Authorware's use of icons rather than a scripting language significantly shortens the learning curve and increases productivity and ease of maintenance for the author. The basic function of the 11 icons can be grasped almost immediately, and the environment makes educated guesses as to what the author wants to do in a given context.
Authorware's nine types of interaction allow the author to implement communication with the user on a variety of levels.
Applications can be run within the authoring environment, and edited while running.
Authorware is a multi-platform environment. Authorware applications created on the Macintosh platform can be opened under Authorware for Windows. All logic and content, including graphics, bitmaps, animations, and variables are converted. Thus, an author can design on a Macintosh and deliver on a PC. Authorware's goal is to migrate its technology to other environments, including OS/2 and Unix, with a common file format.
Authorware's multimedia tools include data-driven animation, which enables authors to animate objects on paths and X/Y coordinates. The object's position can be linked to a variable, making it easy to simulate meters, gauges, and other real-world objects.
More than 200 System functions and variables are provided for implementing procedures such as reading and writing data to external files, evaluating user responses, and supporting math functions and calculations.
Authorware automatically generates its own documentation for the author, including all iconic logic, displays, interactions, and variable references.
Authorware's open architecture allows it to be easily integrated with other applications such as databases. Moreover, Authorware's capabilities can be extended through calling external user code, such as MacroMind's animation player for Windows, and implemented as DLLs.
Authorware as a company offers a range of consulting services, including expertise in user interface design, graphics, music, and systems integration. The company has ongoing partnerships with commercial end-users, developer/VARs, consulting firms, and educational institutions.