VideoPaper Builder-Multimedia Creation Tool

VideoPaper Builder is a tool for use in creating VideoPapers, that is, multimedia documents that link and synchronize video, text, and slides. The software imports the user's text, image, and video files, and exports a single, cohesive document that can be viewed in a browser, such as Netscape or Internet Explorer. VideoPapers can be published in CD-ROM or posted on the Internet.

VideoPaper documents consist of three main frames: video, text, and slides. These frames are created using HTML. The video frame, in the top left corner, contains a QuickTime video and controller. The slide frame, beneath the video, maintains a space in which images synchronized to the video appear. Additional text or images linked from the main text can also be shown in the slide frame. Text selections appear in a drop-down menu at the top right. The text can be linked to the video, and vice versa, through hyperlinks.

The beta version of the software is available (with demo and tutorial) at brp.terc.edu/VPB/vpb.html. It runs on OS 9 for the Macintosh. TERC has partnered with the Concord Consortium to develop a cross-platform, updated version of the software. VPB2 will be available in 2003.