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Flash & Shockwave technology
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Introduction
Flash is a technology developed by Macromedia can be used to deliver a core business message or reinforce the branding of a business. Flash does take slightly longer to download and can occasionally confuse some users who do not have the correct plug-in, however is very much an ever decreasing problem – infact only a minority of users (even in corporate environments) now cant display flash, and increased download speeds (especially the prevalence of broadband connections) result in it being less a non-issue unless your content is likely to be accessed by a high percentage of mobile users, who will have slower connect speeds.
Why use Flash?
Integrated flash might be used as a product demo, banner, deliver a business message (as on the Urban Horizon homepage) or simply to enhance the page aesthetic.
An integrated banner or similar scrolling message, makes a website look slick and can deliver messages regards sales promotions or the superiority of a product or service over other suppliers. However, our clients often have strong views on the use of Flash on their website so this is always taken into account and discussed.
- We use industry standard Macromedia Flash tools to develop Flash content.
- We user a Flash “sniffer” (if Macromedia Flash™ is not available on the users browser, the Urban Horizon sniffer will either automatically download and install the latest Flash plugin OR display a static JEG or GIF graphic in place of the Flash animation)
- Flash animation can be provided with an indication of loading time remaining
- With a Flash Intro or Splash page, it will provide a “skip” button if the user does not which to watch the animation
- Sound on/off function can be provided
| Flash examples click image to launch each animation |
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Integrated Flash - on page educative |
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Description: Integrated flash forms a seamless part of the surrounding page, which is constructed of regular HTML.
Client: Digiverse Audio
In this case: The client needed to educate visitors very quickly about the service they provide and the skill set that the business represented. Animation achieved this far better than any text or still graphics.
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Flash intro - aesthetic |
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Description: Flash splash-page on entry to the client site to grab attention and/or enhance brand
Client: Accio Events and Marquees
In this case: The client wanted something to catch the users attention on hitting his domain and website, not simply to present the homepage. This short animation (and small to download, just 33k) even includes sound. It looks professional but fun and reinforces the Accio brand.
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Flash intro |
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Description: Flash splash-page on entry to the client site to grab attention and/or enhance brand
Client: British Pathe
In this case: Taking the traditional Pathe cockerel motif the user is presented still images from the Pathe film archive, immediately providing a suggestion of the breadth of material covered (actually 75 years). The scratches and music finish off the period feel. Actual video was not used to keep the file size low.
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Flash intro - educative |
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Description: Flash splash-page on entry to the client site to explain what the product or service is - i.e what the website is all about.
Client: Dinner Date Auctions
In this case: The client had to quickly educate the user what the site was for, how it was different to other dating sites and at the same time make the user comfortable, presenting the right "feel" - in this case, not too serious. The caricatures cartoons were all original artwork produced for DDA.
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Flash Presentation |
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Description: Flash presentation (akin to a Powerpoint presentation)
Client: Apama
In this case: Powerpoint style presentation but in Flash. Interactive buttons for users to skip forward, the presentation delivers information and background on the business.
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Flash Product Tour |
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Description: Details tour describing a product or service
Client: Dinner Date Auctions
In this case: Although the service was easy to explain face to face in general, there was quite a lot of detail that users had to be aware of. We knew that people would not read reams of text, so needed to be entertained. A visual animated tour made the service easy to explain and represented a more efficient use of time - it also, quite simply, made it more fun.
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Integrated Flash / Flash intro - aesthetic |
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Description: Integrated flash on home page
Client: GSK Intranet
In this case: The clients content heavy intranet for this department had to mirror the hi-tech hi-quality feel and branding that was present throughout the rest of the related materials. This Flash intro, a variant of which was reutilised within the site (hence two examples) provided a no real function other than to polish the pages and add interest; however especially with text rich sites, a little life relief can make all the difference and add an air of interaction and professionalism to the user experience.
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Integrated Flash music player |
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Description: Flash music player
Client: www.jon-sel.com
In this case: The client wanted to play MP3 files online but not have the difficulty of predicting the users browser or operating system. It was best therefore to use Flash, which can be produced as a cross-platform item so it will work, display, and play the music, regardless of the computer system, provided the user has Flash player installed for their platform.
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To see more website design including site with Flash integrated into the page, click here.
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