week 7-sarah,samuel,daniel

An authoring tool is a tool used write hypertext or multimedia applications to link different elements of multimedia together in order to create a final multimedia project or product. It is necessary in multimedia to organize and edit the elements of a multimedia project, in designing multimedia interactivity and interface, assembling multimedia elements into a single cohesive project, and presenting a project on screen.

Card or Page-based authoring tools arranges and organizes its elements as either pages of a book or as a stack of cards. These pages are linked to form organized sequences. The system is object-oriented. These objects are graphic, buttons, text fields, pages, and cards. They each have properties that are able to enhance the functionality of an application.

Icon authoring tools provides visual approach in developing multimedia applications. The user can build structures and flow charts of data by dragging the suitable icon from the pre-set “library” of authoring tools. This type of authoring tool is convenient as the user is able to develop multimedia applications without having to learn the usual programming language. Therefore it is useful in computer-based training and software assistance.

Time-based authoring tools use a visual timeline for sequencing your multimedia elements often in a multimedia presentation. It displays layers of various media elements or events alongside the scale in precise timing as precise as one second.

Object-oriented authoring systems provides an object-oriented environment whereby the objects such as images, animations, videos; texts and sounds are assigned properties. These properties respond to external events, send messages to one another while inheriting behaviour from each other.

week 7- kalai, dinesh, kokila

Authoring tools used different metaphors for sequencing and organising multimedia elements and events. On this basis they can be classified into five categories:

· card- and page-based tools

· Icon-based tools

· Time-based tools

· object-oriented tools

Card- and page-based tools

In these authoring systems, elements are organised as pages of a book or a stack of cards. The authoring system lets you link these pages or cards into organised sequences. You can jump, on command, to any page you wish to in a structured navigation pattern. Card- and page-based systems allow you to play audio, video and animations.

Some examples of card- and page-based systems include:

· HyperCard (Macintosh)

· SuperCard (Macintosh)

· ToolBook (Windows)

· Visual BASIC (Windows)

Card- and page-based systems are best suited to applications where the bulk of the content consists of elements that can be viewed individually.

Icon-based authoring tools

In these authoring systems, multimedia elements and interaction cues or events are organised as objects in a structural framework. CO32004 Multimedia Development Methods Unit 8: Multimedia Authoring Version c Page 2 ©2001 Napier University Icon based, event driven tools simplify the organisation of a project and typically display flow diagrams of activities along branching paths.

Some examples of icon-based systems include:

· Authorware Professional (Windows)

· IconAuthor (Windows)

Icon-based, event-driven systems are suited to a wide range of applications and offer a

high level of support when developing packages with complex navigation structures.

Time-based authoring tools

In these authoring systems, elements are organised along a time line with resolutions as high as 1/30th second. Sequential organised graphic frames are played back at a speed you can set. Other elements, such as audio events, are triggered at a given time or location in the sequence of events.

Some examples of time-based systems include:

· Macromedia Director (Macintosh and Windows)

· Macromedia Flash (Macintosh and Windows)

Time Based systems are best suited to applications which have a message with a beginning and an end. Some of the more powerful time based systems allow the program to jump or branch to a specific location, thereby offering interactivity and navigational control.

Object-0riented tools

In these authoring systems, multimedia elements and events become objects that live in a hierarchical order of parent and child relationships. Messages passed among these objects order them to do things according to the properties or modifiers assigned to them. Object-oriented tools are particularly useful for games that contain many components with many ‘personalities’ and for simulating real-life situations, events, and their constituent objects.

Some examples of object-oriented systems include:

· mTropolis (Macintosh/Windows)

· QuarkImmedia (Macintosh/Windows)

JAVA is also an object-oriented programming environment.

Increasingly Lingo, the scripting language used in Director is taking an object-oriented

approach.

week 7- adriel, amanda, nicole

Card or page-based authoring tools are basically the objects used in a multimedia projects like buttons, text fields, graphic objects, backgrounds, pages or cards, and even the project itself. With this tool, users are guided by objects as they each contain its own programming script that is usually descrptive of that very object. Once clicked upon by users, they are then guided and led to an event like a page that is relative to the object clicked upon. These events are usually in an order that is actually in a hierarchy. This then can be liken to when you read a book or go through a deck of cards.

One example of the usage of such a tool would be an assessment test for students. A question for example is given in the test and students are given a question that asks them to sort something in order. Students then will have to use objects and place them in the order they believe is the right answer. When they have done that, they can then move on to the next page to answer the next question.

Icon authoring tools are icon based event-tools which provides visual interaction and are organized in objects in a structural framework or process.

The tool simplifies the organization diagram and display a workflow of activities along branching points. These icons includes graphic images, sound and programming computations.

The time-based authoring tools is part of the authoring tools system and this tool is very time oriented as the elements and contents are organized along a stream of time line. This time line used come along with resolutions as high as 1/30th second.

Examples of this tool includes Macromedia Flash. The time based authoring tool allows contents along tracks that stretch across individual frames to be controlled by user; making it easier to run concurrent media.

The other authoring tool is the Object-Oriented authoring tools. This tool is very object focused as in elements and contents are organized in a hierarchical and orderly manner in the form of parent and children relationships.

This system or toll provides an environment where all subjects, elements, categories, images, etc are classified as properties and objects. An example of this tool would be Quark mTropolis. This tool is an exception from most authoring tools because there are no time lines or stack of cards to form a core authoring paradigm.

week 7- sim pin, alvin, canaan

Therre are many multimedia authoring tools on the market and these are constantly being improved and upgraded to ensure that is the latest version. Those multimedia authoring tools are included card or page-based authoring tools, icon authoring tools, time-based authoring tools and Object-Oriented authoring tools.

Card or page-baseed tools arrange elements like the pages of a book or a stack of cards. The objects which are included in card or page-based authoring tools are the buttons, text fields, graphic objects, backgrounds, page or cards, and project itself. Each object may contain programming script which is activated when an event related to that object occurs. This type of multimedia authoring tool becomes the most useful if the content of the publication can be viewed seperately as if in a card index file. It allows the user to place the pages or cards into prganised sequences which simplify the navigation routines.

Icon-based tools was a multimedia element which can show or create icon for visual programming to presenting multimedia on the stage. This function can allow user to using icon by dragging from internet or library to built structure or flowchart of tasks. After the structure has been created, it is possible to add the content such as text, graphics, animations, audio and video clips. This system also can used for button include menu choices, graphic image, title image, sound and computation.

Time-based tools use a visual timeline for for sequencing the events of multimedia presentation, often displaying layers of various media elements or events alongside the scale in increments. As a result, it is the most suitable when the publication has a linear message with a specified beginning and end. Besides, this type of multimedia authoring tool allows programming which enables the user to jump to different locations in the sequence.

Object-Oriented Tools consider the multimedia elements as objects and arrange them in a hierachical order. It is a multimedia element and events become objects that live in a hierarchical order of parent and child relationships. The function of this tools is that allow the user to have control over abstractions of the low level aspects of the resulting Web content such as the timelines, waveforms, vector-based graphic editors. These multimedia authoring tools are particularly suited for programming games which contain many components.

week 7 assessment

Write a one-page essay about the card or page-based authoring tools, icon authoring tools, time-based authoring tools and Object-Oriented authoring tools.

week 6- dinesh, kalai, kokila

Bluescreen is known as chroma key in television. Bluescreen is a term for the filmmaking technique of using an evenly-lit monochromatic background for the purpose of replacing it with a different image or scene. The term also refers to the visual effect resulting from this technique as well as the colored screen itself (although it is often not blue: for example, with greenscreen).

A chroma key is the removal of a color (or small color range) from one image to reveal another image 'behind' it. The removed color becomes transparent. This technique is also referred to as "color keying", "color-separation overlay" ("CSO") ,"greenscreen" and "bluescreen". It is commonly used for weather forecast broadcasts, where in the presenter appears to be standing in front of a large map, but in the studio it is actually a large blue or green background. A chroma key subject must not wear clothing similar in color to the chroma key color , because the clothing may be replaced with the background video. An example of intentional use of this is when an actor wears a blue covering over a part of their body to make it invisible in the final shot.

The principal subject is photographed or filmed against a background having a single color or a relatively narrow range of colors, usually in the blue or green because these colors are considered to be the furthest away from skin tone. When the phase of the chroma signal corresponds to the pre-programmed state or states associated with the desired color, the signal of the alternate background is composite and presented as the output. When the phase of the chroma signal deviates from the chosen color, the principal video is presented at the output. This process is commonly known as "keying", "keying out" or simply a "key".

Blue is generally used for both weather maps and special effects because it is complementary to human skin tone. However, in many instances, green has become the favored color because digital cameras retain more detail in the green channel and it requires less light than blue. Although green and blue are the most common, any color can be used. Occasionally, a magenta background is used.

With better imaging and hardware, many companies are avoiding the confusion often experienced by weather presenters, who must otherwise watch themselves on a monitor to see the image shown behind them, by lightly projecting a copy of the background image onto the blue/green screen. This allows the presenter to accurately point and look at the map without referring to monitors most difficult part of setting up a bluescreen or greenscreen is even lighting and the avoidance of shadow, because it is ideal to have as narrow a color range as possible being replaced. A shadow would present itself as a darker color to the camera and might not register for replacement. This can sometimes be seen in low-budget or live broadcasts where the errors cannot be manually repaired. The material being used affects the quality and ease of having it evenly lit. Materials which reflect light will be far less successful than those that do not. A plastic sheet will reflect light and have a hot spot in the center which will come out as a pale area, while the edges may be darkened. A cotton sheet will absorb more light and have a more even color range.

week 6- adriel,sarah,nicole

These days movies are not produced by just having a long cut acting shot but instead to make it interesting, people from the movie industry has since begun to use special effects to attract audiences' attention and hold it on for a very long time. By using blue screens which is known as chroma screens in television terms, these movie makers can do wonders to the effects they want to create. In the world of special effects now, chroma key allows one to film against a solid colored background and insert a desired background later. Special effects are basically any on-screen physical effect that is not done by the actor themselves. This can mean atmospheric effects such as smoke, wind, rain, haze or simulated conditions such as boiling pots, exploding cars or campfires.This also includes any movement of objects in front of camera such as falling dishes, floating furniture or breaking glass. One mundane example of the technique is the television news weatherman who on screen appears to point at a map. He is actually being recorded standing in front of a blank screen. On the sides of this screen are smaller televisions projecting a front view of the weathercaster, so they know where and when to place their hands.

Chroma Keys or Blue Screen is a term used often in the film making industry. It is a film making technique that allows the video editor to choose a color from a range of colors that become transparent. This is done by creating and using an even-lit monochromatic (having or creating only one tone of color) background to replace a different image or scene.

For example, the scene from E.T where Elliot and E.T rides on the bike that flies- blue screen is used. Although in reality there are strings attached to the bikes and other techniques are used, blue screen helps camouflage the strings attached and makes it invisible.

For blue screen technique, it is important that the lighting of the screen is absolutely even because fluctuations in intensity of lighting will cause the color or "key" to appear choppy or broken. For example, if the lighting for the E.T wasn’t set in the proper and even intensity, the strings attached to the bikes may be revealed in certain parts- causing the whole scene to be a flop.

Blue/green screens are also used in commercials as well. As commercials are becoming more animated so that they'll be able to sell their product or services, they are many things they won't be able to show without bluescreens. Directors for these commercials may want to do a commercial with a background that cannot be attained in real life, so they will describe to animators what background they want and these animators may then superimpose their background onto the bluescreen and have the actors or actressess act out their scenes. Actors would have to then imagine the background and act accordingly. Animated characters can also be put onto bluescreens by computers.

The bluescreen technique has been a most useful tool and the thing is that there are improvements yet to be made.