Principles of Interactive Media Authoring

Summarize the principles of interactive media authoring, including the tools used, production process, uses, delivery formats, elements, and interactivity and control methods.

Tools used for interactive media authoring, such as Director and Flash, are programs and multimedia applications that enable the creation of games and interactive products. These tools allow the creator to act as both the director of the project and the program itself can support both 2D and 3D projects. Director Flash has several advantages, including easy integration with other 3D programs like Maya and True Space.

Additionally, it offers free and unlimited publishing options for content, ranging from CDs and USBs to the internet.

The price of this software is a significant disadvantage as it retails at ? 292.74. Additionally, it requires skill to use and is not as straightforward as learning the basics and progressing from there. Dreamweaver, created and sold by Adobe Systems, is a web development application that involves writing code and integrating flash elements like videos and animations into websites.

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One reason to use Dreamweaver is because it simplifies the process of writing clean code. However, it is not necessary to write code to create a website, as Dreamweaver offers an alternative option. Additionally, Dreamweaver's fluid grid layout and CSS designer tool make it ideal for designing dynamic and visually appealing webpages. Despite being regarded as a high-quality web design program, Dreamweaver is quite expensive. Moreover, if code is not utilized, many of its beneficial features are rendered useless and it becomes a waste of time.

Mediator is a multimedia authoring tool that allows users to create interactive CD-ROM presentations, dynamic HTML pages, and Flash projects. It is currently the leading software in this field, enabling professionals to produce high-quality presentations without the need for coding or scripting. A major advantage of Mediator is its user-friendly interface, relying on a drag and drop method. Additionally, it offers convenient exporting options with just one click, allowing users to convert their projects into various formats including Flash, CD-ROM, and HTML. However, Mediator does have some drawbacks. First, it comes with a hefty price tag of around €375. Furthermore, it is only compatible with Windows operating systems and not available for Mac OS users. On the other hand, Expression Builder is a specialized tool in Microsoft Access that helps create and construct expressions using available functions and objects. These expressions are essential for performing specific operations needed within Access formulas.

An advantage of using expression builder is that it can assist with performing lengthy and mundane calculations by simply entering a few values and text, allowing the tool to handle all the work. Additionally, it is a complimentary and integrated tool within Microsoft Access, eliminating any additional or undisclosed expenses. However, a drawback is that expression builder, provided by Microsoft Access, is not compatible with Apple Mac computers, and there are no plans for expansion to their operating system by Microsoft.

The production process involves conceptualization, which is the generation of ideas and innovations to create new concepts. This stage is crucial as it consolidates all the ideas and establishes the tasks and deadlines. Without proper conceptualization and planning, it becomes challenging to generate ideas and create a structured plan, resulting in a higher likelihood of mistakes during production due to lack of reference.

The design process is crucial in production as it involves generating and expanding on ideas, and creating a visual representation of the product with a specific goal in mind. It plays a significant role in refining concepts and ensuring the creation of a finished product. Excluding the design process from production would likely result in failure and reduced success, as the product would remain unrefined and limited to mere ideas or concepts.

Creation is the process of bringing something into existence by using ideas and designs. It involves the actual production of the product. The presence of creation is crucial in the production process because without it, there would be no final product. Therefore, it plays an important role in transforming the design into the finished product that can be used and tested. Implementation, on the other hand, involves incorporating new ideas and designs into existing projects to enhance them in various ways. It also refers to putting something into action. People use implementation to try and achieve targets and goals when there are issues or failures. For instance, if a cereal company like "Kellogg's" is experiencing poor sales of their cereal boxes, they could implement a strategy such as including a toy with each box to attract more customers. Without implementation in any projects or designs, there would be no innovation or progression of the original idea.

Testing involves checking for faults, assessing quality, examining reliability, and evaluating performance before using or implementing something. It entails conducting a series of tests to ensure that the object is suitable for its intended purpose and capable of performing a specific function. For example, Adobe Photoshop is equipped with features for editing and creating images, and it can effortlessly carry out those tasks.

If media products are not tested for faults and computer safety, there is a risk of them failing when used in the real world. Without tests, it is uncertain whether they can be used without any problems arising. Reviewing involves examining something, studying it, and providing opinions through face-to-face conversations and written reports. Evaluating, on the other hand, involves outlining fixes or highlights, carefully judging, and appraising.

Reviewing is crucial for media products like games as it allows us to identify goals for future development and analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Without evaluating a review, we cannot determine what aspects need to be fixed, how and when to address them, or discover opportunities for improvement. While reviewing focuses on weaknesses, evaluating helps us to understand how to enhance the product. Thus, both processes are essential.

Interactive media authoring is widely used in large companies and organizations like McDonalds for marketing, promotions, and advertising. McDonalds promotes its food and products globally through various forms of media, such as television, magazines, and bus tickets. The primary goal of these efforts is to enhance their marketing strategies and increase market share. One advantage of utilizing media authoring for promotion, marketing, and advertising is the ability to reach a vast audience by leveraging various media channels, including the internet, which is usually cost-free. However, a significant drawback is the potential high cost associated with promoting something through advertising. Although advertising on many websites may be free, it does not generate the same level of audience reach as platforms like Facebook or Google, which require a substantial financial investment that most individuals or small companies cannot afford.

Media authoring can entertain people through various means, such as games or interactive websites. A notable example is Nickelodeon, which has created a website offering games and videos solely for the purpose of entertaining its audience. The advantage of using media authoring for entertainment is that it can keep people happy and engaged for a specific duration. However, a drawback is that if the concept fails, the audience may become bored and disinterested in the media product.

Education, training, and assessment can be accomplished by utilizing media authoring. Schools like Hanson Academy employ media authoring to educate their students, employing videos, PowerPoint presentations, and flash movies for instruction. Rather than relying on traditional mediums such as books and paper, information is presented in digital formats. Similarly, companies and organizations such as HSBC bank can utilize media authoring to train their employees, sharing job procedures and steps through PowerPoint presentations. Training instructions are delivered in a convenient slide-by-slide format.

Assessments can be conducted by organizations and companies, like Apple, through the use of media authoring. They can evaluate their electronic products, such as the 'I phone', and identify areas for improvement in future models. This information can be presented in various formats, including PowerPoint presentations or the use of programs like mediator.

Using media authoring has several advantages when it comes to educating, training, and assessing individuals. Firstly, it allows for clearer presentation of information compared to books and written documents. Secondly, it has the ability to entertain the audience while simultaneously imparting knowledge and skills. This makes the process of accessing information and learning more enjoyable.

One drawback of utilizing media authoring for education, training, and assessment is the significant time investment required for setup compared to using books and written materials. Additionally, the software used to create educational media products tends to be costly, making it impractical in certain environments, particularly for those on a budget.

Media authoring is widely utilized by large businesses and organizations to create games, virtual reality experiences, and simulations for entertainment purposes. Additionally, it is an effective tool for educational purposes, combining fun with learning. The benefits of using media authoring tools in game design are evident - when executed correctly, it provides great entertainment value. However, one drawback is the high cost of the required software, which can be expensive in most cases.

Yahoo and BBC News are examples of news websites that utilize media authoring for journalism and information. Media authoring is employed to gather information and present it through videos and presentations. One benefit of employing media authoring in journalism is its ability to present information in a clear and engaging manner. Nevertheless, this process can be time-consuming as creating visually captivating content requires substantial effort and time.

One of the delivery formats for interactive media authoring products is the internet or the web. The web is advantageous as a delivery format because it is easily accessible from homes and smartphones. Additionally, media such as videos and images can be shared through popular social media websites like Facebook and Twitter.

One drawback is that internet users can easily copy and download copyrighted media ideas, like images and videos, without permission. It is your responsibility to address any infringement and protect your original content.

Using CD’s and DVD ROMS as a delivery format involves placing the media onto a disc that can be read by computers and DVD players. One advantage is that the media cannot be copied unless someone takes your CD, giving you control over who has access to the product. Additionally, CDs and DVDs are portable and can be taken anywhere. However, a disadvantage is that they are prone to scratches, rendering them useless if the CD drive cannot read the disc. They are also easily lost due to their small size. An alternative delivery format is interactive TV, where media is placed on a television and can be accessed using a remote control. This format is engaging and appealing to users, as it allows for easy access from a distance. However, it requires proper care and maintenance, as repairs can be expensive and time-consuming to get the media functioning again. Another option is putting media on mobile devices or in applications on platforms like the Android Market and IOS App store. This serves as another effective method of delivering media content.The use of media on mobile devices has its benefits in terms of reaching a larger audience, as the number of smartphones is on the rise. This means that more people will have the opportunity to view your media content. However, it's important to note that even with the increasing popularity of smartphones, there will still be individuals who lack access to such technology and thus won't be able to enjoy your media product.

Another drawback is the competition. If you are uploading your media as an application to platforms like the Android market and IOS app store, you will be competing with numerous other applications. Therefore, in order to succeed, your application must possess high quality. Moreover, including text in a media product has various benefits. It enhances comprehension by providing written information and descriptions about the content. Text is informative and serves to explain certain elements within the media, such as details about pictures and videos.

Images have the power to provide a realistic representation and effectively convey information that may be difficult to express through text or other elements. Moreover, images are visually captivating and can enhance audience engagement. They can also serve as a means to communicate specific messages, especially when presenting instructions such as assembling furniture like tables or wardrobes, where visual demonstrations are more comprehensible and user-friendly.