Date: Feb. 6, 2001
Link: http://www.fabula.eu.org/
Source Author or Organization: University of Reading (UK), University of Brighton (UK), DTP Workshop (Eire)

Fabula is software developed in XML-based User Interface Language (XUL) as a Mozdev.org project with the goal of developing easy to use (for teachers and children) tools for literacy and bilingual learning. The tools consist of the Fabula Maker (a WYSIWYG editor) and the Fabula Reader (a specialized browser). Together, they enable the creation and reading of multimedia bilingual "storybooks" with digital photos.

The programs are implemented using XUL, the Mozilla navigator shell, the Mozilla Editor, XML Linking Language (XLink) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). JavaScript is used to manipulate XML files using Mozilla's built in DOM support. In addition to standard program functions (Open, Save, Insert Image, Insert Sound, etc.), the user has several storybooking behaviors available, such as Page Turning, a Wordgame feature (powered by XLink), and a Wordlist feature.

The five nation development team was particularly interested in lesser used European languages, and Fabula was initially developed for Basque and French, Catalan and Spanish, Frisian and Dutch, Irish and English, and Welsh and English. It can be localized to any languages. The project is funded by the Educational Multimedia Taskforce of the European Commission, in support of bilingual learning and culture in the Basque Country, Catalonia, Friesland, Ireland and Wales. The principal development partners were the University of Reading and the University of Brighton in the United Kingdom, and DTP Workshop in Dublin, Eire.