Papers in PDF format

5.2 Text
Five hundred words is probably too much text to include in one piece of hypertext. To further reduce the size of
the text pages we will have to rethink our approach to telling the stories. We are also considering a discrete
method for providing hypertext definitions--one that will not detract from the flow of the stories for those
choosing not to access the definitions.
To enhance the illustration captions, we plan to incorporate audio explanations of the animations and
still images into the features. In addition, sound files from scientific data will be included whenever possible
and we are currently studying sound file formats for these files
5.3 Illustrations
In this publication, we did not pay a lot of attention to image file size reduction. This will be a priority in
upcoming publications. To make this easier, we have acquired Equilibrium Technology's De-Babelizer*. We
will also reconsider the use of the JPEG format. We had rejected JPEG in favor of the GIF* format, which
permits transparent images, interlacing, and viewing as inline or spawned images on any browser.
VRML and animated illustrations in online publications can be very effective. However, they are not
easy to incorporate into the page. Several limitations exist; some will be resolved by advances in Web
technology. Others involve careful planning of the publication and close communication with the
researchers/visualization specialists. For example, we hope that providing links to sources of information about
VRML and download sites for browsers will limit the frustration of those without this capability. However,
lumping these illustrations together makes it easier for people only interested in VRML to browse the files and
leave without experiencing the rest of the site--for better or worse depending on your point of view. We look
forward to the time when inline VRML browsers are commonplace.
6.0 Future Plans
We plan to begin development of our next science publication later this year. With this in mind, we are
currently tackling issues such as the potential of Java, JavaScript* or other client-side programming methods
and the use of multimedia programs such as Macromedia Shockwave*. One goal is to incorporate small
applications into the site as online exercises in computational science. These will allow viewers to explore data
sets interactively, for example by watching soil temperature change in response to surface wind speed in a
simplified meteorological model.
In the next version we will enhance interactivity by richer use of VRML and possibly through
interactive software applets. In addition, there is a potential for the development of interrelated themes within a
more interactive publication structure. For example, intermediate pages between treatments of particle physics
concepts which appear in both astrophysics and nuclear physics features.
By nature, hypermedia publications depend on the availability of images, animations, sound, and 3D
files. As mentioned above, 3D files created by research teams in the process of scientific work did not
necessarily suit the editorial and production needs of Explorations. Developing effective illustrations for online
publication requires early contact and ongoing communication with the researchers as well as independent
resources and expertise to translate and edit files for transfer and presentation on the World Wide Web. The
importance of this interaction will only increase as science features become richer and more interactive.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks: We would like to acknowledge the contributions of Linda Callahan, CTC director of external relations, and
Dan Dwyer, leader of CTC's Online Information Project, and to thank visualization experts Richard Gillilan, Chris Pelkie,
Wayne Lytle, and Bruce Land for their help in many different ways during the course of the project.
This work was conducted as part of the production of the CTC's online science book, Explorations. CTC, one of
four high performance computing and communications centers supported by the National Science Foundation, operates a
512-processor IBM SP system. Activities of the Center are also funded by New York State, the Advanced Research
Projects Agency, the National Center for Research Resources at the National Institutes of Health, IBM, and other members
of CTC's Corporate Partnership Program.
* Trademark or Registered trademark