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Re: accessing Glide

From:diana slattery <glide@...>
Date:Wednesday, December 23, 1998, 5:04
Charles wrote,

> Is there any reason why a simple text page of explanation, > with maybe a few gif or jpeg or wav images and sounds, > could not be provided, in addition to the multimedia trip? > Some of us might prefer to get information that way. > Anyway, the URL above doesn't work for me: > "error: tcp_connect nova.stu.rpi.edu 80 failed". >
Diana replies, sorry for the long delay in answering your question. thought i had--the= n--there it was... reason 1) we were on such a deadline to complete v.1 if the glide websit= e by december 8, that the kind of additions you suggest were simply not = possible. we have discussed adding lots more introductory material. i = think after the holifays, we'll be ready to get back to work on it. reason 2) the original intention has been, to present the material in = its current multimedia format. first, the very nature of the language = includes the idea of language in motion, a concept much easier to show--b= efore talking about--than with static pictures and explanation only. the= re are numerous animations throughout--i assure you it's not just gratuit= ous eye-candy but actually trying to present concepts though a different = linguistic modality: motion and morphing. the question is posed: what = does it mean when syntax is on the move? and more fundamentally--what = does it mean to move through a maze of language? there are additional = explorations using glyphs as soundscapes, a kind of visual instrument tha= t can be played by the user inteactively to create different paths throug= h triggered sounds, and therefore use a different sensory modality to ill= ustrate the hypertextual aspect of glyph mazes. the lexicon is an animat= ed "ferris wheel" of meanings, radiating out from the core glyphs and mea= nings, the branches opening and closing per the user's exploration--also = advancing and retreating in a 3-D space. again, the visual is used to = express embedded concepts--how meaning can 'metaphor-ize' outward from = a generative core. the collabyrinth is the most complex--and experimenta= l--of the pieces of the website. this section is implemented in director= shockwave and fully interactive. the user can experiment with composing= glyph mazes--choosing and placing mulriple glyphs on the screen, then = changing their properties interactively to explore expressive potential = with scaling, rotation, and color blending. text can also be placed on = the screen. the user can save and store compostions, including motion, = and reaccess them--or have them available for others to see. again--this= is brand new, has bugs, and the visual interface is awaiting re-do to = bring it into line with the interface of the site as a whole. but we tho= ught it was too much fun not to throw it out there for others to try. = also, being in 'early beta', we could really use the critical eye of vari= ous users, telling use what doesn't work, what could be improved, etc. = very much a work in progress. but the point here is that this kind of = experiment is only possible using authoring tools that let one create ful= ly interactive applications. we are well aware that the hassle of downlo= ading and installing plugins and 'xtras' necessary for its use is a pain = in the neck. but it is possible, and we stand ready to help anyone throu= gh if they want to make the effort. as the technology itself is constant= ly 'morphing toward glory' ;--) things do get easier, little by little.= no doubt we'll do some kind of cd-rom version with everything 'built-in= ' but that of course limits distribution considerably, and we're not stri= ving for something commercial, after all. so--hope this answers your que= stion. we do agree that more easily accessible material would be helpful= and desirable. and we will continue to develop the more 'high-end' expr= essive potentials--even though they are considerably more work to produce= --and to view. in summary--this is truly a case of the medium and the = message being closely aligned. happy to help you--or anyone else--if you= want to try again! diana