[sugar] Sophie and the XO

[Eben Eliason]

> > Authoring
> > --------
> >
> >     * Are you looking for both an Authoring tool as well as a Reader
> > on the XO, or only a Reader?  (I like to be very clear about things)
>
> The current plan is to use an stripped down Abiword as the authoring
> tool.  It's an activity called Write.  The web browser is also available
> for authoring with web-based means (ie, wikis, if you can reach them
> over the network).

Actually, I think this is just the kind of authoring environment I
have been envisioning.  We have had some discussions around the idea
of creating a "Collage" activity which would allow all forms of media
content to be embedded within a single document, and then managed via
some simple directives (a la Hypercard or the like).  It sounds like
your environment could become the Collage activity if it integrates
well.  In my mind, this gives kids a way to make and share rich media
documents, slideshows, presentations, etc. which we don't really have
available through any other activities at the moment.  It's much
richer than Write, with different purpose, and while the Web activity
does provide a means of viewing pages much like this, we don't have an
authoring tool for such pages yet.  Wikis are a start, but providing a
collage activity gives kids a means of creating/sharing these
documents without a server.  Tight publishing integration with the
wiki would be a fantastic feature, though.

- Eben