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Adobe Flash

Drag-and-Drop Interactions

A simple multiple-choice quiz can be effective in testing situations, but drag-and-drop interactions can add many useful features of an interactive process. With drag-and-drop interactions, you can simulate experiences that mimic the real world.
Using Flash and Action Script, drag-and-drop interactions can be created from scratch, using hit Test properties and if conditionals to test whether an object has been dropped on a specific target. If the object has landed on its correct target, the application shows a correct response or visual/audio feedback. If the object is not dropped on its correct target, an incorrect response or visual/audio feedback can occur.

The interactions are Action Script 2.0 only, but have all of the features necessary to create many desired interactions. You can then use the Flash Component Inspector to configure interactions, change their text, and alter the conditions of their tests.

At Cyber Works, we created drag-and-drop interactions to meet the many custom-content needs of our clients.

Components

Flash comes with ready-made user-interface components that you can add to courses and configure through the Component Inspector and the Parameters panel. These components include: Radio Buttons, Checkboxes, Text Fields, clickable Selection Buttons, List Boxes, and Combo Boxes. Components in Flash CS3 are easier than ever to customize; simply double-click on a component and edit its “skin.”
You can even use Action Script to test for specific conditions and return certain values, to create your own quizzes and test interactions.

You can also dynamically update the text for components from an external text file. So application development is much easier now, using Flash Components and Action Script.

XP vs Vista

How to optimize system to make a perfect computer?
People often complain: why is my system getting slower and slower? Daily operations, such as installing new software, loading the runtime, adding new games and so on, make the operating system becomes more substantial.

Part 1: Optimize system by optimizing registry
1. Clean up registry to speed up computer.
2. Decrease auto-runs to boost stat-up.

Part 2: Optimize system by optimizing disks
3. Rational used of hard disk to fully utilize disk and avoid losing files.
4. Defrag disks to improve disk speed.
5. Remove junk files to free up disk space.
6. Put shortcuts properly to boost desktop loading.

Part 3: Optimize system by other tips
7. Set virtual memory reasonably to fully utilize physical memory.
8. Forbidden hibernation function to save disk space.
9. Make a simple desktop to save system source.

Part 2: Optimize system by optimizing disks

Part 3: Optimize system by other tips

Set virtual memory reasonably
Windows XP always set a big virtual memory for security default, which wastes much hard disk space.
Enter Control Panel/System/ Advanced/ Property/ Setting/ Advanced/ Virtual memory/ Change; you can see the virtual memory setting window. Firstly, make sure which drive letter your page files are on, and then forbid all page files on other drive letter. The suggestion to set page files on other disks but not C disk (system disk) is in order to increase the speed of hard disk and therefore be good for speeding up system. According to Microsoft’s proposal, page files should be 1.5 times bigger than RAM. If you have a large RAM, the space page files taking up is significant. So, I suggest that if your RAM is below 1GB, you can set virtual memory 1.5 times with the same maximum and minimum; if RAM is from 1GB to 2GB, set it 1 time; if RAM is above 2GB, just setting it half of RAM is completely workable.

Forbidden hibernation function
Windows XP hibernation will completely save the current system state in memory to hard drive, so when you boot computer next time, system will go directly to your last sleep state without loading, system initialization and other courses, and therefore start-up becomes very quickly. However, hibernation takes up large hard disk space (nearly the same as your memory size).To optimize system, go to “Control Panel / Power Options / Hibernate”, and close it to free up disk space. The method is to click the “Start / Control Panel / Power Management / Hibernate”, remove the hook before “Enable Hibernation”.

Make a simple desktop
In addition, to optimize system, do not make the desktop background too complex (recommended set it to “None”).

All above are useful methods to optimize our system. However, I still have a suggestion, that is, people who are good at computers can adjust system by using above ways; people who are not familiar with computer system especially registry had better use a professional system optimizer or registry cleaner. In short, owning a fast computer and a healthy system are what we pursue.

3D Flash

Dynamic Text

As mentioned above, Flash lets you pull text into Dynamic Text fields. You can import variables from a simple text file, or load text from an HTML or XML file. Flash CS3 has expanded its capabilities to handle XML files, with E4X.
You can also use a loader object to bring external text into text fields. Dynamic text can be formatted through an external CSS file, or using simple HTML tags. But any text field that will be accepting dynamic text should have all font characters embedded or set to a system font.

The major advantage of using dynamic text is flexibility. When the content of your application changes, it’s much easier to change an external text file than to change text embedded in a Flash file. Text that is imported dynamically is cached by the Flash Player, so be sure to clear your cache when you update the content of your app.

Built-In Quiz Templates

In addition to its built-in learning interactions, Flash also offers Quiz templates. Simply go to File, then to New, and in the Templates section, select the Quiz category.

There are three Quiz styles to choose from. You can make adjustments to the entire Quiz and choose result options. Each frame in the Quiz template has its own set of learning interactions for you to choose from. So when you need a multiple-choice question, you can copy and paste the frame for multiple-choice questions and modify it as needed.

Built in SCORM/AICC Supports

Flash supports the SCORM 1.2 and 2004 standards, as well as AICC. Any application that you develop in Flash (that needs to communicate with the Cyber Works LMS) must be “published” using these templates. Go to the File menu, and then to Publish Settings.

In an HTML file that has been published by Flash, you will find a large JavaScript file, containing all of the functions and variables necessary to populate the Application Programming Interface for the LMS. There are also functions for connecting Sharable Content Objects with the LMS.

(A manifest file is a library of all of the assets required for a course, including SCO’s, HTML, SWF, and other files.) The Cyber Works LMS supports all SCORM 1.2- and AICC- compliant courses, and our customer-service representatives can help you configure your manifest files, for hosting on our LMS.

Summary

If you want to give your courses a lot more zing, Flash is a perfect tool for building richer learning experiences. Custom Flash development may take longer than traditional course development, but the extra time it takes is more than offset by improved, more interesting learning experiences for students.

Built-in components, learning interactions, and quizzes, plus support for SCORM and AICC standards, make a Flash an attractive choice for creating compelling e-Learning courseware.

Wireless Connection

Wireless Networking

I think the biggest advantage of wireless technology has to be Wireless Networking. While Bluetooth technology is does not have the range in which to be affective at networking computers together. For a simple network (peer to peer) on two computers all you need is two wireless networking cards setup to the same channel. More complex networks can also be setup using a server and workstations. Anything you can do with a wired network you can do with wireless technology.

Plus should you wish to move your computer at anytime, you don’t have to re-route the wires connecting your network together.

Security on Wireless networks is set by adding a name for your network which all computers on that network must be assigned to connect to, plus then you can add a password to keep unwanted intruders out from your files. Software firewalls are also recommended on wireless connections (as well as wired) just for added security against unwanted virus’ or Adware/Spyware.

Wireless Speakers

Wireless speakers will remove loads of wires from the back of your computer. Using a 5.1 wireless system will allow you to place your speakers in the perfect position without any restrictions or ugly wires running along your walls or floor.

Wireless Headphones / Microphone

Wireless headphones are readily available from many manufacturers. These are really one of the most practical uses of wireless technology behind the networking. Wireless headphones allow you to freely listen to your music, game or whatever noise your PC is making anywhere in your room without the restriction of wires. A set of wireless headphones could save you a few quid on broken items that your headphone wires have snagged on and brought crashing down to the floor.

See more information at wikipedia.

Audio Format

Adding audio to an HTML-only course presents difficulties for course developers. First, multiple audio formats are available on the web today: WAV, AIF, MP3, M4a, etc. Even worse is the vast array of audio-player applications and their file-type associations, both for Mac and Windows platforms.

Flash, however, supports several audio formats and plays them all using the Flash Player, which has a 98% market penetration. You can easily import almost any audio file, add it to the Flash timeline, publish the Flash movie, deliver the course, and be fairly certain that users will be able to hear the audio without having to download an extra player.

Flash has built-in streaming capabilities, so you can be assured that your audio content will be delivered to users without drop-outs and gaps.

At Cyber Work, we use Flash for in-course audio content. Audio is recorded in our audio lab and saved in a common format. The file is then imported into Flash. Action Script is used in conjunction with on-screen buttons, to allow users to control audio playback. This interactive audio file can then be attached to any course, using the Cyber Works Web Author application.

Course Navigation

How smart is your course navigation? By “smart,” I mean can it communicate with your LMS? Most in-course navigation is pretty boring and perfunctory. If you spice up yours with Flash, your courses will become more useable.

Since Flash can work with SCORM and AICC courses, on-screen buttons can be scripted via Action Script to send calls to the LMS for certain conditions. A button at the end of a lesson might send a finish statement to the LMS, signifying lesson completion and triggering further actions. Another button might automatically submit the results of a quiz.

Better learning experiences are possible, since the entire interface is completely customizable, and buttons are very easy to create in Flash. If you want, you can even use its built-in library of buttons to create your course navigation.

At Cyber Works, we retro-fitted some existing e-Learning courses (developed for restaurant employees) for our LMS, complete with all of the calls necessary for course status and completion. These Flash-based courses had a cohesive look and feel that was much more compelling than a plain-text HTML web experience.

See it more at wikipedia.

Driver Scheme

What is a Device Driver?

Every device, be it be a printer, modem, or keyboard, must have a driver program. Many device drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with the operating system. For other devices, you may need to load a new driver when you connect the device to your computer. Note that in the older DOS systems, drivers are files with a.SYS extension. now in Windows environments, drivers often have a.DRV extension.

Finding a driver can be very difficult as most manufactures manufacture a device and after 2 or 3 years change and make a different version. Finding a driver for your device becomes a task as the manufactures remove the drivers from their website and refuse to support them.

A device driver is nothing more than a glorified translator which fits between the device and programs that use the device. That being said, however most programs access devices by using generic commands. The device driver, therefore, accepts generic commands from a program and then translates them into specialized commands for the device.

See more information at wikipedia.

Adobe Flash

Creating Simulations

Some software tools, such as Camtasia and Captivate, are designed solely for creating software simulations. They have advantages and disadvantages, and Cyber Works does use them, along with other simulation software packages.

Since the Palm software only resides on the Palm Pilot, I couldn’t use a PC-based software-simulation tool to capture screens. So I used my scanner and Photoshop, imported the screens and artwork into Flash, and created the simulation.

At Cyber Works, we are currently working with an Internet company whose proprietary software (for security reasons) only works on computers behind their firewall.

Video

Video is becoming more prevalent on the web these days, with the rise of YouTube and other video-streaming services. Video can significantly enhance course materials, but (as with audio) it can be difficult to manage, due to multiple video formats and players. On the PC, AVI is the dominant format and Windows Media Player is the usual player. On the Mac, MOV is the format of choice and the Quicktime Player from Apple is the dominant player. However, there are other video formats and players, including Real media / Real Player and others.

When Flash MX 2004 was released, video was a major component. And with Flash CS3, video has become even easier to incorporate. You can deploy video on your own server or on a dedicated Flash Streaming Video Server, for extra bandwidth. Flash has its own video format, called Flash Video (FLV). Flash videos can be played by any Flash movie (SWF) file, so no additional player is necessary.

A short demonstration video, not longer than 1 minute, can be embedded in a Flash movie. If you are expecting a lot of traffic and have longer movies, you should use a Flash Video Streaming server.

Cue Points can key off of specific video frames, to control other events. And the new captioning feature can add closed captioning for video segments. At Cyber Works, we created a video of a speaker presenting a slideshow.

Consider your audience and the minimum system requirements necessary to view streaming Flash videos. Dropped frames and inconsistent playback can occur on slower machines.

Sony Vaio Series

After the buzz with Sony VAIO P Series, Sony has come up with another new notebook series. The VAIO NW Series, is the series that push the “Gracefully thin” to the edge of their marketing. According to Sony the NW series are designed to be ‘gracefully thin’, they measure in at 1.2 inches thick. With a thickness of 1.2-inches, Sony VAIO NW is definitely not as thin as Sony’s thinnest laptop, VAIO X Series, but it is fairly thin for an entry level, full-fledged notebook.

The first thing you’ll notice about the 14.6 x 9.8 x 1.2-inch, Walnut Brown VAIO NW is the cool faux-wood design on the lid, which extends to the base of the system. If you’re not keen on this look, Sony also offers the system in Birch White and Silver Rattan. Owing to the NW’s “waved body” design, the keyboard resides in a slight depression, but it didn’t negatively impact our typing.

Apart from the Rosy Brown, Sony VAIO NW is also available in Shimmering White and Black. The textured, wavy plastic lid and base resists fingerprints better than the glossy finishes that other Sony laptops have. But other problem arises. The textured surface traps dusts and specks much more easily than the glossy surfaces.

The contours of the VAIO NW are soft and the footprint is smaller compared to other models with the same screen size, making this notebook computer compact and easy to carry. Initially available in two colors, silver and brown, the tone is gentle and harmonious with the home environment.

We would have liked to see dedicated volume controls, but it’s easy enough to adjust with function keys. At 5.6 pounds, the VAIO NW isn’t a system you’ll want to constantly keep in tow, but it’s certainly light enough to easily move from room to room.

It meets the latest industry energy efficiency standard, ENERGY STAR® 5.0, and its construction is carefully thought through to keep the amount of waste low by using both recycled and recyclable material in the body and packaging. The VAIO NW11-series has an impressive storage capacity of up to 500GB, making it ideal for multimedia, and has 4GB memory, allowing rapid file access and easy multi-tasking. Its 15.5” true 16:9 widescreen is stunning with Sony’s X-black LCD, which delivers vibrant colors and crystal sharp details.

See more information at wikipedia.

Processor

The Athlon 64 processors have been around for a while now and they have proven themselves the market leaders in processing power.  As we know AMD processor run at a lot slower speeds than Intel processors making them cooler to run.

With the release of their Athlon 64 processor, with 64 bit computing capabilities, they have been slowly but surely regaining the market back from Intel.

Although AMD hit the target by releasing their 64 bit processor long before Intel did, they are not standing still.

The FX series processor are the king of the hill at AMD.  They are the most powerful processor that is available.  They show blistering speeds for CPU intensive functions such video encoding and gaming.  They also show great performance in database driven work and most other aspects of computing.

The dual-core line of processor is the ultimate in multi-tasking. They provide the power of two processors running in unison while still being able to fit in a single processor motherboard.  Although these processors are essentially two processors in one, they are rather pricy and may not be every ones cup of tea.

With competition growing stronger from AMD this can only mean increased benefits for the consumer.  As the war between Intel and AMD intensifies, the consumer will benefit from lowered prices, and increased quality in their processors.

Intel is trying to fight back by forming an alliance with Apple.  All Macs are now available with Intel processors.