Hi,
While translating Etoys into a vernacular, I came across a problem that I wanted to share and discuss with others in this list. In the vernacular there are various words for "painting" depending on the canvas, supplies and process. I opted for the word "apply make-up". For most people, the phrase "rich multimedia authoring" means Animation software. The colorful and attractive paint tool adds to the confusion ;-).
Objects are abstract so what a Sketch Editor does is to help us apply make-up to it to give it a visual form that are easier to manipulate and compose into complex assemblies. Maths teachers use the same technique for showing points, lines and planes. They don't call their drawings as "paintings".
While it is possible to generate beautiful "paintings" in Etoys, the real stuff is not in the make-up but beneath the skin ;-). Real "idea processing" happens in composition of objects and their interaction through scripts.
Has anyone attempted to explain Object/Morph/Player as "Idea" instead of a "Thing" in their vernacular? What were your experiences?
Subbu