Adding multimedia features to textual materials can greatly enhance effectiveness of documents. There are many different authoring tools that support audio, video, graphics, and text for a wide variety of applications. However, there is no widely used word processing software and e-book authoring tool that can readily convert text documents into rich multimedia applications. Additionally, many of the stand-alone multi-media authoring tools are difficult to use to their full capacity.
Solution
The multimedia re-editor is an MS Windows application that facilitates creation of text-based multimedia projects. Any text document, such as a Microsoft Word document, can be imported and processed with the present invention to map up to 9 different multimedia elements to any single area of text. The multimedia files that can be mapped include but are not limited to WAVE, MP3, and MIDI sound files, AVI and MPEG videos, as well as text files. In addition, any external executable program can be mapped to an area of text, which provides limitless functionality.
The multimedia re-editor of the present invention can be operated in both user and edit modes. In user mode, clicking on a text area can activate multimedia attributes. Sounds (WAVE, MP3, and MIDI files as well as any segment of a CD track or an entire audio CD track), for instance, can be played either one at a time or in a sequence. As the sounds are played in sequence, the corresponding text areas are highlighted. The playing speed of sound files can be specified by the user.
In edit mode, the multimedia re-editor gives a document creator the ability to easily map sound, video, text, and other external programs to particular segments of a text. The re-editor also provides a complete set of word processing features to originate and modify documents. The multimedia mapping procedure utilizes only conventional mouse and keyboard operations. The product is very easy to use and anyone familiar with word processing should have no trouble learning to use the re-editor features.
Competitive Advantage
A variety of text-based materials can benefit from multimedia enhancements provided by re-editor software due to increased effectiveness of documents.
Applications
The present invention is an ideal tool for transforming a conventional foreign language course that was not designed as a computer application and includes a textbook and audio CD's into a much more effective multimedia computer application.
The re-editor also contains features that allow a lesson creator to implement a variety of exercises that require student input of text as well as sound. At the lesson creator's discretion the student can see and/or hear the correct answers to the exercises by simply clicking the mouse or pressing a function key.
Lines of a stage play can be linked to a recording on an audio CD, a WAVE or MP3 file. Each line can be heard by simply clicking on it. Any group of sequential lines of text can be heard by simply clicking the right mouse button. An actor can record and play back individual lines or any part of a text as an aid to memorizing it. Sound effects can also be linked to areas of text and activated at a live performance by clicking a mouse button.
Exercises in a logic book can be linked to an external program that allows a student to create and/or edit a proof and check its validity.
Sounds can be linked to a text of a children's book. Any sound can be heard by simply clicking the mouse on the text area linked to the sound. A lesson creator can create a glossary to aid in vocabulary acquisition and/or permit a student to create a personal glossary. Words in the text may be found in the glossary with a simple menu selection.
Patent Status
A U.S. Patent No.
US7219164
entitled "MULTIMEDIA RE-EDITOR" was granted on May 15, 2007.
Licensing Opportunity
The technology is available for transferring to a commercialization partner with worldwide exclusive rights in a desired field of use.
About the Inventors
Dr. Shelley is the Director of the Audio Engineering Program, Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems, Department of Computer Information Systems and the Director of Academic and Research Systems, Information Resources. Dr. Shelley directs the operation of the Information Center which includes a technical training department that trains an average of 2,000 University staff and faculty members per year, a publication department responsible for technical systems documentation, user guides, and newsletters, an academic and research consultation department that includes 35 full-time and 250 part-time employees providing services for approximately 18,000 users. Dr. Shelley teaches courses in systems programming and information systems management, data structures, object-oriented programming and discrete mathematics.
