Developing Multimedia Courseware for the Internet – Java Versus Shockwave
Abstract
Java and Shockwave are the two main vehicles for developing multimedia courseware for the Internet today. Shockwave, an authoring tool designed by Macromedia, produces applications that run on Macintosh and IBM- compatible platforms. It supports vector graphics and allows users to port applications created with the Macromedia suite of tools to the Internet. Java, a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc., also produces applications that run on Macintosh and IBM-compatible platforms as well as on UNIX platforms. Java applications support multithreading and offer a high level of security. Careful consideration of such features will aid the developer in selecting the best means of producing courseware for the Internet. Of course, the decision of whether to use Java or Shockwave will depend, ultimately, on the particular application being developed.