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Conclusions

With the advent of the World Wide Web (WWW), mass communication is available to the average individual at a fraction of its historical price. This unprecedented development makes it possible for anyone to advertise products, exchange information, and communicate ideas. However, the massive volume of information which flows through the WWW is a mixed blessing: while it does allow anyone to contribute, it also reduces the liklihood that a particular piece of information will be absorbed by a significant number of people. Like other more traditional means of mass media-such as TV and radio-the content on the WWW must be accompanied by attractive packaging to have a large impact.

Script-Fu delivers this attractive packaging at no cost, in mere seconds, and without requiring artistic talent. Script-Fu is capable of delivering artwork which rivals the quality of that done by professional graphic designers. Using Script-Fu and the WWW, virtually anyone can advertise compellingly, and at almost no cost.

Script-Fu consists of three primary components. The first is GIMP, an image manipulation engine which does the actual computations necessary in creating a logo. The second is the scripting language (Scheme), which specifies the algorithms which define the process that leads to a logo. The third and final component is a GIMP extension called Script-Fu, which manages the entire process of creating a logo-from communication between the Scheme interpreter and GIMP, to a user interface.

Net-Fu is an optional fourth component and provides an additional user interface which is accessible to nearly everyone. It is implemented as a Java applet and can be accessed through the World Wide Web. Net-Fu allows anyone with a web browser to access the power of Script-Fu.



Spencer Kimball
Wed May 28 22:14:48 PDT 1997