Quick Interactivity Using Adobe Acrobat  

This article describes how to quickly add an interactive interface to any collection of Portable Document Format (PDF) documents. It demonstrates how one document author put on three hats - DTPer, Designer and “Programmer” - to deliver a quick and inexpensive solution to providing interactive, serverbased access to company policies and procedures.

Miller, Gordon. STC Proceedings (1998). Design>Multimedia>Interactive

Recordable DVD: Worth the Wait or Worth Waiting For?

It may be a bit hasty to declare the end of the CD-ROM era, but the signposts are pointing in that direction. Although the CD provides a convenient way for presenters to store multimedia, distribute data and back up hard drives, the medium's space limits in the coming era of 100GB and larger hard drives and ever more ambitious multimedia projects will become increasingly evident. Indeed, many see the recordable DVD as the next killer app in computing – the one that makes the most compelling use of all that digital horsepower sitting idle on desktops everywhere, at home and at the office. More than a million recordable-DVD drives were sold in 2001, and the market research firm International Data Corp. (IDC) predicts that number will grow to more than 30 million by 2005. Apple, Compaq, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Sony and other major computer manufacturers already ship recordable-DVD drives with their top-of-the-line models. Drives supporting the highly anticipated DVD+RW format (a format presenters should like because of its greater flexibility and superior write speed) have finally hit the market. And, as with almost all digital technology, recordable-DVD drives and media, not to mention video camcorders and software, are getting cheaper and more widely available by the day.

Kawamoto, Wayne. Presentations (2003). Articles>Presentations>Multimedia>DVD

Requirements for Embedding Macromedia Flash Movies in Microsoft Powerpoint Presentations

Embedding is based on the Shockwave Flash Microsoft ActiveX component, an ActiveX component created by Macromedia that allows its content to run in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Flashgeek (2005). Articles>Presentations>Multimedia>Flash

Research-Based Guidelines For Visual Interface Design  

Whether it is for a help system, a multimedia training product, or a software application, there are two key elements needed for good screen design: knowledge of the applicable research, and the ability to balance aesthetic appeal with functionality. This paper focuses on research into the specific human factors that affect how users interact with the visual display of information, and provides guidelines for how to apply the research results. The author adds information from his own interface design and usability testing experiences at Microsoft.

Prekeges, James G. STC Proceedings (1994). Presentations>User Interface>Multimedia>Visual Rhetoric

Review: Review of 'Podcasting Solutions: Complete Guide to Podcasting'

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Podcasting Solutions: A Complete Guide to Podcasting by Michael W. Goeghegan and Dan Klass. I was able to digest the material quickly. The frustrating thing for me was that the title just didn't seem to fit the approachable and practical content that made the book such a treasure. For example, the subtitle 'A Complete Guide' is a bit overstated, because it is not a compendium but a getting starting guide. Especially as time goes by and the field progresses, and more techniques and tools are developed, this book will become more out of date.

Albing, Bill. KeyContent.org (2006). Articles>Reviews>Multimedia>Podcasting

Rich Media Management and Business Agility

Understanding how rich media assets are used by the enterprise, of course, remains the central prerequisite for the enterprise’s ability to capitalize on the deployment of a rich media content management platform. The keys to a successful platform for rich media management include an approach to development based on service-oriented architectures (SOA) and a rich underlying content repository that exposes both the content and its metadata.

Trippe, Bill. Gilbane Report (2004). Articles>Content Management>Multimedia

Say It in Multimedia: Crash Course in New-Media Literacy  

Come to our demonstration to learn how to combine media to better communicate complex concepts. We’ll show step-by-step procedures, tutorials, and games—all using multimedia to communicate hard business and technical information.

Horton, William K. III and Katherine W. Horton. STC Proceedings (1996). Design>Multimedia>TC

Script Design for Information Film and Video-Intermediate  

In this all-day seminar we'll expand the knowledge we garnered in the basic seminar on script design for the information film and video or on our experience. We'll explore advanced concepts in the grammar of film and video and learn new filmic design techniques. Throughout the seminar we'll view and critique a number of films and videos to see how other producers have applied such filmic techniques to solving specific communication problems.

Shelton, S. Martin 'Marty'. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Multimedia>Writing

Script Design for Information Film, Video, and Multimedia  

In this all-day seminar we'll explore the basic concepts in the grammar of film, video, and multimedia; and we'll learn some filmic design techniques. Throughout the seminar we'll view and critique a number of films and videos to see how other producers have applied such filmic techniques to solving specific communication problems.

Shelton, S. Martin 'Marty'. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Multimedia

Script Design for Information Film, Video, and Multimedia  

In this all-day seminar we'll explore the basic concepts in the grammars and syntax of kinetic sight-and sound media: film, video, and multimedia. We'll not discuss how to write scipts. Rather we'll concentrate on learning how to encode information into kinetic visual images using filmic design techniques. Throughout this seminar we'll view and critique award-winning j%ns and videos, and explore a multimedia flowchart to see how others have applied such filmic techniques to solve specific communication problems.

Shelton, S. Martin 'Marty'. STC Proceedings (1997). Design>Multimedia>Video

Script Design for Information: Film, Video, and Multimedia  

In this all-day seminar we’ll explore the basic concepts in the grammar of film, video, and multimedia; and we’ll learn some filmic design techniques. Throughout the seminar we’ll view and critique a number of films and videos to see how other producers have applied such filmic techniques to solving specific communication problems.

Shelton, S. Martin 'Marty' and Nicole van Beeck. STC Proceedings (1996). Design>Multimedia

Semantic Flash: Slippery When Wet

There's a belief within the web standards community that Flash is part of a different world. While all approaches have limitations and drawbacks, Flash has been scorned to the point that many refuse to acknowledge its benefits. Ultimately, this has led to the creation of a virtual separation among web designers; those who use Flash use it exclusively (leading to a saturation of full-screen, 'Skip Intro'-rich Flash sites on the web) and those who don't ever give it a second thought. Although the brilliant option of the hybrid (part Flash, part HTML) site had always existed, it's never really made it far past the typical Flash intro on a corporate homepage. Throughout the history of Flash on the web, the technology has always been intended to be embedded within HTML. Yet it has often seemed a foreign concept to use the two technologies to complement one another.

Mall, Dan. List Apart, A (2007). Design>Web Design>Multimedia>Flash

Sennheiser Wireless Lavalier Microphones

Discusses how to use Sennheiser EW112P(A) Wireless Lavalier Microphones to ensure high-quality audio in video multimedia projects.

Tesdell, Ramsey and Zach Paskiet. Studio for New Media (2004). Articles>Documentation>Multimedia>Audio

Show Me Demos and Captivate

In this audio-visual age, technical writers need an easy way to deliver Flash-based, dynamic screen demos for their help content.

Johnson, Tom H. and Kevin Siegel. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Documentation>Multimedia>Flash

A Slideshow in HTML+TIME

What if you wanted your Web page to give a visual presentation of rotating graphics and text? You could create a massive animated GIF and let it do its work. Or you could create a RealPix and RealText presentation using RealPlayer. Or, with the SMIL power of HTML+TIME, you could do the same in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Kennedy, Tim. Streaming Media World (2001). Design>Web Design>Multimedia>SMIL

SMIL Tips and Tricks

SMIL, as more people are beginning to appreciate, can be used for a variety of applications, such as interactive video, video on demand, online training, audio, animation, and more, in ways that were previously unavailable. With SMIL, the ability to create rich media presentations is simplified and is available to any user with a computer and an Internet connection.

Segal, Nathan. Streaming Media World (2002). Design>Multimedia>Streaming>SMIL

SMIL When You Play That: A Gentle Introduction to SMIL + SVG

SMIL is an easy-to-learn, HTML-like language for creating 'TV-like multimedia presentations such as training courses on the Web,' according to the W3C. The current SMIL recommendation is 1.0, and you can read all about it at the W3C address cited immediately above, and at another one we’ll mention later. This is our way of avoiding adding fifty pages to this article.

Zeldman, Jeffrey. List Apart, A (2001). Design>Information Design>Multimedia>SMIL

Some Notes on Simulacra Machines, Flash in First-Year Composition, and Tactics in Spaces of Interruption  

This article is an examination of the discourse surrounding a new media tool, Macromedia's Flash, and a discussion of a qualitative study of Flash's use by students as part of an electronic portfolio assignment in a first-year composition course. My article explores how the software industry constructs Flash as a discursive object for the regulation of information flow, while also examining how the present generation of students interacts with these new media environments, making meaning within them through the use of simulacra tools.

Ellertson, Anthony. Kairos (2003). Articles>Education>Multimedia>Flash

Sony HDV HC1 High-Definition Camcorder

Introduces the high-definition Sony HDV-HC1 digital camcorder for technical/professional communication practice.

Karlin, Erin and Amy Tehan. Studio for New Media (2006). Articles>Document Design>Multimedia>Video

Stairway to Expertise

Tools like Captivate, Camtasia, and TurboDemo make it possible for teachers and communicators to create effective software simulations--without programming. Even simple presentation tools, such as PowerPoint can create truly interactive simulations.

Horton, William K. III. WritersUA (2005). Articles>Multimedia>Interaction Design

Storyboarding and Collaboration  

For technical communicators, storyboarding is a path to collaboration with team members and users. Collaboration and storyboarding help technical communicators get new ideas, find new structures, and discover new modes of expression. In this workshop, you will learn about storyboards and how to develop them. You will also participate in exercises on conducting and collaborating on a storyboard review and on writing a storyboard specification. You will discover how collaboration helps create the context, organization, and design of a document through the use of storyboards.

Trapasso, Linda S. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Multimedia>Collaboration>Writing

Strategies for Using Compressed Video Effectively  

Interactive media for distance training require special presentational strategies. Compressed video, an interactive medium using fiber optics, has unique characteristics which users must know. The video creates a lack of direct eye contact and a sense of separation. The compression creates flattened images and extremes of colors. Effective presenters in this medium must plan concise, horizontal graphics. They must schedule short, varied activities with limited use of uninterrupted lecture. And they must plan frequent interactive activities--such as questions, group work, and demonstrations--for an effective session.

Connors, Patricia E. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>Multimedia>Streaming>Video

Strategies of Influence for Interaction Designers

Unless you have the power to make business and development decisions for your project, some of your energy will be spent influencing those who do. Experienced usability engineers or interaction designers may have limited skill in influence, despite how significantly it can effect their ability to contribute to projects. It’s the smartest and most effective designers that work to understand the human to human interaction within their project teams, as part of their work towards better human to computer interaction.

Berkun, Scott. UIWeb (2001). Design>Web Design>Interaction Design>Multimedia

Streaming Media

Streaming media is a method for delivering multimedia content, where video, audio, graphics, and animation can all play simultaneous roles in the presentation.

The advantage of streaming media is that you can start viewing the presentation almost immediately while the file itself is still being sent from the server; there is no waiting period while all the component files are first downloaded to your hard drive. When the presentation is over, none of the component files remain on your computer.

Dereg, Tim. Orange Journal, The (2001). Design>Web Design>Streaming>Multimedia