Towards a multimedia formatting vocabulary

Time-based, media-centric Web presentations can be described declaratively in the XML world through the development of languages such as SMIL. It is difficult, however, to fully integrate them in a complete document transformation processing chain. In order to achieve the desired processing of data-driven, time-based, media-centric presentations, the text-flow based formatting vocabularies used by style languages such as XSL, CSS and DSSSL need to be extended. The paper presents a selection of use cases which are used to derive a list of requirements for a multimedia style and transformation formatting vocabulary. The boundaries of applicability of existing text-based formatting models for media-centric transformations are analyzed. The paper then discusses the advantages and disadvantages of a fully-fledged time-based multimedia formatting model. Finally, the discussion is illustrated by describing the key properties of the example multimedia formatting vocabulary currently implemented in the back-end of our Cuypers multimedia transformation engine

Towards a multimedia formatting vocabulary

Time-based, media-centric Web presentations can be described declaratively in the XML world through the development of languages such as SMIL. It is difficult, however, to fully integrate them in a complete document transformation processing chain. In order to achieve the desired processing of data-driven, time-based, media-centric presentations, the text-flow based formatting vocabularies used by style languages such as XSL, CSS and DSSSL need to be extended. The paper presents a selection of use cases which are used to derive a list of requirements for a multimedia style and transformation formatting vocabulary. The boundaries of applicability of existing text-based formatting models for media-centric transformations are analyzed. The paper then discusses the advantages and disadvantages of a fully-fledged time-based multimedia formatting model. Finally, the discussion is illustrated by describing the key properties of the example multimedia formatting vocabulary currently implemented in the back-end of our Cuypers multimedia transformation engine

Processing Structured Hypermedia : A Matter of Style

With the introduction of the World Wide Web in the early nineties, hypermedia has become the uniform interface to the wide variety of information sources available over the Internet. The full potential of the Web, however, can only be realized by building on the strengths of its underlying research fields. This book describes the areas of hypertext, multimedia, electronic publishing and the World Wide Web and points out fundamental similarities and differences in approaches towards the processing of information. It gives an overview of the dominant models and tools developed in these fields and describes the key interrelationships and mutual incompatibilities. In addition to a formal specification of a selection of these models, the book discusses the impact of the models described on the software architectures that have been developed for processing hypermedia documents. Two example hypermedia architectures are described in more detail: the DejaVu object-oriented hypermedia framework, developed at the VU, and CWI's Berlage environment for time-based hypermedia document transformations

Creating harmonious and legible colour schemes in the automated generation of multimedia presentations

Due to the growing amount of information on the web, the user specific requirements and different characteristics of output devices, the opportunities for the automatic generation of multimedia presentations grow. The multimedia presentation generator, that resides in a dynamic environment, such as a museum website, where the user requirements, presentation device characteristics, presentation content and the domain characteristics are not known in advance, needs to be able to compose a presentation. With respect to stylistic design, graphic designers can create a template providing stylistic aspects, but as soon as any of the dynamic attributes of the system change this can result in the need for redesign. We argue that with the correct balance between form and function and by using relevant aspects of design theory, the automatic presentation generator can keep harmony and legibility factors in balance. The aim of this work is to demonstrate this approach on the example of automatic colour design with the use of colour theory from Itten and Tufte. By taking required legibility factors into account, harmonious and well balanced colour schemes, adapted to the requirements of the user, the characteristics of the presentation platform, the content's domain and discourse model can be created. We apply our approach to the domain of presentation environments for musea for fine arts

Improving Formatting Documents by Coupling Formatting Systems

International audienceIn this paper, we present a framework for coupling an existing formatting system such as SMIL or Madeus with a formatting control system called XEF. This framework allows the coupling process to be performed at two levels: 1) the language level, which is concerned with how to link the control features of XEF and the elements of an existing formatting system, and 2) the formatter level, which deals with the creation of a new formatter by formatter composition. The overall objective is to provide more powerful and flexible formatting services to cover new needs such as adaptive and/or generated presentations

UNIVERSITY LECTURERS’ INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS IN RELATION TO COMPUTER-MEDIATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Internet and its allied Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools and resources is changing both the processand product of education with new and creative ways of learning and teachers’ professional development. Skills in informationprocessing are key factors to technology use among individuals and groups in facilitating effective classroom interaction throughcomputer-mediated communications and computer-mediated professional development. This paper examines information literacyskills of university lecturers in relation to ICT tools and resources that are applicable to faculty development such as; e-learning,e-mail communication, interactive multimedia, electronic discussion groups, discussion forum and emerging technologies. Thestudy involved a total of 142 participants randomly selected from five Universities located in two geo-political zones (South Westand North East) in Nigeria. Findings revealed higher information literacy skills among university lecturers in information literacyskills of tool, resource, research and publishing. Findings further imply that participants are technologically-capable in line withUNESCO ICT-Competency Standards for Teachers as participants reported effective use of most of the computer-mediatedprofessional development modes. The study recommends adoption of computer-mediated professional development by academicinstitutions, professional bodies, and associations. It also suggests e-mentoring among academic staff with collaborative efforts intechnology adoption within and among universities and inter-university institutions for professional development. It concludesthat lecturers without key information processing skills may find it difficult if not impossible, to cope with the pace of new andemerging technologies in their teaching career.Keywords: University Lecturers, Information Processing, Skills, Professional Development, Computer-Mediated ProfessionalDevelopment