Subject: Multimedia System

Topic: Introduction to Multimedia

Difficulty: Hard

Multimedia Authoring Tools are also known as Author ware. It is a program that helps the author [user/programmer] write hyper text (or) multimedia application. Authoring tools usually enable a user to create a final application merely linking together. Objects such as paragraph of text, illustration (or) song can be embedded in a web page with the help of authoring tools.

Types of authoring tools

There are 3 types of authoring tools and they are as follows:

1. Card and page based tools
2. Icon based- event driven tools
3. Time based tools

Card and page based tools:

This tool provides a simple and easily understandable metaphor for organizing multimedia elements. It contains media objects such as buttons, text files and graphic objects. It provides facilities for linking objects to pages (or) cards. The software required is Hyper card and Linked card tool box.

Card-based Authoring Tools Example:

i. Hyper card

ii. ToolBook

iii. Hyper Next Studio

iv. Hyper Studio

v. PhytonCard

vi. Revolution

Advantages:

i. Easy to understand

ii. Easy to use

iii. Easy to link metaphor1=screen1=card1= page1

iv. It consumes very less time for developing an application.

Disadvantages:

i. Few applications run only on one platform.

ii. Card and page tools are not powerful as unique stand alone.