CMPD 434 MULTIMEDIA AUTHORING Chapter 06 Multimedia Authoring Process IV

Objective At the end of this chapter, students should be able to: Understand Basic Non-linear programs, introduction to: Decision-based branching Use of Variables and Functions Hypertext Links Scripting Explain about packaging multimedia for distribution

Basic Non-Linear Program Simple Branching Ability to jump to any part of the product Eg:- by mouse click, keyboard input Decision Based Branching Ability to jump to any part of products if agreed to certain condition (statement IF-THEN) Structured Language complex programming to enable the interactivity and navigation

Decision Based Branching Iconic Authoring systems use icons to control the flow between different elements of a presentation or an interactive product. The icon-based authoring system are more complex because they also incorporating decision based branching. This allow the person who is interacting with the output of the authoring system to branch to other components.

Use of Variables and Functions with Scripting Language Examples: Flash ActionScript, Director Lingo, Javascript Very-high-level programming languages Advantage: easier for non-programmer to learn because the syntax and keywords are close to human languages Disadvantages: Not as full-fledged as programming languages such as C++, Java, and FORTRAN Don't have the features to let the programmer to control low level details, such as memory allocation

Programming Languages low level high levelProgramming languages that look more like human language. Easy for human to read and write, but require more "translation" behind the scenes to be understandable to the computer. e.g. C++, Java, FORTRAN lowest level: Machine language: a programming language that communicates with a computer through 0's and 1's Assembly language Multimedia authoring scripting languages, such as Flash Actionscript and Director Lingo are often the highest level.

Syntax prescribes the ways in which statements must be written in order for them to be understood by the computer like the rules of grammar and punctuation in human languages, but these rules must be followed precisely in computer programming for examples, for ActionScript (Flash): case sensitive each statement ends with a semi-colon(;) the naming of variables and functions has to start with a letter, _ or $

Lingo Syntax

Hypertext Although the term "hypertext" is relatively new to many of us, it was actually coined in 1965 and an article predicting hypertext was published in Hypertext is nonlinear or non-sequential text, there is no single order that determines the sequence in which the text is to be read. That is, the text is organized so that one can easily jump around from topic to topic.

Hypertext Basic elements of hypertext, which are as follows: Nodes - collection of data organized around a specific topic and related or linked to another body of information Links - information embedded in a node that connects it in some way to another node Annotations - special link type is the annotation link to a small, additional amount of information Buttons - visual representation of a link in a node Editors - is the part of the hypertext systems that enables a user to create a node and link it into the network Browsers - A hypertext browser is a program or subprogram that can display a diagram of a network of nodes Trails - A trial is a record of the nodes that a user has accessed in viewing a hypertext network Built-in programming languages - Some hypertext systems have built-in programming languages, so one can customize the system to fit one's specific needs.

Lingo Scripting Lingo is a programming language contained in Director. It is an Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) language which means that programming code is divided into self-contained units. Each unit (object) performs a specific function which can be used (called) in various contexts. An object acts as a simple machine in an assembly line which waits for an input message, does something and then outputs a result. The modular nature of scripting in Lingo means that scripts can be placed/attached to various elements at different hierarchies: Sprite cast members Frame movie

Lingo Elements and Concepts The Lingo scripting language is composed of various elements that can be defined according to their functions in programming; Commands - a word or combination of words that implies an action pause go to Arguments - information each command needs to carry out an action. go to [which frame?] Keywords - specific word used to define a fixed element or concept member sprite the Frame These 3 elements establish a grammar on which to base scripting. Further concepts include functions (that determine the status and condition of something), handlers, properties (variable parameters of an elements such as its color or size), variables and operators.

Distribution Once a computer-based multimedia program has been created, there are many ways to distribute the final product. The distribution method you choose should be based on the content and who will be using the application. Common distribution methods include: CD-ROM - Many multimedia applications are so large that CD-ROM is the most efficient way to distribute the files needed. Using CD-ROM allows you to include large amounts of data, and provides quick access to the material. DVD - DVD stands for "Digital Versatile Disc". It is a next generation Compact Disc format that provides increased storage capacity and performance, especially for video and multimedia applications. A DVD is the same size as a Compact Disc but holds up to 25 times more data and is up to 9 times faster. This increased capacity allows DVD to store high-quality video as well as higher- than-CD-quality audio. The most basic DVD will hold over 4.7 G Bytes.

Distribution World Wide Web - Using the Web you can easily reach a large audience with your content. You can include large amounts of data, but the access time can vary due to varying connection speeds. Because of this, it is harder to include data-intensive multimedia, such as video and sound files. Computer - Many authoring programs will generate a self-contained file that includes all of the elements in your program, and can be run on any computer. For example, PowerPoint and Director both generate "show" or "projector" files. This method generally allows you include large amounts of data, and also provides quick access to the material.