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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.

The Network

In a client-server architecture, there is an always-on host, called the server, which services requests from many other hosts, called clients. A classic example is the Web application for which an always-on Web server services requests from browsers running on client hosts. When a Web server receives a request for an object from a client host, it responds by sending the requested object to the client host.

Note that with the client- server architecture, clients do not directly communicate with each other; for example, in the Web application, two browsers do not directly communicate. Another characteristic of the client-server architecture is that the server has a fixed, well- known address, called an IP address (which we’ll discuss soon). Because the server has a fixed, well-known address, and because the server is always on, a client can always contact the server by sending a packet to the server’s address. Some of the better-known applications with a client-server architecture include the Web, F1′R Telnet, and e-mail.

Keep in mind that an application’s architecture is distinctly different from the network architecture. From the application developer’s perspective, the network architecture is fixed and provides a specific set of services to applications.

The application architecture, on the other hand, is designed by the application developer and dictates how the application is structured over the various end systems. In choosing the application architecture, an application developer will likely draw on one of the two predominant architectural paradigms used in modern network applications: the client-server architecture or the peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture.

Often in a client-server application, a single server host is incapable of keeping up with all the requests from its clients. For example, a popular social-networking site can quickly become overwhelmed if it has only one server handling all of its requests.

Application services that are based on the client-server architecture are often infrastructure intensive, since they require the service providers to purchase, install, and maintain server farms.

Find more at wikipedia

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.

DVR Card

DVR cards are mostly used in surveillance systems to process the information received from a source such as a camera and pass it on to a storage device like a hard disk. Once installed inside a computer, the card becomes active and is instantly recognized by the machine thanks to the accompanying software. Once properly installed, this card allows the user to digitally record signals on to his hard drive and then view it instantaneously.

Depending on need, you can also choose the quality of storage. DVR cards frames per second (fps) ranges are 30, 60,120,240 and 480. For a hard disk having 80 GB disk space, at 30 fps one can record for 320 hours. Similarly, at 120 fps, for an 80 GB hard disk drive, one can record for up to 80 hours. If you have a 960 GB hard disk, you can record for a whopping 3840 hours at the rate of 80 fps, which translates into 160 days or nearly 5 months.

With unmatched features, DVR cards have come to symbolize a much needed technology intervention in the field of surveillance and monitoring. In the coming years, with advanced features, DVR cards will completely replace its conventional rival.

Only a limited number of cameras are supported by the old DVR cards (launched nearly two years ago). If more cameras were needed, more cards had to be installed. Modern cards come with enhanced inbuilt processing power that reduces the burden on the computer.

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.

Optimize Laptop

Importance of registry

Registry loads at boot time, so applications use the registry entries more quickly than use external configuration files at startup. Microsoft designed the Registry to give applications a unified place to store configuration information. However, if registry is too big, it will consume a lot of system resources. Why there are so many Registry Optimizers or cleaners exist? This is because too much garbage in the registry: application software produces garbage, Windows itself creates the registry trash ,too, e.g. Office, NET Framework, are software writing a huge number of registered information. Registry of Windows Vista has been estimated that at least twice that of Windows XP.

Firstly, you can clean up registry by yourself. Click “Run”, and type “regedit” into the text field and press “Enter”. It is separated into primary sections: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_USERS and HKEY_CURRENT CONFIG. Click the plus to find and delete unnecessary entries in the registry.

The wrong deleting or modification in registry will lead a computer crack. Personally, I prefer the second way, i.e. download or buy a stable and safe registry optimizer and scan registry. If you know little about registry, it is highly recommended to use registry optimizer. One of my friends gets a bloated registry; she thinks that it is really useful and safe to use Wonder share Registry Optimizer to clean up registry, fix registry errors and then speed up computer.

Decrease auto-runs when boot computers

Lots applications will be added to the system startup group by themselves during the installation. And they will run automatically each time you start the system, which not only extends the start-up time, but also takes up a lot of system resources.

Load your Windows Registry, you can click Start, Run and then input regedit. Now you have launched your registry, you can do some modification with your registry. For example, if you want to disable the startup Print program, in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run, find the right key and disable it.

See more information at wikipedia