Macromedia Authorware
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Predecessor
Authorware was originally a company founded in 1987 by Michael Allen, as well as the multimedia product they produced. Authorware is an interpreted, flowchart based, graphical programming language. Authorware is used for creating interactive programs that can integrate sound, text, graphics, simple animation, and digital movies. Allen originally helped in the development of the PLATO collaborative learning system during the 1970s.
Basic Usage
Authorware programs start by creating a flowline, which is a flowchart showing the structure of the user's program. The user can add and manage text, graphics, animation, sound and video; develop interactivity and add navigational elements such as links, buttons, and menus. Macromedia Flash and Macromedia Director movies can also be integrated into an Authorware project. Xtras, or add-ins, can also be used to extend the functionality of Authorware, which is similar to HyperCard's XCMDs. Authorware's power can be even better utilized with the use of variables, functions and expressions.
The Road of Merging
Authorware merged with MacroMind-Paracomp in 1992 to form Macromedia. In 2005, Adobe and Macromedia signed an agreement to merge, with the new company retaining the Adobe Systems name. As of December 3, 2005, that merger was finalized.
Macromedia Authorware
Today, one of the most widely used e-learning authoring applications is Macromedia's Authorware. Authoring applications like Authorware are mainly used for producing multimedia, interactive, instructional products, but can also be used for the development of prototype and "one off" multimedia products.
Instructional content can include anything the author desires, from demonstrating how to change a tire to complex industrial or medical procedures. Little scripting is required to create simple, media-rich applications, which makes it appealing to businesses and schools that want to make training tools but cannot train their staff to use a complicated program. However, the more advanced the required features of the final product, the more manual scripting may be necessary. In Authorware 7, scripting can be done either in Authorware's native scripting language or in JavaScript.
As you can see from the screenshot, although it may appear confusing if you are unfamiliar with it, you can develop simple applications without much scripting. Macromedia Authorware uses simple dialog boxes to customize a given icon's behavior, content and properties.
Authorware is probably the only authoring tool today that offers powerful capabilities be it creating complex simulations or simple page turner CBTs or WBTs. Most other packages today though they offer wizards to create CBT/WBT packages are mostly used for page-turner style CBT/WBT packages. Authorware interacts with flash swf files to create really cool interactive CBT/WBT packages.
Among others, Authorware can be used to create e-learning content for delivery via CD, data DVD, network, and over the web using its own player. Being both AICC and SCORM -compliant, Authorware can also be used to deliver content via any AICC or SCORM -compliant Learning Management System. A variety of media types can be integrated with Authorware, such as Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Director, digital video in a variety of formats, digital audio, some MIDI, a large variety of image formats, and Powerpoint. Authorware also has very powerful file system functionality and can be extended with third-party "Xtras" and ".u32's".
The current version of Authorware is 7.02.
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