User adaptable multimedia presentations for the World Wide Web

We propose a generic solution for user adaptation of synchronized multimedi a presentations. We consider adaptation as a transformation problem: the us er specifies a predicate that applied to a generic multimedia presentation yields a customized view of the presentation. We specify a means of express ing content descriptions and alternate content in generic multimedia presen tations. User adaptation is based on content predicates that a player uses to select alternate content or elements that match content descriptions. Se veral examples show flexibility and expressing power of the proposed approa ch. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.