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Visual Metaphors.

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:

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.



Next: Connection to Scripting Up: Application Program Interface Previous: Application Program Interface


ivan@petunia.cwi.nl
Tue Jan 25 14:21:49 MET 1994