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The visual representation and control of media objects is not always
obvious. Indeed, to control certain attributes of media objects,
relatively complex visual tools, with associated interaction, have to be
developed. These tools may then be used on different levels: in program
development, in authoring, or in the final playback of authored
documents. These visual metaphors play an essential role in
defining complex interactions operating on the objects; indeed, it is
sometimes much easier to attach a sensor to these metaphor objects,
rather than to try to define a sensor on the object proper
(see §3.2.4).
There are numerous examples for such visual metaphors. Just to give some
examples:
- Video control board for stopping, playing, rewinding, providing
fast forward and backward motion, etc.
- Audio panel containing volume control, channel control, etc.
- Control boards for the manipulation of graphics object attributes
(colour, lighting, shading attributes, etc.)
All these objects, collectively called visual metaphor
objects, are part of the MADE utility library. Other utilities
(primarily the editors, see §4.2), reuse these objects,
thereby providing a common look-and-feel among MADE utilities.
MADE applications may of course choose to ignore these objects and to
implement similar user interface facilities by themselves.
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