User interfaces for authoring systems with object stores

Abstract

In an authoring system with an object store, the user interacts with objects directly rather than through textual scripts. Although there is a history of tools and practices for using scripts, there are a number of authoring and user interface problems that can be uniquely addressed by a system based on an object store. We discuss the advantages of authoring systems that have an object store. We then detail a set of functionality and a direct manipulation interface makes full use of these advantages. In so doing, we describe a system that achieves a much greater ease of use and new levels of dynamism.