|
Manageability |
Interoperability |
Usability |
Capability |
Authoring Tools Scorecard |
| Pros |
Cons |
Summary |
MindLever
Composition Suite
Centra Software
Lexington, Mass.
(781)861-7000
www.mindlever.com |
A |
A |
B |
B |
Assets accessible in database; familiar working environment gives users a choice of graphics tools; ample wizards. |
Requires two servers usually handled by the vendor. |
A well-conceived, comprehensive system leveraging familiar Microsoft Office interfaces and capabilities. |
Hypercosm Studio
Hypercosm
Madison, Wis.
(608)821-0500
www.hypercosm.com |
B |
A |
B |
A |
Engaging, instructive, very interactive, low-bandwidth 3-D models can be based on scientific formulae. |
Creator needs programming expertise or Hypercosms service; limited administration tools; requires plug-in. |
The best visual teaching object of the group; can be inserted into any HTML environment. |
Web Learning Studio
Macromedia
San Francisco
(415)252-2000
www.macromedia.com |
B |
A |
B |
A |
Large installed base of users; powerful visual interaction; familiar interface; affordable training. |
Powerful visual tools require structured training for new users. |
Powerful, all-encompassing suite for interactive visual objects; sets the multimedia standard. |
iAuthor beta
NYUonline
New York
(212)226-2788
www.nyuonline.com |
B |
B |
B |
B |
Good collaboration and administration during object creation; assiduous metadata tagging. |
Very high cost; heavily structured; streaming media not accepted; no Macintosh client. |
Promising comprehensive program with good administrative tools; needs to mature. |
Application Development 
