The ALOCOM Framework: Towards Scalable Content Reuse

This paper presents the ALOCOM framework for flexible content reuse. Unlike the usual practice where document components, such as images, definitions, text fragments, tables or diagrams, are assembled manually through copy-and-paste, the framework enables on-the-fly access and reuse. Retrieval of relevant components is enabled by automatic decomposition of legacy documents and storage of individual components, enriched with metadata. Furthermore, the automatic assembly of these components in mainstream authoring tools is supported. The paper describes the framework and its current support for re-assembling PowerPoint, Wikipedia and SCORM components in authoring tools. In addition, an evaluation is presented that assessed the effectiveness and efficiency of such content reuse for presentations.