; they are widely used for shareware 
applications.  The best applications allow all objects (including individual 
graphic elements) to be scripted; many entertainment applications are 
prototyped in a card/scripting system prior to compiled-language coding. 



8. What is the Cast/Score/Scripting paradigm?

The Cast/Score/Scripting paradigm uses a music score as its primary authoring 
metaphor; the synchronous elements are shown in various horizontal "tracks" 
with simultaneity shown via the vertical columns.  The true power of this 
metaphor lies in the ability to script the behavior of each of the cast members.  
The most popular member of this paradigm is Director, which is used in the 
creation of many commercial applications.  These programs are best suited for 
animation-intensive or synchronized media applications; they are easily 
extensible to handle other functions (such as hypertext) via XOBJs, XCMDs, and 
DLLs.



9. What is the Hierarchical Object paradigm?
The Hierarchical Object paradigm uses a object metaphor (like OOP) which is 
visually represented by embedded objects and iconic properties.  Although the 
learning curve is non-trivial, the visual representation of objects can make 
very complicated constructions possible.



10. What is the Hypermedia Linkage paradigm?

The Hypermedia Linkage paradigm is similar to the Frame paradigm in that it 
shows conceptual links between elements; however, it lacks the Frame paradigm's 
visual linkage metaphor.



11. What is the Tagging paradigm?

The Tagging paradigm uses tags in text files (for instance, SGML/HTML and 
WinHelp) to link pages, provide interactivity and integrate multimedia 
elements.  They tend to have limited tracking capability and are best suited 
to online reference material like dictionaries and manuals.



12. Can I develop all of my material in the authoring system?

Yes, but you probably shouldn't.  Although most packages allow you to create 
content using their in-built tools, these tend to be rudimentary when compared 
with those available in dedicated programs.  For more professional output, you 
should use software dedicated to the creation and editing of that medium, and 
then import/integrate the content into your multimedia program.  

One site which gives an excellent overview of the available tools and 
methodologies is the User Interface Design Web at 
<http://www.io.tudelft.nl/uidesign>.

Major content-development packages are likely to include:

      Paint programs for still images (photos, original digital artwork)
      Paint effects programs
      Illustration (draw) programs for still images (modeled and rendered 
         objects)
      Video digitizing/editing programs
      Video effects programs
      Audio sampling/editing programs
      Word processors (script and program text)
      Database programs
      Animation programs
      Pre-Authoring programs; to date, there's only one, 
         Allen Communications' Designer's Edge 
         <http://www.allencomm.com/p&s/software/designer/>.



13. What is the best authoring system?

This is the most impossible question you could ask.  It's like asking what's 
the best hammer -- it depends upon the job you're trying to do, and sometimes 
(like when you're working on plumbing), there is no answer.  Qualify your 
question, and there'll be a prayer of answering it.



14.  Given that my subject matter is <>, my delivery platform is <>, and my 
     design specifies <>, which authoring system should I use?

This is a question an authoring specialist can answer (just as soon as you 
fill in the blanks, and add any other qualifying data).



