ist-ch02

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

1/30

chapter

2M

ultimedia has become the mostwidely used application ofinformation and softwaretechnology. Without multimedia,very few of us would use the WorldWide Web, and DVDs wouldprobably not have replacedvideotapes for popularentertainment.

Creating multimedia products is

sometimes called authoring it is like writing a novel. Themultimedia author must planevery aspect of the productcarefully. The way that theinformation is presented is just asimportant as the informationitself. The author must make surethat the product meets all of itsobjectives and holds the attentionof the audience. In this option, wewill look at the features ofmultimedia products and theprocesses involved in theircreation.

The practical activities shown inthis chapter use standard, entry-level software packages that mostschools and individuals may havealready for developing multimedia

products. This does not prevent you from using other softwarefor the practical work whichcomplements the theory coveredin this text.

Authoring andmultimedia

2.1 Multimedia products

2.2 Multimedia data types

2.3 Designing a multimedia product

2.4 Authoring software systems

2.5 Practical skills Using

authoring systems2.6 Graphical user interface and

design principles

2.7 Scripts and storyboards

2.8 Project Creating amultimedia product

Additional content on the CD-ROM:2.9 Innovation in multimedia
http://unit2-9.pdf/

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

2/30

A student:

5.2.1 describes and appliesproblem-solving processeswhen creating solutions

5.2.2 designs, produces andevaluates appropriatesolutions to a range ofchallenging problems

5.2.3 critically analysesdecision-making processesin a range of informationand software solutions.

animationaudioauthoring toolbackgroundchartclip art

graphgraphical user

interface (GUI)graphicshyperlink hypermedia

hypertextinteractivity kiosk multimedianavigation buttonphotograph

scriptstoryboardtextthumbnail video

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

3/30

Information and Software Technology 18

Multimedia in educationMultimedia has grown totake a major role ineducation. From teachinginfants to count, to trainingairline pilots to fly and landin all weather conditions,educational multimediaproducts cover a very widerange of activities.

2.1 MMMMuuuull l l tt t t ii i i mmmmeeeedd d d ii i i aaaa pp p prr r r oooodd d d uuuucc c c tt t t ss s sMultimedia is a software application that usesdifferent media such as text, images, sounds,animation and video to deliver a message.Before computers, multimedia was limited to lms,

television and books with pictures. With these typesof media, the message is always delivered in a setorder and the user has little or no control over theway it is presented.

Computers introduced interactivity tomultimedia so that the user and the technology cancommunicate with each other. This gives the usergreater control over the multimedia presentation.As well as controlling the speed of the presentation,users can decide which items will be presented andthe order in which they will appear. This makes itpossible for a single multimedia product to meet theneeds of many different users.

Computers have also made it easier formultimedia designers to combine the differenttypes of media into a single product.CDROM and DVD multimedia products nowcontain text and graphics combined with soundrecordings, animations and video clips. Web pageseasily combine text with graphics, sounds,animations and a limited amount of video.

Three areas where multimedia technology iscommonly used are: education entertainment information.

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

4/30

Authoring and multimedia 19

Assessing multimedia productsHow do you judge the effectiveness of a multimedia product? Your answerwill depend on where the product will be used education, entertainment orinformation and its target audience (children, school students, adults,professionals or the general public).

Three questions that can be used to assess a multimedia product are:

1. Does the product meet its stated objectives? An entertainment product will fail if users find it boring. An informationproduct will fail if its target audience cannot use it to find what they want.

An education product will fail if it does not teach a topic using instructionsthat are easy to follow.

2. Does the user interface work? If the target audience gets lost or confusedby the instructions or navigation system, then the product is not usableand it has failed.

3. Is the content accurate? If the information provided does not agree withthe information from other sources, such as encyclopedias, then theproduct has failed. Accuracy is not always important in entertainmentmultimedia otherwise, computer games that included fire-breathing

dragons would be impossible!

c a n y o u ?

identify the differentmedia in multimediaproducts?

describe the areas wheremultimedia is used?

judge the effectivenessof a multimedia product?

Remember1. List the types of media

found in multimediaproducts.

2. Name three areas wheremultimedia technology isused.

3. Identify three questionsthat can be used to assessa multimedia product.

Think4. What is meant by realism

in computer games?

5. How would adding morerealism push informationand software technology totheir limits?

Multimedia in entertainment

Computer games are the mostwidely used form of multimedia inentertainment. For some people,this is the main reason for owninga computer. Computer gamingalso pushes information and

software technology to their limitsbecause of the realism that gameplayers often demand.

Multimedia in information

Multimedia is a proven andeffective way to inform peopleand even to influence thedecisions they make. Televisionadvertising is probably the bestknown example of this use ofmultimedia.
http://../technology/activities/chap02/act-02-01.doc

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

5/30


2.2 MMMMuuuull l l tt t t ii i i mmmmeeeedd d d ii i i aaaa dd d d aaaatt t t aaaa tt t t yy y y pp p peeee ss s s

All of the following data types, which are covered inthis course, can be found in multimedia products:

text and hypertext graphics and hypermedia audio animations and video.

Text and hypertextText is still our most important source ofinformation. Most of the information in this book,for example, is displayed as text. Most writtenlanguages have an alphabet of individual symbols

that we call text characters. Text also includes all thesymbols used for numbers and punctuation.Hypertext is text organised and displayed so that,

when selected (for example, when clicked with amouse), new information will be shown. Hypertextis used to link the different parts of a multimediaproduct.

Graphics and hypermediaGraphics includes photographs, drawings, chartsand screen icons. Graphics, like text, is a major

source of information. A picture or drawing can giveas much information as a page of text.The biggest problem caused by graphics is the

battle between image quality and le size. This is animportant issue for multimedia products that will bedisplayed on the Web. Web designers will normallyreduce the size and quality of their graphics so thatthey can be transmitted as quickly as possible.

Another important issue for multimedia productsis the display or graphics resolution that will be used.

Before you start, have you completed thefollowing units?

4.2 Graphic digital media and products

4.3 Audio digital media and products

4.4 Video and animation digital media andproducts

10.1 Data and information

10.4 Data sources and types

Hypertext uses text data to create links to other information.

Images displayed on the Web and directlyfrom a CD will be affected by differentproblems and decisions.

CD image

Web image

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

6/30


The last ofcial display standard for multimedia wasreleased in 1996 and is now out of date. However, acommon multimedia display format used today is800 x 600 pixels and 16.7 million colours.

Hypermedia is any display object (such as agraphic or text) that can link you to new information.Hypertext is the text version of hypermedia.

AudioAudio adds sounds, voices and music to amultimedia product and can be an important part ofany multimedia product. Voice recordings canprovide commentary for images and video clips orcan give spoken instructions to the user. Backgroundmusic may add to the appeal of a product. Specialsound effects, such as button clicks, can be used toassist a user.

Adding short sound clips to a multimedia productis not normally difcult. However, adding high-quality audio data, such as recordings of musicalperformances, will take a lot of storage space.

Animations and videoAdding video and animation to a multimediaproduct can greatly improve its appeal andeffectiveness. It will also increase the number ofproblems that the designer will have to solve. Even ashort video clip of only a few seconds can take upmegabytes of storage space.

Usually a designer will be forced to make

compromises when adding video to a multimediaproduct. Reducing the size of the video playback areato about one-quarter of the full screen size andslowing down the frame rate (frames per second) cansave an enormous amount of storage space and makeit possible to play the video on older and slowercomputer systems.

Remember

1. What is the difference between text andhypertext?

2. What is hypermedia?

Think 3. With more interesting data types available

(animation, video, audio), why is text still soimportant?

4. Why do the graphics, audio and video datatypes cause problems for multimedia?

Using a small video playback area is a common compromise whenadding video to a multimedia product.

describe the features of data used inmultimedia products?

Special sound effects
http://www.jaconline.com.au/isthttp://../technology/activities/chap02/act-02-02.doc

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

7/30


/figure 2.3.1 provided screenimage showing typical uses fortext with added labels

2.3 DDDDeeee ss s sii i i gg g gnnnnii i i nnnn gg g g aaaa mmmmuuuull l l tt t t ii i i mmmmeeeedd d d ii i i aaaa pp p prr r r oooodd d d uuuucc c c tt t t

Using data typesTo create their multimedia products, multimediadesigners combine some or all of the data types that

we have discussed in 2.2 Multimedia data types . Inthis section, we look at some of the issues that they and you need to consider when combiningtext, graphics, video, animation and audio.


2.2 Multimedia data types4.9 Displaying and distributing digital media

10.6 Data storage and function

12.3 Legal and security issues

12.4 Ethical issues

Text

Text can be used in many different ways in amultimedia product: titles to identify a page or screen, an image or a

section of text button labels to identify the purpose of a

hyperlink hypertext to link to other information bullet points to provide summaries blocks of text (paragraphs) to provide more

detailed information scrolling text boxes the most convenient way to

include a large quantity of text.

Using text in a multimedia product

Bullet point

Text block

Scrolling

Button text

Hypertext

Title

text box

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

8/30


GraphicsThere are so many different types of graphics, and somany different ways that they can be used, that caremust be taken when using this data type. Someimportant issues to consider are: backgrounds graphic designs or images that

ll the blank area of a screen. Should abackground be related to the theme of theproduct? Will the background clash with the textand other graphics?

photographs images taken with a digital orlm camera and often one of the main reasons forcreating a multimedia product. How much spacewill they need? How will they relate to other typesof data; for example, how will they be used withtext data?

thumbnails miniature versions of a large

graphic, usually a photograph, and often used ashyperlinks. Are their contents clearly visible? Willthey need text labels?

charts and graphs used to represent a set ofnumbers. They can replace a screen full ofnumbers but choose the type of chart or graphcarefully. Does it provide meaningful informationor will it confuse users? Do the colours used in achart or graph clash with the screen background?

clip art general-purpose computer graphics,

usually drawings. Clip art is available for use in awide range of different applications but it canmake a product look amateurish. Is each item ofclip art closely related to the content? Is it there toinform or entertain, or is it just lling an emptyspace?

navigation buttons graphic icons, usuallyresembling keyboard buttons, which formhyperlinks in a multimedia product. Navigationbuttons should have a consistent design andscreen position throughout the product. Do they

look like navigation buttons or decorations? Dothey stand out against the background?

Using graphics in a multimedia product

Photograph

Clip art Navigation buttons

Background

Thumbnails

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

9/30


Video and animationVideos and animations can greatly improve theappeal and effectiveness of a multimedia product.They can also cause major problems if you do notconsider the following display and distributionissues: Do the videos and animations t the theme and

goals of the product? Do they inform (in aninformation or education product) or entertain(in an entertainment product)? Do they improvethe product?

How will they be displayed? What playback areaand speed (frames per second) will be used? Willthey play reliably on older and slower systems?

How much storage space will they need? How willthis affect transmission times if distributed on theWeb?

AudioAudio can improve a multimedia product, as dovideos and animations, but you must considercarefully the following display issues before addingthis data type. Are special sound effects useful or annoying?

Adding sounds such as click noises when anavigation button is pressed can either help orannoy users. Should users be able to turn somesound effects off while leaving other sounds on?

Does the background music t the producttheme? Is it a distraction? How much storagespace or transmission time will it need?

Are the narration voice and recorded soundsclear? Do they add to the displayed information?Is the narration suitable for the target audience?Can the user stop, pause and replay therecordings?

Distributing multimedia productsMultimedia products are usually distributed on theWeb or on optical disc (either CD or DVD). Thedistribution medium will affect the quality and styleof the product required so the choice will have to bemade before the multimedia designers start work.

Using the WebUsing the Web to distribute any type of software orgraphics product has a number of advantages asshown in the diagram at the top of the next page.

Multimedia products rely very heavily ondisplaying quality images, videos and sounds quickly.Computer systems that display multimedia productsusually have high-quality, video display systems andtheir users will expect to see high-quality images andvideos. For these systems, the Web also has a numberof serious disadvantages and, for many multimedia

developers, the disadvantages of the Web willoutweigh its advantages.

Using CDs and DVDsCDs and DVDs have been the most commonmethods of distributing multimedia products. It isnot hard to see why. If your multimedia product useshigh-quality images, and video and audio data,distribution will almost certainly have to be on CDor DVD. This will ensure that images and data aredisplayed at a reasonable rate; you can not be sure of

this over the Web. Dont assume that all of yourtarget audience will have fast broadband Internetconnections.

However, distribution through CDs and DVDsalso presents problems. The DVD movies and audioCDs that you rent or buy are pressed which meansthat the data are physically pressed into their surfacesusing glass master discs. Pressed CD/DVD formatsare the only ones that are guaranteed to work on allCD and DVD drives and players. CD and DVDburners use a variety of different data formats and

the recordings they create will not necessarily play onall drives and players.

Using videos/animation in a multimedia product

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

10/30


Advantages

Faster distribution

Quicker updates

Lower cost

Disadvantages

Video and audio display problems

Lower image quality

Possible download problems

Using the Web to distribute multimedia

Advantages

Higher quality

No download problemsBetter copyright control

Disadvantages

Higher cost

Disc may not be compatible with all systemsFast updates not possible

Using CD/DVD media todistribute multimedia

The advantages anddisadvantages ofusing the Web orCD/DVD media todistributemultimedia

Remember1. List four different ways that text can be used in

multimedia.

2. What problems do photographs create whenused as screen backgrounds?

3. Identify two problems caused by distributingmultimedia on the Web.

4. Identify a possible problem with using CDs orDVDs to distribute multimedia.

Think5. Identify a display problem that can be solved by

using image thumbnails.

6. Would it be practical to design a product fordistribution both on the Web and on CD or DVD?Explain.

Investigate7. What are the different CD and DVD formats that

are available for use with multimedia? Whatproblems do they create and what solutions(if any) are available?

identify the issues involved in usingthe different multimedia data types?

describe the problems involved indistributing a multimedia product?

Give the Internet a bone

The Internet was not designed with multimediadata in mind. Therefore, while the Internet deliverstext data and still graphics very well, it is not asuseful for sending live or real-time video and audiodata.

The problem is caused by the way the Internetmoves data between computers. The Internetdivides the data into individual packets that cantravel by completely different routes to reach theirdestination. The packets often arrive out of orderand some may even be lost and have to be re-sent.This can cause delays that make it impossible toreceive a steady video or audio signal.

One solution that has been developed is Mbone short for Multicast Backbone. In this system, thedata packets are kept together so that they travelvia the same route to their destination. This makesit possible to deliver a steady stream of video andaudio data. The packets can also be sent to severaldifferent destinations at the same time, whichmakes simultaneous web broadcasting possible.

To work correctly, Mbone requires special webservers and web addresses.

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

11/30


2.4 AA A Auuuutt t t hhhhoooorr r r ii i i nnnn gg g g ss s soooo ff f f tt t t ww w w aaaarr r r eeee ss s s yy y y ss s stt t t eeeemmmm ss s sA major part of the multimedia design process isselecting the right tools to use. One item of softwarethat is vital when creating a multimedia product isthe authoring tool . This is a program or a set of

programs that lets a designer combine the differentmultimedia data into a single product. There arethree types of authoring software systems formultimedia: card-based tools time-based tools icon-based tools.

Card-based toolsThese tools create a multimedia product as a seriesof cards, pages or slides. Each card can containany or all of the different multimedia data types.The user can move through the cards in order(like a slide show) or they can select one to viewnext.

Simple card-based multimedia products are veryeasy to create. They are ideal for situations where thecontent can be divided into separate cards or pages

for viewing. However, the page layout makes itdifcult for the designers to see all the links andwhere they lead.

Time-based toolsThese multimedia tools organise the content andevents (such as playing an animation or a sound)along a timeline. This gives the designer a great dealof control over exactly when things happen.

Time-based multimedia tools work best when youhave a message with a beginning and an end. Thesimplest time-based products will run like a TVcommercial with no control by the user. In the morecomplicated products, the user can select differentpaths to the end, and even have different endings.Time-based tools are usually very good at managinginteractive animations, such as computer games, thatare controlled directly by the user.

Products that contain a large number of linksare difcult to manage using time-based toolsbecause the timeline normally does not showthe links.

Microsoft PowerPoint is a card- or page-based multimedia authoring tool.

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

12/30


Icon-based toolsThese tools look like owcharts, with symbols or iconsrepresenting multimedia dataand controls. Special icons are

used to represent actions suchas displaying text or playing ananimation. Other icons representcontrols, such as waiting for amouse click or accepting datatyped at the keyboard. Thedifferent paths that a user can takethrough a presentation are shownas different branches of the owchart. Icon-based tools show all

the links, which makesit easy to develop acomplicated product.

However, manypeople nd icon-basedtools hard to use. Theuse of different icons torepresent multimediacontent (such asimages, text, buttons)makes it difcult for adesigner to see theactual content. Each

icon has to be opened to see whatdata, actions or controls itcontains.

Icon-based authoring tools arenow used mainly for training

presentations. c a n y o u ?

identify the advantagesand limitations ofauthoring software?

justify your selection ofthe authoring softwareto be used for amultimedia product?

Multimedia authoring andcomputer programming areoften considered to be verydifferent activities. In reality,the differences between themare not nearly so obvious.

A multimedia author workswith display objects such asgraphics, animations and text.

Authoring involves placingthese objects into a set orderand controlling how the userinteracts with the displays.

Most modern programminglanguages also allow aprogrammer to work withdisplay objects such asgraphics, animation and text.These languages allow theprogrammer to place theseobjects into a set order andcontrol how the user interactswith the displays.

However, multimediaauthoring systems are mucheasier to learn thanprogramming languages andare faster at producingfinished multimedia products.

Remember1. What are the three types

of multimedia authoringtools?

2. What is the purpose of anauthoring tool?

Think 3. Identify the features you

would consider importantwhen choosing anauthoring tool to develop amultimedia product.

4. Identify the advantagesand disadvantages of thethree types of authoringtools.

Macromedia Flash is a time-based multimedia authoring tool.

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

13/30


A kiosk is a multimedia display system that isdesigned to operate in a public area, such as at amuseum display or an information desk, whereanyone can use the computer to view the product.Multimedia kiosks often rely on touch screens,very simple keyboards or point-and-clickcontrols, such as trackballs, for their user inputs.

Creating an interactive multimedia slidepresentationIn this activity, you will create a Microsoft PowerPointlayout or template that can be modied easily toproduce a basic, interactive multimedia product.The template will use the action-control features ofPowerPoint to create a set of linked presentations.

This exercise will involve creating four separatePowerPoint presentations. As shown in screen 1, themenu presentation will contain a single slide. Thiswill act as a menu screen with links to the other threepresentations, which will work as normalPowerPoint presentations.

To allow easy navigation through the nalproduct, the slides in each of the three mainpresentations will have links to: the menu slide the rst and last slides in that presentation the next and previous slides in that presentation.

These links will be achieved through a commonnavigation control bar added to each of the slides.The navigation bar can be made from separategraphic icons placed alongside each other to createthe impression of a single graphic. Suitable icons areavailable on the CD-ROM, as AutoShapes, and asClip Art in PowerPoint, or you may prefer to make your own.

Creating the basic templates

The rst step is to create the opening slide for each ofthe four presentations.

Start Microsoft PowerPoint and a newpresentation.

Create each slide as a separate presentation, asshown in screen 1. All four screens may be opened

Before you start, have you completed thefollowing unit?

2.4 Authoring software systems

Step 1

a

b

2.5 P R A C T I C A L S K I L L S UU U U ss s sii i i nnnn gg g g aaaauuuutt t t hhhhoooorr r r ii i i nnnn gg g g ss s s yy y y ss s stt t t eeeemmmm ss s s

The basic plan for the multimedia presentation

The practical activities in this unit assume that youhave suitable software on your system. The mainexercise uses Microsoft PowerPoint but we alsoshow an example using Macromedia Flash. Otherprograms can be used but the commands, optionsand results will be different.

Some of the PowerPoint files created here will beused in the project at the end of this chapter.

See 4.10 Project Developing digital media products for a basic description of how to create aPowerPoint presentation.

Main Menu

Branch 1MULTIOne

Branch 2MULTITwo

Branch 3MULTIThree

MULTIMenu

go to technology/on-the-cdrom/chap02/2-5/navicons

Sample navigation icons

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

14/30

P R A C T I C A L S K I L L S Using authoring systems 29

/figure 2.5.3 provided screen image Caption:

in PowerPoint at the same time.In the menu slide, separate textand graphics boxes have beenadded to provide the links to eachof the three main presentations.For this exercise, you can usePowerPoint Clip Art.

The usual PowerPointmethod of moving from one slideto the next in a Slide Show is toclick the mouse anywhere on thescreen. We will need to turn offthis feature. In each of the four

presentations, open the SlideShow menu and select Set UpShow.

Select Browsed at a kiosk (fullscreen) from the Show Type options. Leave the Slides settingat All and the Advance slides setting at Manually (seescreen 2).

Save each presentation usingthe title shown on the slide as thepresentation lename.

c

d

One of the features of many authoring systems is their ability to createpresentation templates. These allow you to create a general layout,sometimes called a style guide or pattern, which can be reused withdifferent presentations or to set the style of all the pages or slides in asingle presentation. The template contains set styles and place holdersfor text, graphics, navigation buttons and other multimedia elements.Real data can be dropped into these place holders when a presentationis being built.

Screen 1 The initial slides for each ofthe four presentation templates

Screen 2 Setting the slide show features

Free clip art, animation,image and sound resources
http://www.jaconline.com.au/ist

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

15/30


P R A C T I C A L S K I L L S Using authoring systems

Adding the menu linksWhen you have saved thepresentations, you can hyperlinkthem to the main menu.

Go to the menu slide and usethe right mouse button to select therst menu graphic that will belinked to the rst of the three mainpresentations as shown in screen 3.

Select Action Settings fromthe drop-down menu.

In the Action Settings dialogbox shown in screen 4, select theHyperlink to: control button andclick on its drop-down menu bar.

Click the list entry namedOther PowerPoint Presentation .This will open a le dialog box.

Select and hyperlink to therst main presentation you saved(named MULTIOne in thisexercise). Click OK .

Step 2

a

b

c

d

e

If you have already added extra slides tothis presentation, then you will be asked toselect which slide to link to. Select the rstslide.

Repeat steps 2a to 2f for the textnext to the menu picture so that itwill also hyperlink to the rst mainpresentation. This completes thelinks from the menu slide to the rstmain presentation.

Repeat steps 2a to 2g to link thegraphic and text for the secondmenu item to the secondpresentation (MULTITwo in thisexercise), and for the graphic andtext for the third menu item to thethird presentation (MULTIThree).

Test the links from the menuslide by opening the Slide Show menu and selecting View Show , orby simply pressing function key [F5].At this stage, the links are one-waywith no return links from each of thethree main presentations back to themenu slide.

f

g

h

i

/figure 2.5.5- provided screen image withimportant parts labelled

Screen 3 Setting the first menu link

Screen 4 Selecting the link destination

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

16/30


Adding the navigationbar

This step uses the CD-ROM,which contains each itemrequired in the navigation bar.PowerPoint also has a set of iconbuttons in its Action Buttons

located in the Slide Show menu.To insert graphic icons to createthe navigation bar:

Start on the opening slide ofthe rst main presentation(MULTIOne).

Open the Insert menu, selectPicture and then From File.

Select the CD-ROM driveand the folder from the le dialogwindow. Your networkadministrator may have copiedthe CD-ROM les to a le serveron your school network so pleaseask your class teacher.

Open the le namedrst.gif and move it intoposition at the bottom of theslide as shown in screen 5.

Screen 5 shows images of theother icons used in thenavigation bar. Load each iconand move it into position so thatit touches its neighbour andcreates the illusion of a singlegraphic navigation bar.

Adding links to thenavigation bar

To add links to the navigation baricons, use the same processdescribed in step 2 for addinglinks to the menu slide.

Use the right mouse buttonto select a button icon.

Select Action Settings fromthe drop-down menu.

Step 3

a

b

c

d

e

Step 4

a

b

In the Action Settings dialogbox, select the Hyperlink to: control button and click on itsdrop-down menu bar.

Set the properties for eachbutton according to the datashown in the table below.

c

d

Once all the links havebeen set, the entire navigationbar can then be copied to therst slide in the other mainpresentations.

e

Link buttons for the navigation bar

BUTTON ICON HYPERLINK TO: PRESENTATION NAME

First slide

Previous slide

Next slide

Last slide

Other PowerPointpresentation

MULTIMenu

Screen 5 Building the navigation bar

Load each icon, thenposition them next toeach other to createthe navigation bar.

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

17/30


P R A C T I C A L S K I L L S Using authoring systems

Adding slidesNew slides can be added to each presentation byduplicating an existing slide.

Open the Insert menu and select Duplicate Slide.Everything on that slide, including the navigationbar, will be copied onto the new slide. Create at least

two new slides for each of the main presentations. On the rst slide in each main presentation, you

can remove the navigation icons that link to the rstand previous slides. Leave the other icons in theiroriginal (and now off-centre) positions.

On the last slide, you can also remove thenavigation icons that link to the last and next slides.Again, leave the other icons in their originalpositions. Also, leave the gap between the menu linkicon and the others.

Once you have enough slides, test the templatesby clicking on all the link icons.

Make sure that you save all the presentations.

You have now completed four PowerPointpresentations that are linked by hyperlinks (bothhypertext and hypermedia). These presentations canbe used as templates for a variety of differentmultimedia products. We will reuse parts of thispresentation in the project in 2.8 Project Creatinga multimedia product .

ExtrasPowerPoint allows you to add many multimedia andinteractive features to a product. You could add someof the following simple examples to the practicepresentation that we have created. The Insert Clip Art tool allows you to add

graphics, motion clips (animations), and soundsincluding background music.

All the multimedia data types can be importedfrom saved data les.

The Action Settings for buttons and other objectscan be set to play a sound or reverse their colours(highlight) when clicked or when the mousemoves over them.

If you have the correct equipment, PowerPointwill let you record and add your own sound les.

The navigation bar on the rst, middle and last slides

Step 5

a

b

c

d

e

By keeping all the icons in their original positionson all slides, it is possible for a user to click theirway forwards and backwards quickly through theentire presentation without having to move themouse. Most users find it annoying if they haveto move the mouse to a new position because ofa sudden change in position of the navigation baricons.

First slide

Middle slides

Last slide

go to technology/on-the-cdrom/chap02/2-5

Flash file used on page 33

c a n y o u ?

create a simple presentation using amultimedia authoring system?

import data into a multimedia authoringsystem?

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

18/30


An interactive multimedia animation An explanation of how to create multimedia using Macromedia Flash is beyond the scope of this book.Macromedia Flash and other time-based authoring programs give designers some very powerful tools, includingcomplete programming languages that allow them to create very complicated interactive multimediaapplications.

This section provides a very simple example of how Macromedia Flash can be used to create an interactivemultimedia animation. You can test the animation on the CD-ROM.

In this simple animation, the user is able to control the direction in which a ball moves by clicking on one of fourarrows. To create this animation:

Four separate animations of the ball were created, one for each direction of movement. As you can see fromthe timeline at the top of the screen above, each animation has its own control layer with set start and endframes. The animations have been placed on the timeline so that they do not overlap each other.

The four control arrows and the stationary ball at the centre of the screen also have their own control layersin the timeline, but they exist only in the first frame of the animation that single frame is used as both theirstart and end frames.

The first frame also contains a stop command that will freeze the animation at that frame as soon as it startsplaying. The animation will wait until one of the four arrow buttons has been clicked.

Each button has been given an action that, when clicked, will jump the display to a particular frame in thetimeline (the start frame for one of the animated balls) and then play the animation from that point. The endframe for each animated ball also contains a command that will jump the display back to the very first frame; thestop command in the first frame will again freeze the animation.

In this animation,the ballsmovement can becontrolled byclicking on thearrows.

A Macromedia Flash interactive animation

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

19/30


Graphical user interfacedesignThe biggest advantage ofinteractive multimedia is that auser can take control of the owof information. A multimediadesigner can give the user controlby adding navigation buttons andvarious selection devices such ascheck boxes. These controldevices form part of the productsgraphical user interface (GUI) .A GUI uses the mouse, drop-

down menus, icons representingcomputer operations such asprinting, and other devices togive users a point-and-clickinterface.

Navigation buttonsNavigation buttons have becomean obvious and important usercontrol device because most GUIsystems, such as MicrosoftWindows, use standard buttondesigns that most users canrecognise.

Problems may arise inmultimedia products if they useunusual or unrecognisabledesigns for their buttons. Once you have decided on a particular

button design, that design shouldbe used throughout the product.

Here are some useful hints forcontrol and navigation buttons. The mouse pointer should

change when it is over aclickable object such as abutton. The button could alsochange its appearance slightlywhen the mouse pointer isover it.

Design the buttons so thatsomething happens the instantthey are clicked this may bea simple colour change, aslightly different shape or look,

or playing a click sound. Thistells the user that their mouse

click has been detected. If theuser clicks a button but doesnot see anything happen(perhaps because there is adelay in loading the new page),they may think that the buttonis not working.

Check boxes and option buttonsCheck boxes can be used to letusers turn features, such as soundeffects, on or off. Option buttons(sometimes called radio buttons)allow users to choose one optionfrom a list of alternatives.

Drop-down menusDrop-down menus give users alist of items to choose from.Normally they will choose onlyone item from the list but somemenus can be set to allow severalchoices to be made.

Drop-down menus can helpusers avoid typing and spellingerrors when entering data. For

2.6 GG G G rr r r aaaa pp p phhhhii i i cc c c aaaall l l uuuu ss s seeeerr r r ii i i nnnntt t t eeeerr r r ff f f aaaacc c c eeee aaaannnndd d d dd d d eeee ss s sii i i gg g gnnnn pp p prr r r ii i i nnnncc c c ii i i pp p pll l l eeee ss s s

Buttons have become popular tools because they use designs that most computer userscan recognise.

Check boxes and option buttons allow users to enter data and change the way a product ispresented.Standard GUI buttons

Selected check boxSelected

UnselectedUnselected check box

option button

option button

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

20/30


example, entering the name of your home state into a productcan be made much easier andquicker if the user selects the statename from a drop-down menu.

Design principlesLayout and balance of datatypesGood design is an art rather thana science; multimedia designersusually think of themselves asartists rather than programmers.However, designing goodcomputer graphics screens is askill that not all artists have.

One of the best ways to learngood design principles is tounderstand the most commonmistakes that computer graphicdesigners make. You should avoidthe following examples of baddesign: Crowding . Dont try to ll the

screen with information.Empty spaces can make thecontents more noticeable andeasier to read.

Too many words. If you have alot of text to display, break itup into small, readable blocks.A scrolling text window can beused to hold a large quantityof text without taking up a lotof screen space.

Fancy or frilly borders. Thesecan turn a good screen intoone that looks amateurish. If you need borders then plain

and simple ones are best. Clashing colours. Look at thecolours you have selected for your backgrounds, text,borders, buttons and otherscreen objects. Do the colourscomplement each other orclash? Is the text on the screenreadable against thebackground? A photograph

used as a screen backgroundcan cause colour clashes.

Annoying sound effects.Buttons that play sharp, loudsounds when clicked willannoy users rather than helpthem. Think carefully beforeadding any special soundeffects to a product.

Repeating the same animation .The rst time an animation isused it may be amusing orinformative but after that itcan become boring.

The jaconline website containsa list of websites with information

on design principles for computergraphics and multimedia.

Drop-down menus let users select an item from a list.

use the graphical userinterface providedwith a multimediaauthoring product?

use design principlesin a range ofmultimedia products?

Remember1. Name three user control

devices that a designer canadd to a multimediaproduct.

2. Why are user controldevices important in amultimedia product?

Think 3. Why is good design an art

form rather than a science?

4. List the skills you wouldneed to be a goodmultimedia designer.

Computer graphics andmultimedia design guidelines
http://www.jaconline.com.au/isthttp://../technology/activities/chap02/act-02-06.doc

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

21/30


2.7 SS S S cc c c rr r r ii i i pp p ptt t t ss s s aaaannnndd d d ss s stt t t oooorr r r yy y y bbbbooooaaaarr r r dd d d ss s sScriptsA script is a text description ofthe multimedia product. Itdescribes:

the aims and objectives of theproduct

the target audience in general terms, the

multimedia contents of theproduct.

The script is often used aspart of a proposal to get fundingor production approval for theproduct. The script also helps

the designers understand thepurpose of the product andgives them ideas on how it canbe developed so that it willachieve its aims.

StoryboardsMovies, TV shows and even TVcommercials are all planned ingreat detail. Part of this planningis the creation of a storyboard that describes every scene for theactors, director and lm crew.The storyboard is usuallydeveloped from the script.Multimedia also relies onstoryboards to help the designersand production staff to create theproduct.

A traditional movie or TVstoryboard is very similar to acomic book. It describes the storyas a series of separate drawings.Each drawing represents a singlescene or a part of a scene in themovie. A multimedia storyboardis more complicated because itmust describe the different typesof media as well as the story.

4. EXT SAVANNAH/GRASSLANDS DAY

[CYRIL, BASIL, REX, CUB, LION PRIDE]

Across the plains something moves through the tall grass. The grass parts to reveal Basildecked out in a safari suit, and Cyril, in his usual overalls.

CYRIL Oh, Im Im sure the balloon came this way, Basil.Basil pauses and in an exaggerated, mocking fashion scans the skies.

BASIL (breathless) Well, I dont see it, Cyril! And a big balloon is pretty hardto hide in a clear blue sky!!!

CYRIL Yeah Maybe they landed.

BASIL Dont be silly why would they land in the middle of lioncountry??[pauses, realising] Of course!! Theyre taking Leo home!!Ieee

He puts his hat back on, and twir ls his moustache evilly. As they walk, Basil turns his head toaddress Cyril.

BASIL [CONT ] Now, to catch Blinky Bill, all we have to do is to nd ourselves somelions I

Basil turns his head to the front to see a massive lion bounding straight at him!

REX Roaarrhh!

Basils hat is blown clean off his head. His hair is blown at as the lion draws closer. Basil jumps up and lands in Cyrils arms. Cyril runs for some trees Suddenly his feet go out fromunder him and a net snaps up around them. Cyril and Basil are ung into a tree. The netbounces once or twice then comes to a rest and Basil and Cyril realise they are stuck in atrap.

37a. BASIL Ahooh .

37b. CYRIL Ahooohaheh

37c. BASIL / CYRIL Woah! Ahh !

BASIL Youve outdone yourself this time Cyril!

38a. CYRIL Oh .

Below them Rex, with a young Lion Cub on his back, and the rest of the Pride of Lions runpast as if being chased

Excerpt from a script for Blinky Bills Extraordinary Balloon Adventure 2004

Example storyboard for Blinky Bills Extraordinary Balloon Adventure 2004

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

22/30


go to technology/on-the-cdrom/chap02/2-7

All storyboard examples forthe Cradle Mountain project

An example of the rst page in a multimediastoryboard

The rst board identies the separate scenesin the product and shows how they arelinked.

The table lists each scene with a very basicdescription. In a web-based multimediaproduct, each scene would be a different webpage linked to other pages by hyperlinks.Every scene uses a set of separatestoryboards to describe its multimedia data.There are separate storyboards for thegraphic images (animations and video clips),audio and music, as well as for thenavigation icons.

Multimedia StoryboardProject Description Form

Project Title:Script Created by:Date:

Scene Number Description

Use extra forms if needed

Checked By:

Project Flow chart

Cradle Mountain A. Wong

9 Jun 2004

1 234.1 5.16.1

Title screen Set-up optionsMenu screen Tracks and Trails MenuFlora and Fauna MenuVisitor Information Menu

Continues on page 2 1

2

3

4.1

5.1

6.1

Page of 1 37

create a script and astoryboard for asimple multimediaproduct?

RememberWhy are scripts andstoryboards important in thedesign of multimedia?

raphics Filename:scription:

creen Size and Format: Photo Clip art Hyperlink to Scene

Original File:

Graphics Filename:Description:

Screen Size and Format: Photo Hyperlink to Scene

Original File:


Screen Size and Format: Photo Hyperlink to Scene

Original File:

Scene BackgroundColour:Texture:Image:

Project Title:Scene Number:

Scene Stage Diagram indicate positions of graphics and text

Multimedia StoryboardScene Description Form

Graphics Details:

Text/Hypertext:

Play Audio (see Audio Form)

Checked By:

Play Animation/Video (seeAnimation/Video Form)


Clip art

Clip art

Cradle Mountain 3 Dove Lake

Dove Lake with Cradle Mountain in thebackground

800 x 600 JPEG

CD07 DSCN0618

Menu 1hikers on trail

200 x 150 JPEG

CD07 DSCN0605 4.1

Menu 2King Billy pine

200 x 150 JPEG

CD07 DSCN0711 5.1

'Cradle Mountain' title 60 pointsOther titles 3640 points'Tracks and Trails' links to scene 4.1'Flora and Fauna' links to scene 5.1'Visitor Information' links to scene 6.1

Dove Lake

Cradle Mountain Virtual Tour

Tracks and Trails

Flora and Fauna

Visitor Information

Menu 1

Menu 2

Menu 3

Page of 7


Describe animations/videos. Indicate screen positions, movements, etc.

Video Details:

Page of


Multimedia StoryboardAnimation/Video Form

Video Filename:Description:

Screen Size and Format: Run Automatically Activate by Hyperlink

Original File:

Filename:Description:

Screen Size and Format: Run Automatically Activate by Hyperlink Run Once Loop Times Fade In Fade Out

Original File:

Filename:Description:

Screen Size and Format: Run Automatically Activate by Hyperlink Run Once Loop Times Fade In Fade Out

Original File:

Animation Details:

Cradle Mountain 4.3 One day hike

Clothing and gear for a one day hike

300 x 200 AVI

CD07 DV117

Video clip

23 37

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

23/30


2.8 P RO J E C T CC C C rr r r eeeeaaaatt t t ii i i nnnn gg g g aaaa mmmmuuuull l l tt t t ii i i mmmmeeeedd d d ii i i aaaa pp p prr r r oooodd d d uuuucc c c tt t t

Planning the productIn 2.5 Practical skills Using authoring systems, youused PowerPoint to create a basic multimediaresource that could be used to build a multimediaproduct. In this unit, we will use part of that resourceto create a simple multimedia product.

Dening the problemThis visual essay on steam transportation trainsand tractors will be titled Locomotion. Theproduct will be based on a number of digitalphotographs and digital video clips that have alreadybeen collected and are provided on the CD-ROM.A script has also been prepared and this will be usedas the guideline for the product.

Analysing the problemThe multimedia product will tell a story usingimages, video and text. Hyperlinks will connect the

different parts of the story.The limiting factors for this problem are: It must be usable on the technology (computer

software and hardware) that would be available tothe target audience groups, such as themultimedia computers in school and communitylibraries.

There are limited resources (including time)available for the development of a solution so


2.5 Practical skills Using authoring systems

2.6 Graphical user interface and design principles

2.7 Scripts and storyboards

4.6 Practical skills Using digital mediaproducts and data

9.2 Defining the problem

9.3 Analysing the problem

9.4 Designing a solution

9.5 Evaluating projects

This project assumes that you have a suitable

multimedia authoring tool on your computersystem. The example shown uses MicrosoftPowerPoint. Microsoft Image Composer is alsoused for preparing graphic images. Other programscan be used but the commands, options andresults will be different.

go to technology/on-the-cdrom/chap02/2-8/project

Completed storyboards, images and script, andaudio, video and text files for the project

Blank storyboards for creating your own projects

readily available multimedia authoring tools anddigital data software will be used.

Designing the solutionBefore work begins, you will need to make some

important decisions. These will affect how thegraphic screens will be prepared for the product.1. How will the product be distributed? In this case,

the product will be prepared so that it can bedistributed on CD media. This will allow all themultimedia data to be displayed at the maximumpossible quality and speed.

2. What display standards will be needed to use themultimedia product? This product will require ascreen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels in 16.7million colours. Animations and videos will runat a maximum of 25 frames per second. While thelatest multimedia systems can easily handlemultimedia data at much higher resolutions, youcannot assume that all users will have the latestsystems.

Creating the productThe CD-ROM contains a complete storyboard, allthe original images, text, video clips and the product

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

24/30

P R O J E C T Creating a multimedia product 39

script. The les are in the folder on the CD-ROM. Yournetwork administrator may have copied the CD-ROM les to a le server on your school network soplease ask your class teacher.You will also need the PowerPoint les that youcreated in 2.5 Practical skills Using authoringsystems and you will need to save the edited images

that you will create.

Preparing the menu imagesThe storyboard above shows that themenu screen contains images that will beused as hyperlinks. We want the images tolook like traditional (old-style)photographs with white borders becausethe borders will help separate the imagesfrom the screen background. This effect iseasy to create.

The storyboard indicates that theimages will be placed on the screenslightly rotated rather than horizontal.You can rotate an image only if part of itsbackground can be made transparent.The JPEG le format does not allow anypart of an image to be transparent.Therefore, you will need to use a format,such as PNG, that allows a transparentbackground.

Step 1

The storyboard shows thelenames of the images that wewill use from the CD-ROM andthe lenames to be used whensaving the altered images for theproduct.

Unit 4.6 Practical skills Using

digital media products and data describes how to prepare high-resolution images from digitalcameras for use in digital mediaproducts such as multimedia.

Start Microsoft ImageComposer. Select and load one ofthe original images stored on theCD-ROM in the folder.

According to the storyboard,all menu images must be reducedto 200 x 150 pixels. Therefore, to

allow room for a narrow border to be createdaround the image, reduce the image (see 4.6Practical skills Using digital media products anddata ) to a size that is 10 pixels smaller than this size;that is, 190 x 140 pixels (you will have to turn off theKeep aspect ratio feature in the Arrange dialog box).You can see the width (W) and height (H) of theimage in the status bar at the bottom of the screen.

a

b

The storyboard for the product menu

Screen 1 Setting the image borders


Screen Size and Format:

Photo Clip art Hyperlink to SceneOriginal File:


Screen Size and Format: Photo Clip art Hyperlink to Scene

Original File:



Original File:


roject Title:cene Number:

cene Stage Diagram indicate positions of graphics and text


Graphics Details:

Text/Hypertext:


Checked By:



Locomotion 1 Background menu

suitable image blurred or semitransparent

800 x 600 JPEG/PNG

CD-ROM

Menu 1suitable image with 10 pixel white border

200 x 150 JPEG/PNG

CD-ROM

LOCOMOTION title 60 point.Other title 3640 points

background menu

M E N U 3

LOCOMOTION

Page of 2

'Living Steam' hyperlink to scene 2.1'Street Machines' hyperlink to scene 3.1'Narrow Gauge' hyperlink to scene 4.1

Living Steam

Street Machines

Narrow Gauge

M E N U 2

M E N U 1

and slightly rotated

Menu 2suitable image with 10 pixel white boarder

200 x 150 JPEG/PNG

CD-ROM

and slightly rotated

3.1

2.1

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

25/30


P R O J E C T Creating a multimedia product

As shown in screen 1, click the button in the Arrange dialog box so that the image will move tothe lower left corner of the composition space (thewhite background).

As shown in screen 2, drag the top border(dotted line) of the composition space down until itis at the correct height for the nal image (150 pixels)and then drag the right border to the left until it is atthe correct width (200 pixels). This will make theborder area 10 pixels bigger than the image.

Click the Centers tool button on the Arrange dialog box to move the imageto the centre of its new borders asshown in screen 2. There should nowbe a narrow white border around theimage.

You can make any adjustments tothe border that you feel are necessary.Use the Centers tool to move the imageback to the centre after each sizeadjustment.

c

d

e

f

When you are happy with the result, save theimage using the Save As option; this will save theimage and its white background border. Select *.png as the le type and make sure that the KeepTransparency check box is Off . Add the word menuand an image number to its lename (for example,menu-01).

Close the image to clear the screen. Reload thealtered image you have just saved (menu-01). Youcan see that the image now has a white border.

Click the Arrange tool andenter a small rotation angle asshown in screen 3. A positivenumber will rotate the imageclockwise, a negative numberanticlockwise. Click the Apply button.

Open the File menu andclick the Save Selection As option so that only the rotatedimage with its permanent border,but not the white background,will be saved. Make sure that theKeep Transparency check box isOn . Use the same lename(menu-01) when saving theimage.

g

h

i

j

Screen 2 Centring the image tocreate a border

Screen 3 Using the image rotation feature

1. Drag top page border down toa height of 150 pixels.

2. Drag right page border leftto a width of 200 pixels.

ClickCenters icon.

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

26/30


Screen 4 Blurring a photograph for use as a background

Repeat steps 1a to 1j forthe other two images in the folder on the CD-ROM, usingappropriate lenames.

Preparing backgroundimages

The storyboard above indicatesthat a suitable backgroundphotograph is to be used forthe screens in each branch ofthe product and on the menuslide. Most digital photographsare not suitable for use asscreen backgrounds unless theyhave been altered to avoidproblems such as clashingcolours. Two special effectscommonly used to alterbackground images are blurringand transparency. Both makehard edges or clashing colourssofter and less obvious.

Select any image from the folder on the CD-ROM. Reducethe image size to 800 x 600 pixelsand save it using the SaveSelection As option so that only

the resized image and notthe background will besaved. Include the wordsbackground and orig(for original), and animage number in itslename (for example,

background-01-orig).Select the Effects tool

and then the Blur optionas shown in screen 4.Click the Apply buttonand observe the effect.Clicking the Undo button(or pressing [Ctrl]+[Z])will return the image to itsoriginal state. You canincrease the blurring

effect by increasing thetwo values found in theDetails tab use Undo tocancel each change before

trying again. When satised withthe result, save the image withthe words background andblur, and the same imagenumber in its lename (forexample, background-01-blur).

b

Part of the storyboard for the first branch of the product


Screen Size and Format:

Photo Clip art Hyperlink to SceneOriginal File:



Original File:



Original File:



Scene Stage Diagram indicate positions of graphics and text


Graphics Details:

Text/Hypertext:


Checked By:



Locomotion 2.1

Backgroundsuitable background image blurred or semitransparent

800 x 600 JPEG/PNG

CD-ROM

Living Steam title about 48 pointsbackground

Living Steam

Video clip Text block

Navigation bar

Page of 4

Text block from file LOCOMOTION-ONE. txt use 1214 point

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

27/30



If you are using the JPEG image format, reloadthe original image from the CD-ROM and againreduce it to 800 x 600 pixels. You should not keeploading and resaving JPEG images as they will losequality every time they are saved. However, if you areusing a lossless image compression format (such asPNG which does not cause a loss of dataand, therefore, image quality), reload the

reduced original image you have alreadysaved (background-01-orig).

This time, select the Transparent option of the Effects tool as shown inscreen 5. On the Details tab, set thecontrol to 75 and click Apply . The Undo button will return the image to itsoriginal state. Try a few different valuesusing Undo to cancel each change beforetrying again. Lower values make theimage look more transparent and paler.When satised with the result, save theimage with the words background andtrans (for transparency), and the sameimage number in its lename(background-01-trans).

Repeat steps 2a to 2d for all theimages in the folder on the CD-ROM,

c

d

e

using a different image number for eachone. This will give you three choices foreach background image (original, blurredand transparent) for use in yourmultimedia product.

Preparing the menu slide

Open a new PowerPoint presentationwith a blank slide. Insert the menu pictures you created in step 1. Screen 6 shows onepossible design.

Add a title and menu labels as shownin the storyboard on page 39.

Select one of the background imagesthat you prepared in step 2. Add the imageto the background by opening the Format menu and selecting Background . As shown

in screen 7, click the Background Fill drop-down menu bar and select Fill Effects.

In the Fill Effects dialog box, select thePicture tab. Click the Select Picture button and selectone of your background images. Try severaldifferent backgrounds to nd one that will not clashwith the text and images.

Save the menu slide using the lenameLOCOMOTION-MENU.

Step 3

a

b

c

d

Screen 6 An example menu slide with images, text titles and a selected background

Screen 5 Using transparency to prepare a photograph for use as a background

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

28/30


Locate the new menu slideLOCOMOTION-MENU and clickOK twice.

Repeat steps 4a to 4d for the Returnto the main menu button on all threeslides.

This presentation will now be usedas the template for each of the branchesin the new multimedia product. Savethis presentation three times using thefollowing names: LOCOMOTION-ONE, LOCOMOTION-TWO andLOCOMOTION-THREE.

Open your menu slide(LOCOMOTION-MENU) and set thehyperlinks for its menu images and textlabels to each of these three new

presentations. Resave the menu slide.

Adding slidesYou will need new slides for each presentation. Thecomplete storyboard supplied on the CD-ROM willtell you how many slides (scenes) are needed in eachpresentation.

Go to the middle slide of each presentation, theslide with the complete navigation bar at thebottom. Open the Insert menu and select DuplicateSlide. This will copy everything on the slideincluding the navigation bar.

Repeat this until all the necessary slides havebeen created. Resave each presentation.

Adding images

The storyboard identies all the images needed forevery slide.

Open each original image in Microsoft ImageComposer and resize it to the width and heightshown in the storyboard. Save each image using theproduct lename also shown in the storyboard.

Once all the images have been edited and saved,insert them into their correct positions on eachPowerPoint slide.

You should now test your product (see step 10).

e

f

g

Step 5

a

b

Step 6

a

b

Preparing the presentation templates

Open PowerPoint presentation MULTIOnethat you created in 2.5 Practical skills Usingauthoring systems. You will need the navigation barsfrom this presentation for some of the slides in yourmultimedia product. The middle slides have thecomplete navigation bar but those on the rst and

last slides are slightly different. Keep the rst and last slides, and one of the

middle slides. Delete all the other slides.

Delete the text boxes, backgrounds (if any) andall the graphics except for the navigation bars oneach slide.

The last button (the Return to the main menu button) in the navigation bars must be altered sothat it will link to the new menu slide in yourmultimedia product. Right click on the Return to the main menu

button.

Select Action Settings from the menu.

In the Action Settings dialog box, select theHyperlink to: control button and click on its drop-down menu bar.

From the drop-down menu, select OtherPowerPoint Presentation .

Step 4

a

b

c

d

Screen 7 Setting a background image

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

29/30



Adding backgrounds

Use the instructions in step 3 to add one of youraltered background images to one of the slides in therst presentation. However, in the Background dialog box, select Apply to All to add the backgroundimage to all the slides in the presentation.

Repeat this process with the other presentations use a different background image for eachpresentation.

Adding text The text for each slide is stored in text les on theCD-ROM in the folder.

Open a text editor, such as Microsoft Notepador Microsoft WordPad, and load the text leLOCOMOTION-ONE.txt (for the rst

presentation). The text in each le is divided intoslides numbered in the same way as on thestoryboard. The title and body text for each slide isidentied in the le.

Highlight the title text for the rst slide andcopy it onto the clipboard.

Switch to your PowerPoint presentation andcreate a text box on the rst slide for its title. Use thestoryboard as your guide. Paste the title text into thetext box. Adjust the text properties (font, size,alignment, colour and style) and the text boxs sizeand position until you are satised with itsappearance. This is a slide title so it should stand outmore than the body text.

Create another text box for the body text. Again,use the storyboard as your guide.

Switch to the text editor and highlightthe body text for the rst slide and copy it intothe clipboard.

Switch back to PowerPoint and paste the textinto the body text box as shown in screen 8. Adjustthe text properties (font, size, alignment, colour,style) and the text boxs size and position until youare satised with its appearance.

Repeat steps 8a to 8f for the slides in each of theother presentations.

Adding videoThe storyboard indicates that some of the slides willhave video clips. These les can be found on the

Step 7

a

b

Step 8

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

Step 9

CD-ROM in the folder. No editing of these les isneeded but they will load faster if you copy the lesto a local hard disk drive.

Your network administrator may have copied thevideo les to a le server on your school network soplease ask your class teacher. Try running the lesfrom the le server rst before attempting to copythem to your local hard disk drive. If your version ofPowerPoint will not insert or play the video clip, try

the instructions in the Audio and video hyperlinks Infobox on the page opposite instead.

Screen 9 Adding a video to a slide

Screen 8 Adding text

8/10/2019 ist-ch02

30/30

Go to a slide identied in the storyboard ashaving a video clip. On the Insert menu, select Movies and Sound and then Movie from File, asshown in screen 9.

Locate the video clip identied in thestoryboard. You will be asked if you want the videoto play automatically in the slide show. Click Yes tohave the video played as soon as the slide isdisplayed. Videos can be played at any time byclicking on them.

Repeat steps 9a and 9b for each slide that needsa video clip added to it.

Test, test and test againAlways test your product while you are developing it.Also, test it on as many different systems as possible especially on older and slower computers. Themore complicated a multimedia product is, the morelikely it is to have problems. It is far better to discoverand x the problems before you send your productout to your customers than to have them discoverthe problems for you.

a

b

c

Step 10

Audio and video hyperlinksIf PowerPoint will not load or play an audio orvideo clip, you could try playing the clip through ahyperlink instead of using PowerPoint to play it. Byusing a hyperlink, your operating system will selecta program to play the file. The selected programwill open as a new window on the screen to playthe clip. The following steps show you how to dothis.

1. Add a graphic button to your slide to representthe command play a movie the AutoShapes

Action Buttons feature has a suitable videocamera icon.

2. Right click on the graphic and select ActionSettings from the menu.

3. In the Action Settings dialog box, select the Hyperlink to: control button and click on itsdrop-down menu bar.

4. Select Other File from the drop-down menu.

5. Locate and select the audio or video clip fileand click OK twice.

Failing to test a product properly before it isreleased will almost certainly result in a flood ofconsumer complaints and a bad public image forthe company that developed the product.Computer software attracts more complaints for

poor quality and other problems than many otherproducts. This is partly because a softwareproduct is installed and used on systems with awide range of performance characteristics notall of them reaching the minimum hardwarestandards.

Commercial multimedia developers test theirproducts on a wide range of different systems.Their test systems normally include all thecommon hardware configurations differentgraphic adaptor and sound cards, and variousCPU versions, RAM sizes and types ofmotherboards. This type of testing is obviouslyexpensive and could never cover all the possiblehardware combinations. For this reason, mostmultimedia developers indicate clearly theminimum hardware system needed to run theproduct, and some also list a more advancedsystem as the recommended system.

Game developers, in particular, use a variety oftechniques to test their products including:

using automated test programs to applyrandom mouse clicks to each display screen todetect hidden links that need to be removed

employing young people to play the game,recording errors such as faulty links, videos andsounds that do not play correctly, misspellingsand other problems.

design, produce and evaluate a simpleproduct for a real-world application?

CreateUse this project as a model to create anothermultimedia product based on an educational,informational or entertainment theme. The folder on the CD-ROM contains blankcopies of the storyboards shown in 2.7 Scripts and

storyboards that can be used to plan a multimediaproduct, or you may prefer to design your own.

ist-ch02

Documents