Flash & Director
Multimedia is more than just an animated intro.
Multimedia: a computer-based presentation, combining multiple media such as text, audio, video, animation and other graphics, while allowing user interactivity to control the information presented.
It is the last part of the above definition that explains why multimedia is so popular. Interactivity takes a static medium such as a book, or a passive one such as a video, and transforms them into an experience that engages the user. This alters the learning process, adapting it to the user, so it is more-easily absorbed and retention is increased.
As a programmer, I am always looking for ways to add as much interactivity into a project as possible. Whether it is ActionScript (Flash), Lingo (Director) or browser interaction, I will program a piece to keep the user active and entertained.
Programming can also modify how the content is presented. Code-based animations can adapt to the computer’s capabilities better than ones built in a timeline and can easily be repurposed across many elements and sections. Scores can be kept and deficiencies tracked to repeat areas of weakness to aid in the learning process. Customization, from simple skins to personal interface layouts, allows the user to personalize the tool to their needs, as well as presenting the content at their pace.
Programming is the key to true multimedia.
Scroll through the examples below for specifics on the various Flash and Director projects that I’ve been involved with. Click on the thumbnail to view larger screen shots or demos.
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Flash Banners
Part of a set of Flash-based banner ads for the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), these tied into a radio and television campaign and featured a number of different trades and industries represented by the AUPE. The banners were built to the various popular standards, including tose used by Google and Facebook. Dimensions and file size restrictions had to be taken into account for each banner.
The Calgary Board of Education Agenda Tool
The Calgary Board of Education wanted to display the agenda for their Board meetings, but we knew that we could deliver something more. The result was a tool that not only displayed the meeting’s agenda, but rotated though a number of news headlines, videos and pictures. The scripting automatically updated the display by looking for external video, image and text files at run time. This made it easy for any of their administrators to update the tool by simply modifying the texts and dragging/dropping the desired video and image files into the designated folder. Each section operated independently, rotating through however many items each section had to display.
The Calgary Tower Kiosks
The Calgary Tower Kiosks were a set of 4 touch-screen kiosks, one for each of the points on the compass. Installed in the 360° Observation Deck, they pointed out some of the city’s landmarks visible from the Deck, as well as attractions in and around the Calgary area. Animations and transitions helped to draw in the visitors to explore the various touch points on the screens.
Canadian Pacific Railway Connetix Presentation Tool
Clients like the ease-of-use of PowerPoint but want the slickness of a multimedia presentation. This tool allowed Canadian Pacific Railway to combine a series of pre-built modules with any number of PowerPoint shows and external videos, in any order. Presentations could be created and saved for future use, or made on the fly as required. Controls allowed the user to click through the screens, or jump to the next module at any time. This level of control and the ability to add new content gave CPR a tool they could use to tailor the presentation to their audience.
Hoot Owl
A fun demo piece I built to explore some of Flash’s interactive capabilities. Be sure to have your sound turned on when you check this one out.
In A Word Shockwave Game
One of a number of Shockwave games that I’ve built, In A Word is an intellectual word hunt. A source word is chosen at random, the letters are scrambled, the countdown starts and you have to find as many words as possible before the time runs out. Both the length of the source word and the length of time allowed are adjustable. A “Magic Letter” option adds another dimension to the game, forcing you to include that letter in every word. Results are displayed at the end of each round.
Play the game.
NOVA Chemicals Presentation Tool
Another tool designed to combine a series of pre-built modules in any order. This could be used for presentations, but it also included a number of self-study modules, including a Glossary. Links to terms in the Glossary were automatically detected and created within the texts. Videos enhanced the learning, and a “Break” module counted down the time remaining in a break.
SharkHunter Shockwave Game
Another Shockwave game, SharkHunter is my take on Mine Sweeper. It features an expanded range of icons and both the grid size and the number of sharks to find are adjustable. A timer and other stats are displayed to enhance the overall experience.
Play the game.
The University of Calgary Looped Ad
A simple but effective use of Flash to create a looped ad. Leaving the text as a text member ensures smooth rendering of the letters and reduces the file size compared to rendering the text to a graphic. The loop point is set to a frame within the timeline, so it doesn’t repeat the initial fade-in, which would cause a jarring effect. Built to go on a University web page, following their web designer’s specifications.
Write Yukon Promotion
A CD-ROM to promote Yukon to travel writers and the tourism industry. It featured a number of audio and video clips, downloadable files of the Yukon logo and standards guides, and links to a number of web sites designed for the tourism industry. The CD-ROM was cross-platform, but still allowed the user to download a format for either platform for easy sharing.
Yuhtz Shockwave Game
Everyone’s favourite dice game is augmented for the computer in my version. Scoring is automatically tracked, including how the current roll would score in each category and if you are on track for a bonus score or not. The game can be played with a mouse or strictly by keyboard controls. Sound effects add to the play, but can be turned off if desired.
Play the game.