Hyperstudio Authoring Tool
Hyperstudio creates interactive software which is more memory efficient than just about any other tool. Hyperstudio's central analogy is to a stack of cards. Cards each represent a different "scene" of the program and can be switched at any rate and in any order to create the full program. To read more about Hyperstudio, visit the Hyperstudio home page at http://www.HyperStudio.com
Advantages of Hyperstudio
- Requires Very Low RAM Usage on the Client's Computer: Hyperstudio programs will run on the 4 MB Computers of Blessed Sacrament or on any other system which can not be counted upon to have necessarily have a large amount of RAM available. Hyperstudio creates a project that is quite easy to be installed on most any system and will not require a large amount of resources. Due to this, it is likely that anyone who downloads a Hyperstudio project will be able to use it properly.
- Simplicty of an Object-Centered Environment. Other than its reliance on Global Variables, the scripting process in Hyperstudio is Object-centered. Objects can be made to very easily interact using these methods.
- Fairly Flexible and Adaptable Environment. If you are faced with a memory constraint, the Hyperstudio tool can be made to do many of the capabilities of Authorware. However, many interactivity features are far easier in Authorware.
- Effects. Built in Effects in the current version allow Hyperstudio programs to appear a little flashier, with little-to-no memory consequence.
Disadvantages of Hyperstuido
- Extremely Limited Capacity for Animation. Animation in Hyperstudio is both difficult and limited. Generally, only one object at a time can be animated, and this animation is quite bumpy.
- Inability to use Digital Media. Effective use of Digital Videos, Movies, or long sound files is not possible.
- Limited Use of Graphics and Sound. Program size grows quite rapidly when a large number of graphics and sound files are utilized, as does the RAM requirement to run the program. Thus, a program using a large amount of sounds and graphics cannot take advantage of the memory efficiency of Hyperstudio.
- Bugs. The Hyperstudio Environment, while much better now than in the last release, is still not perfect. Bugs in the program caused a number of groups last year to experience file errors. Much care must be taken to make frequent back-ups, as it was these back-ups which saved more than one group from having to recode nearly their entire program.
- Lack of Changeability. Programs made in Hyperstudio must be planned well in advance, as Hyperstudio presents a number of difficulties for those seeking to make certain changes in their program. For example, a group last year who wished to simply change the screen size had to import all their Graphics over again.
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Send any questions to Ross Lipsky