1). What is the benefit of an authoring app. over program. languages to develop a project?

They are specially designed to integrate and present media elements. As an example, developers can focus more on the design, interactivity and functionality of the project and not waste time doing other things around it.

They are easy to set up and syncronice. They are also made to organice and help developers in how final projects are presented.

2). List the main components of the timeline metaphor and identify the purpose of each.

As I mention earlier, it purpose is to organize media and interact as a sequence of frames. Each frame can have multiple layers, layers define the stacking order of the content to be displayed. This is best used with animation or videos that might change over time.

3). Identify and explain the four basic navigation structures.

a) Linear - means the screens are viewed one after the other, much like the pages of a book. also called sequential because of it simplicity and easy to follow one after the other.

b) Hierarchical - means that the navigation is like a filter where it starts at the top with the most generic topics and while scrolling down, it filters down to more specific options. like grouping.

c) Networked - means that users are able to explore more freely by replacing sequences or hierarchies with a variety of user options. A common example will be hyperlinks.

d) Conditional - means that access to information is contingent on the user’s responses or progress in the application.

4). As the project manager for a multimedia presentation on student campus life at your college, identify the four criteria for selecting an authoring application and explain how each criterion will apply to that project.

The subject, which deals with how the application will be used, it deals with dynamic (video/animation) or static(photos/text).
The media, will the media file formats be compatible. If not, can they be converted, easily?
The delivery, how will it be presented/distributed. by disk, USB or download file?
The maintenance, will this be updated in the future. does it required constant repaiers or support?