Flash is a relatively new file format that was designed by Macromedia specifically for web based delivery. This file format that uses multimedia (images, audio, video, etc.) together with a comprehensive scripting language. The resulting 'movie' files can have various appearances, some of which are:
static images
animations
interactive modules
movies
dynamic documents
Many Flash documents display using the vector drawings that are created within Flash. The vector graphics allow for small files that can be cleanly resized without difficulty. In addition to using vector drawings, developers can import nearly every other multimedia file format for use in the final distributed movie. As with any other file format, the quality, complexity and content is completely in the hands of the developer.
Some examples of common uses of flash are:
Web based cartoons
Banner advertisements
Course lessons
Data collection tools
Interactive maps and menus
Flash Player
Flash format files can be viewed on most platforms without difficulty. In order to display flash files, the Flash Player must first be installed on the computer. The Flash player is often packed with current browser versions. Alternately the player can be downloaded from the Macromedia website and click on the link for "Download Flash Player." Once Flash is installed you will be able to see a movie below (click on the cow's head once the movie loads).
Action Scripting
Flash provides for a few types of interaction rather automatically. For example the "button" object type allows for users to interact with the movie in a general way. Flash movies can grow in complexity buy using Action Script to create more complex and dynamic interactions. Action Script is the programming language that Flash files uses to import data, track user actions, navigate to various points of the movie, as well as many other functions.
