About the Author

Michael W. Allen is the primary architect of Authorware, the founder and former chairman of Authorware, Inc. (which merged with Macromind/Paracomp to form Macromedia, Inc.), and the chairman and CEO of Allen Interactions. Previously, he was a principal tools architect and systems designer of Control Data’s PLATO computer-based education system, used around the world. He is widely respected for his abilities to define, design, and build tools which allow creative individuals to harness the potential of evolving interactive multimedia technologies. In recent years, he has concentrated on creative application design and defining unique methods for developing meaningful and memorable learning applications which fully engage the mind.

He holds PhD and MA degrees in educational psychology from the Ohio State University and a BA degree in psychology from Cornell College. He was twice elected president of the Association for the Development of Computer-Based Instructional Systems and is editor emeritus of the Journal of Computer-Based Instruction.

A frequent keynote speaker and widely consulted expert, he explains and demonstrates how interactive multimedia can be far more effective than it typically is. “It’s time for a reinterpretation of the literature and an evolution of common practice.”