Multimedia Authoring

Authoring software can be used to create multimedia applications that allow users to interact with the program by using hotspots, hyperlinks and buttons.

Authoring programs usually include a bit of everything: audio, video, photographs, artwork, animations and most importantly, interactivity.

Authoring software can be used to create:

• Interactive CD-ROMs like multimedia encyclopedias and computer games
• Kiosk-style information booths like the ones displaying tourist information
• Web sites

Special fonts, Word Art and font manipulation software allow you to alter the appearance of text that has to be printed. However, you can also add text effects to words as they appear or disappear on screen. For example: flashing, fade in or out and dissolve.

Graphic effects are used to enhance the way pictures appear on screen. Instead of everything appearing on screen at once, effects such as flash, fade in or out and dissolve can be used to introduce pictures in a variety of ways.

This refers to the link between two or more screens of information.

Example 1: if you open the home page of a web site and move the cursor around, it often changes from a pointer to a hand. The words or picture under the hand is a called a hyperlink and is used to move from the current page to another page. The hyperlink links one web page to another.

Example 2: if you are using a CD-ROM that displays maps of the world and move the cursor around, you will find buttons or hotspots that let you move to another screen. These are also examples of links between one page and another