home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
No Fragments Archive 10: Diskmags
/
nf_archive_10.iso
/
MAGS
/
ATUPDATE
/
ATUPDT01.MSA
/
HYPERMED.ASC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
2010-04-22
|
3KB
|
67 lines
========================
Hypermedia - What is it?
========================
Hypermedia is a way of presenting information, graphics,
text, sound samples and animation, altogether in one
program. It was first "invented" on the Apple Mac by a
program called Hypercard which is still very famous today.
This program allows you to display information very simply.
Let's say you want a contents page where if people click on
a subject, they will be moved onto that subject. And then
when they're on that subject, they can click on other
things which will then display graphics, sound samples and
animations, and perhaps even more text. Well all this is
possible thanks to Hypercard on the Apple Mac, but what
about on the ST?
Well, it's also possible, thanks to the PD market. There are
four programs which can be split into two categories;
Hypertext and Hypermultimedia. Hypertext systems are mainly
involved in displaying text information, while
Hypermultimedia systems are designed for all sorts of jobs;
playing samples, playing animations, viewing pictures and
showing text.
The two Hypertext systems are called First Guide and Hype.
They are both brilliant for showing text information and
they can show graphics and sounds, but not as well as the
other programs. In fact they'd be brilliant as a text or
reference type book. Unfortunately, 1st Guide's manual
doesn't have an English manual.
The other two Hyper-Multimedia systems are called
Connections and HyperBase. Connections is very, very simple
to use but only works in high res, while HyperBase works in
medium resolution and is a little harder to get to grips
with; but not by much! They are both more graphically
inclined, their text handling isn't as good as on the
Hypertext systems. It would be best to choose these programs
if you want to show off graphics, or play samples, along
with a description of some sort.
Then comes the commercial package, Hyperlink. This is based
on the Apple Mac's program, Hypercard. Because of this,
Hyperlink can display and handle dBase files which are now
very standard. Hyperlink can display practically anything,
and if you really want to get into hypermedia then Hyperlink
is the ultimate choice.
Unfortunately, the amount of information that can be shown
is limited to the amount of space on a floppy - or if you
don't want to distribute your work, your hard drive. Now
floppy disks on the ST can only display 720k of info and
after deducting 200k for the program you're left with 520k.
Graphics files take up about 32k each, and samples can take
up around 100k for eight seconds. You've guessed it; you're
not going to be able to fit a lot on there. The Falcon can
fit twice the amount on its floppies because they are high
density, but still there is not enough room. Floptical disks
are a good idea, as are magneto-opticals, but these aren't
standard. So what else is there? CD-ROM of course. Yes, I
know you can't write to it, but already on the PC you are
getting things like "The Encyclopaedia of Animals" on CD-
ROM for as little as £29.99. Imagine - you might even see
Atari Update on CD one day; or the glossies. Of course, the
ST will be long gone then.....