Wikipedia describes Adobe Flash as a multimedia platform used to add animation, video and interactivity to web pages. Flash is often used for advertisements and games. More recently, it has been positioned as a tool for creating Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). Flash manipulates vector and rester graphics to provide animation of text, drawings, and still images. It supports bidirectional streaming of audio and video, and it can capture user input via mouse, keyboard, microphone, and camera. Flash contains an Object-oriented language called ActionScript. Flash content can be displayed on various computer systems and devices, using Adobe Flash Player, which is available for free for common web browsers, some mobile phones and a few other electronic devices (using Flash Lite).
Flash, now known as Adobe Flash, started as a drawing program project called Intellidraw. Then Jonathan Gay, the creator of Interllidraw, with Charlie Jackson founded FutureWave Software Company and created SmartSketch software, designed for PenComputing (January, 1993). In May 1996, the company released its second product called FutureSplash Animator. The program was used by Microsoft to create TV-like experience on MSN, Fox as well as by Disney Online to build animations and the user interface for the Disney Daily Blast. In December 1996, FutureWave Software was sold to Macromedia, and FutureSpalsh Animator was renamed to Macromedia Flash 1.0.
Initially, Flash has been used for advertisements and games. However, with the development of E-learning, and particularly the notion of interactive E-learning, Flash started being used for educational purposes. Almost all early interactive educational unites were Flash based.
With technological developments, educational approach called The Gamification of Learning became popular (2002-2007). According to Wikipedia, the rational of the approach is using game thinking and game mechanics in real-life situations to engage users in solving problems. Flash has been extensively used to develop educational games.
It is known that kids learn better though interaction and gaming. That's one of the reasons why the market is full of different types of educational games for kids. One of the most famous companies that produce educational software for use in the classroom and the home is called Knowledge Adventure. The products of Knowledge Adventure, such as JumpStart®, Math Blaster® and Reading Blaster® are mainly Adobe Flash based.
Another example of using Flash for educational and training purposes can be seen in simulation video game. As described in Wikipedia, the purpose of a simulation game is to reproduce different real-life activities in the form of a game, allowing the player experience and practice the skills needed for acting in real-life situations. Flash was used to make simulation video games more realistic, dynamic and meaningful.
Simulation Video Games are especially good for practicing the skills that in real-life situations are either too expensive to practice or not safe. Some Simulation Video Games should be downloaded on a computer before running. Adobe Flash runs the following downloadable simulation video games:
The Apple and Adobe Flash disagreements became an ongoing issue. Shortly after Apple’s iPad was released, people began to notice that it was not supported by Flash. For the iPhone, not having Flash was a minor annoyance, however for the iPad, which in many cases was being used as a laptop replacement it was a big issue. In April 2010, Steve Jobs published an open letter which sought to explain why Apple did not and even would not ever integrate Flash into its mobile and tablet devices. In the letter, Steve Jobs cited numerous reasons - the rapid energy consumption, poor performance on mobile devices, abysmal security, and lack of touch support. Most importantly, though, Apple didn’t want Adobe developers to create cross-platform apps which didn’t take advantage of the latest features, development libraries and tools. This was more of a business issue then any technological shortcoming. Source: Wikipedia
Adobe Flash was used in developing different forms of Digital Storytelling units. According to Wikipedia, Digital storytelling refers to a short form of digital media production that allows everyday people to share aspects of their life story. Digital Storytelling has also been adopted in education as a method of building engagement and multimedia literacy.
Nowadays, the most popular way of learning about a specific subject, phenomenon or an event is browsing in the internet. Thanks to widely available websides, internet users are having great opportunities to gain all-round education. Flash makes this experience even more dynamic and interesting.
Flash has always been used to give birth to the most creative and imaginary ideas. Here you will find some projects which will simply get your creative juices flowing. ENJOY !!!
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