Abstract Multimedia applications can be seen as sets of autonomous parts, independent yet capable of working together. This assumption allows for the construction of multimedia applications in a “connectionist” fashion. In this paper we describe mechanisms for the visual composition of multimedia applications. These mechanisms allow for quick and flexible application construction by direct manipulation with reference to multiple composition models. An object‐oriented framework for multimedia systems will be introduced throughout the paper.

Object orientation and concurrency are inherent to computer animation. Since the pieces of an animation can come from various media such as computer-generated imagery, video, and sound, the case for object orientation is all the stronger. However, languages for expressing the temporal co-ordination of animated objects have been slow in coming. We present such a language in this paper. Since the movements that an animated object can perform are also encapsulated as objects in our system, the scripting language can also be used to specify motion co-ordination. Such \u2018 motion objects\u201d can be applied to any animated object. The syntax, semantics, and implementation of this language will be described, and we shall show how to specify device-independent computer animation.