Intro to Authorware Brian Boyce
Advanced Authoring 57.581
Sara Boyce
November 6, 2007
What Is Authorware? y Macromedia/Adobe product y Flowchart/icon based visual authoring tool y Used to create rich media media, interactive ee-learning learning
applications
Historyy of Authorware y Originally g yp produced byy Authorware Inc. { Founded by Dr. Michael Allen in 1987 y Originally titled Course of Action (CoA) { Macintosh only y Authorware Inc. merged with MacroMind/Paracomp { Formed d Macromedia di iin 1992 y Macromedia/Adobe merged in 2005 { Formed Adobe Systems y Most recent version of Authorware is Version 7 { Released in 2003
The End of Authorware y Version 8 was in production before merger { 4 Beta versions released { New features include ability to publish to Flash’s SWF { To be released in late 2007 y Production shifted to Adobe’s off shore facility { Located in Bangalore, India y Information flow between Macromedia engineering
teams and beta testers halted y Officially Offi i ll ended d d on August A t3 3, 2007 { {
Adobe claims eLearning market transitioned to Flash and Captivate Demand has declined
Features of Authorware V. 7 y Flowchart/icons show structure of developer’s
program y Add and manage {
text graphics, text, graphics animations animations, sound sound, and video
y Add interactivity and navigational elements { links, menus and buttons y Integrate Flash MX and Director movies y Utilize functions, variables y Interpret built-in scripting language and JavaScript
Version 1.5 y Distribute as executable files or over the web {
Authorware Web Player
Authorware V. 7 and eLearning g y Customizable templates p for CBT and WBT { Includes assessment tools y No need for programming skills y Straight-forward flowchart model y AICC and SCORM compliant { Deliver content via any AICC/SCORM compliant LMS y Beyond templates { Import Flash l h MX movies i or scripting i i
Authorware V.7 7 Pros
Cons
(in (i 2003))
(i 2007)) (in
y Import PPT
y y y y
presentations, Flash presentations movies, DVD videos Playback on Mac OSX Supports JavaScript Integrated with various LMS Ease ase o of use for o tthee nono programmer
y No support for
Windows Vista or IE7 y No future updates available y Outdated
Cost for Authorware V.7 7 y Free 3 30 dayy trial y Upgrade from versions 5.x and 6.0 for $899 y Upgrade pg from version 6.5 5 for $399 y Purchase full product for $2,999
http://www.adobe.com/products/authorware/
Intro to Authorware Brian Boyce
Advanced Authoring 57.581
Sara Boyce
November 6, 2007
What is Authorware? → Macromedia/Adobe Product → Flowchart/icon based authoring tool → Creates rich media, eLearning applications History of Authorware → Founded in 1987 → Titled “Course of Action”, for Macintosh only → Authorware merged with MacroMind/Paracomp to form Macromedia in 1992 → Macromedia merged with Adobe in 2005/Authorware acquired in merger → Authorware Version 7 released in 2003 The End of Authorware → Version 8 and 4 beta versions in production before merger in 2005 → Information flow between Macromedia teams and beta testers halted → Adobe announced the officially ending of Authorware in August 2007 Features of Authorware 7 → Flowchart/icon show structure of developer’s program → Add interactivity and navigational elements → Add and manage text, graphics, animations and videos → Integrate Flash MX and Director movies → Interprets built‐in scripting and JavaScript 1.5 → Distribute as an executable file or over the web
Authorware and eLearning → Customizable templates for WBT and CBT → No programming skills needed → Straight‐forward flowchart model → AICC and SCORM compliant → Import Flash MX movies or use scripting Authorware 7: Pros and Cons Pros (2003) Cons (2007) Import PPT presentations, Flash MX movies No support for Vista or IE 7 Playback on Mac OSX No future updates will be available Supports Javascript Outdated Integrate with various LMS Ease of use for non‐programmer Costs → Free 30 day trial → Upgrade from versions 5.x or 6.0 $899.00 → Upgrade from version 6.5 for $399.00 → Buy full product for $2,999.00 http://www.adobe.com/products/authorware/