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Abstract
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This paper
describes ActiveText, a method for creating dynamic and interactive
texts. ActiveText uses an object-based hierarchy to represent
texts. This hierarchy makes it easy to work with the ASCII
component and pixel component of the text at the same time.
Static, dynamic and interactive properties of text can be
easily intermixed and layered. The user can enter and edit
text, adjust static and dynamic layout, apply dynamic and
interactive behaviors, and adjust their parameters with a
common set of tools and a common interface. Support for continuous
editing allows the user to sketch dynamically. A prototype
application called It's Alive! has been implemented to explore
the ActiveText functionality. The documents produced by It's
Alive! can be of use in a wide-range of areas, including chat-spaces,
email, web-sites, fiction and poetry writing, and low-end
film & video titling.
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