A Case Study of Workflow and Version Control for Regeneration of Multimedia Systems

Abstract

The technologies involved in the creation of multimedia content are still in evolution. One-off generation of systems is well-developed as a process and often follows the model of making a film. Many modern applications are more complicated than film productions processes in that they must be regenerated time and time again, as a repeated production process, often by passing the materials through computational processes, and as well, they must be supplied in forms suitable for a variety of delivery media, such as books, web page or CD-ROM run-time systems. To create efficiencies in the production process of revisable multi-media systems it is necessary to define processes for the management of content, control of content revision, and regeneration with workflow control of these processes. A model for managing the regeneration of Multimedia Run-time Systems (MRS) is presented here as consisting of a revision control strategy for managing primary resources. Regeneration processes are required that move data from one process to the next incorporating derived resources on the way, and ultimately producing run-time resources. As well, workflow control process to regulate and maintain the integrity of the regeneration process is needed. A case study of one approach to tackling these problems which uses reference materials for second language learning is presented. This MRS, known as the English to Basque Learning Environment (EBLE), consists of a reference library of three books and concomitant sound files for second language learning of Basque. The books are a grammar book and two dictionaries which had to be welded together seamlessly for a run-time system but each is preserved seperately and managed as independent documents for maintenance and revision. As well, the examples of Basque and English in the grammar book are recorded by native speakers and the sound files linked into the software environment with immediate access to the user. A model for managing Multimedia Run-time Systems (MRS) is presented as consisting of a revision control strategy for managing primary resources; regeneration processes that move data from one process to the next incorporating derivative resources on the way, and ultimately producing run-time resources; and a workflow control process to regulate and maintain the integrity of the regeneration processes.