January 30, 19985th TDML Conference1 The Trials & Tribulations of Developing Cross-Platform Multimedia Applications in Music Education Dr. Scott D. Lipscomb, Institute for Music Research UTSA Division of Music

January 30, 19985th TDML Conference2 Scientific Method l Formulate Question of the Real World l Review Literature l Design Experiment to Answer Question l Gather Data l Analyze & Interpret Data l Create/Modify Model

January 30, 19985th TDML Conference3 Overview & History l Operationally define “cross-platform” l My early experiments with software development –user-friendly GUI –Windows Development tools l Creating cross-platform versions –eventually allow WWW access

January 30, 19985th TDML Conference4 Programming Style: Antiquated FOR x = 1 TO UBOUND(UsedDurs!) IF DurCount2(x) < 70 THEN LOCATE x z, 1 PRINT LTRIM$(LEFT$(STR$(UsedDurs!(x)), 8)); LOCATE x z, 10 PRINT STRING$(DurCount2(x), "*") ELSE LOCATE x z, 1 PRINT LTRIM$(LEFT$(STR$(UsedDurs!(x)), 8)); FOR y = 1 TO DurCount2(x) \ 70 LOCATE x z, 10 PRINT STRING$(70, "*") z = z + 1 NEXT y LOCATE x z, 10 PRINT STRING$(DurCount2(x) MOD 70, "*") END IF NEXT x CALL CenterLine(23, "Would you like a hardcopy? (Y/N)")

January 30, 19985th TDML Conference5 Programming Style: Antiquated                   

January 30, 19985th TDML Conference6 Scripting l Hypercard/Supercard (Mac) l Authorware (Mac) l Toolbook (PC) l Director (Mac/PC)

January 30, 19985th TDML Conference7 Traditional Programming Languages l Fortran l Basic l Pascal lClC l C++ l Unix l Java

January 30, 19985th TDML Conference8 Programming: The Next Generation l Visual Basic l Visual C++ l Visual J++

January 30, 19985th TDML Conference9 Ease of Use & Design l Graphical User Interface –Objects with Properties l User Interaction –Events –Methods

January 30, 19985th TDML Conference10 Software Development l Visual Basic –Signal –MEDS l Visual C++ –Signal l Director –Lingo –Plug-Ins

January 30, 19985th TDML Conference11 Conclusions l Visual Basic –relatively easy to learn and use –not cross-platform –no easy WWW access (ActiveX) l VC++ –steep learning curve –cross-platform edition adds another level of complexity –no easy WWW access (ActiveX)

January 30, 19985th TDML Conference12 Conclusions l Director –Powerful with the use of Lingo & Plug-Ins –cross-platform (Mac/PC) –WWW access with Shockwave –Limited by built-in functionality l Other possible solutions: –Java –DHTML

January 30, 19985th TDML Conference13 Contact Information: Dr. Scott D. Lipscomb Institute for Music Research UTSA Division of Music 6900 N. Loop 1604 West San Antonio, TX phone:(210) FAX:(210) WWW: