1) Explain multimedia authoring/metaphor and state some common metaphors

Authoring -- the process of creating multimedia applications

Authoring metaphor, also known as authoring paradigm, is the methodology for authoring
multimedia applications.

The following are some of the common one metaphor;

1. Scripting Language Metaphor

o use a special language to enable interactivities (button, mouse, etc), and to allow
conditionals, jumps, loops, functions/macros
o e.g., Open Script in Tool book by Asymetrix
o
2. Slide Show Metaphor
o by default a linear presentation
o e.g., PowerPoint, ImageQ
o
3. Hierarchical Metaphor
o organized into a tree structure
o seen often in menu-driven applications
o
4. Iconic/Flow-control Metaphor
o graphical icons and flow chart to help authoring
o e.g., Author ware by Macromedia
o
5. Card/Scripting Metaphor
o index-card structure, good for hypertext/hypermedia
o e.g., Super Card, HyperCard by Apple
6. Cast/Score/Scripting Metaphor
o with cast members, music scores, and scripting language; many synchronous
horizontal "tracks" simultaneously shown in vertical columns;
o e.g., Director by Macromedia (it uses Lingo as its scripting language)

2).Explain static and dynamic environment in multimedia

 Static Environment

A static environment consists of unchanging surroundings in which the agent navigates. The
agent, then, does not need to adapt to new situations, nor do its designers need to concern
themselves with the issue of inconsistencies of the world model within the agent itself. An
example of such an environment would be a bare office setting, where the doorways and halls
never change, and there are no moving objects.
 Although this is an ideal environment for an agent to navigate in, the actual world is not at all
static, and the goal of such projects is to create an agent that can navigate in the "real" world,
which usually is dynamic.

 Dynamic environment
A dynamic environment consists of changing surroundings in which the agent navigates.
So unlike the static case, the agent must adapt to new situations and overcome possibly
unpredictable obstacles (problems).

3.) Explain interactive and no interactive virtual environments in multimedia.

 Interactive

Interactive media allow the viewer to become an active participant in the presentation,
whether by directly interacting with the presenter, by making asynchronous comments,
or (in some cases) directly modifying the content of the presentation

Interactive media is related to the concepts interaction design, new media, interactivity, human
computer interaction, cyber culture, digital culture, and includes specific cases such as, for
example, interactive television, interactive narrative, interactive advertising, algorithmic art,
videogames, social media, ambient intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality.

It includes

i. Video conferencing
ii. Live text chat
iii. Web based bulletin boards

 No interactive

Non-interactive streaming media are the most common forms of sound and video files.
The user has a limited amount of control over what he or she sees (usually the user
controls are limited to simple start/stop/rewind/fast forward buttons).

Includes

I. Streaming Audio

RealPlayer

RealPlayer is a system for distributing audio and video content over the web. It makes
small files, and can handle multiple connection speeds in the same file.
II. Streaming Video

Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player is Microsoft's answer to QuickTime. As with QuickTime, it is

available for both platforms, though Mac users must download and install the software.
Image quality and file compression are good. Windows Media Player is free.

4.) Single user and multimedia interactive virtual environment.

i. Single user

Single user mode is a mode in which a multiuser computer operating system boots into a single
super user. It is mainly used for maintenance of multi-user environments such as network
servers. Some tasks may require exclusive access to shared resources, for example running suck
on a network share. This mode may also be used for security purposes - network services are not
run, eliminating the possibility of outside interference. On some systems a lost super user
password can be changed by switching to single user mode, but not asking for the password in
such circumstances is viewed as a security vulnerability.

ii. Interactive virtual environment

Interactive Virtual Environment combines multimedia, scalable computing and network enabled
connectivity to provide a complete IT-ready platform for developing and supporting truly
collaborative, multiplayer interactive virtual environments.
JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF
AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

BACHEROL OF BUSSINESS
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

GROUP D

UNIT: MULTIMEDIAASSIGNMENT

NAME: FRANCO NGUGI

REG NO: HD-232-1920/2007