Josh Sager Media: Creative Technologies Blog

Welcome

Today’s Agenda for working in Flash.

Our Goals

• Explore the interface
• Create Basic Animations
• Create Basic Interactions though ActionSctipt

I’m quite excited to announce that I’ll be doing a session at Flash Belt 2010 this year. It’s an amazing conference in Minneapolis Minnesota and If you have the chance you should go.  Tickets are quite reasonable, especially for a 3 day conference with so many amazing speakers! I’m really looking forward to it and I’m humbled to be apart of it.  I hope to see you there.

More info about my session below.

Creative Interactions: Flash Experiments

This session will explore using everyday ActionScript along with common interaction metaphors but through the use of external devices and media server technologies. Josh will focus on sharing demos, experiments, tidbits, pitfalls, and the source code behind these creative solutions. It’s intent is to inspire participants to start experimenting and create their own creative interactions.

Josh will cover using Red 5 Server, basic MIDI interaction, the Color Management System he’s developed, and more.

According to CNet’s report MPEGLA has decided to extended the free-streaming policy until December 31, 2015 for the H.264 codec. Which  means that for the time being we call all continue to use the H.264 codec on the web for our video without any financial consequences.

That could spell bad news for Mozilla, who’s backing the .ogg format for the video tag in HTML5. They are in favor of an open standard like the .ogg format.

For those who are counting. Here are where the current players stand.

• Opera -.ogg (on the way)
• Mozilla - .ogg
• Google - H.264
• Apple - H.264
• Microsoft - nothing

Just another bump in the road on the web to ubiquitous web standards where video is concerned.  It appears, at least for the time being that Flash is still the best way to delivery video content on the web. I guess sometimes it pays to have a 3rd party plug-in.

It’s a hot button topic and yes I am biased.  But I’m growing tired of the Flash hate that’s been growing over last few years. I’m also tired of defending the technology.  So I’m going to break it down as simple as I can why I believe HTML5 won’t kill Flash.

• Interactive Storytelling and Emotional Communiction
• Flash is not static

Say It Ain’t So Steve

It was recently rumored that Steve Jobs held a town hall style meeting to discuss plans for Apple. In this meeting he allegedly said:

Apple does not support Flash because it is so buggy. Whenever a Mac crashes more often than not it’s because of Flash. No one will be using Flash, he says. The world is moving to HTML5. - Steve Jobs

One’s and Zero’s Are Not the Problem

HTML5 will be a much needed upgrade. And i’m really excited for continued standardization especially when it comes to audio and video.  However, Steve if you’re reading this, Flash is a proprietary technology and it may not be optimized for your devices but it’s popularity can not be tossed aside.  Why not?  Well, it offers something that no other technology provides. Interactive storytelling that appeals to human emotion.  Read that again and really take it in.

Interactive Story Telling and Emotional Communication

No one can dispute that video is a great way to tell a story.  Although you can do it with words the old adage does say a picture tells a thousand words. And at 24 frames per second, that’s a lot of words.  Despite video being a great way to communicate on an emotional level it’s locked into to a specific sequence.  Plainly video lacks interactivity.

Flash is not static

You see Flash fits nicely between the emotional response of video and the interactive capabilities of HTML5.  Despite both of these technologies being great at what they do HTML5 and video are static.

static

a : characterized by a lack of movement, animation, or progression b : producing an effect of repose or quiescence <a static design>

Video lacks dynamic user driven controls and HTML5 via javascript can animate content but it lacks storytelling.

This isn’t about key frames and it’s not about file formats. Really think about that. It’s about sequentially dynamic communication. Their combined weaknesses of HTML5 and Video are the strengths of Flash platform.

Would you ever create a movie with JQuery? No. It’s a great technology for transitions, but it falls short as a visual story telling technology.

Would you ever film 100 pages of content and pop in and out of each “page” accepting that the video won’t line and the lack of transitions from jumping around the play head of a video file? Maybe, but the experince suffers.

Flash is a great blend animation and content for interactive storytelling. Until another technology can do this to the satisfaction of both designers, videographers, and end users stop hating. Accept it.

One more thing…

Oh yeah. Steve, don’t filter my options. Let me decided if Flash runs too slow.

This Thursday, January 21st, 2009 at 6:30pm. We’ll be meeting in our usual place at New Perspective. This month’s meeting has a theme of video. We have speakers lined up to cover topics from capturing and compressing video to using FMS (Flash Media Server) for your video content. Full details will be posted next week!

As promised, here’s everything you need to know:

Video Production Workflow - Mark Dobrowolski
Mark will talk about basic workflow presentation based on Pre-Production, Production, and Post-production for specifically web-only media. This will include tips for planning evergreen video; Advice for your videographer and animator from the web perspective; TV vs. Monitor viewing and Compression Round up. This is a beginner level presentation for both designers and developers interested in video.

Introduction to Flash Media Server (FMS) - Wayne Lincoln
Wayne will cover some of the basics you’ll need to get started with using FMS for your video content. He’ll cover how to get started with FMS or what benefits it has to offer. This is a beginner topic .

Please RSVP via email or on facebook .

PittMFUG January Meeting
Thursday January 21st
6:30pm
at New Perspective
google maps

An all too familiar question for my advancing students.  How can I use flash to communicate to a MySQL database.

There are a few options at our disposal

1. Basic php and URLLoader Requests
2. AMF Framework (zendAMF of AMFPHP)

Your needs will really answer the question for the method you’re choosing.  In this case we just need something quick and dirty so we will go the route of basic PHP and URL Requests.

Source files for adding records to MySQL db using ActionScript 3.0 (.zip)

In the package you’ll find the following

• connectToDB (fla files version 1 - 3)
• ConnectToDB.as (The class file)
• flashDB.sql (your database)
• getRecords.php (this will get your records)
• newRecords.php (this will add new records)

The fla Files

These files will step you through basic connection, display of database information, and interaction with the database.

The php Files

These files will simply display and add records

The Class File

The class file has all of the magic needed to perform what you’re looking for.

How Does this Work?

It might sound like a cop out, but you really have to download the source files and experiment.  This may not solve your problems directly, but it should get you on the right track.  If I get time I’ll post a screen cast walking through the entire process.  For now though take a peek and let me know if you have any problems.

Are you ready for the holiday’s? Are you all shopped out and in need of a tasty treat? Well look no further than Lee Brimelow.  Lee has prepare two, that’s right two tasty treats for you to check out.

1. Pre release demo of features in Flash CS5
2. A wonderfully composed screencast on building iPhone apps with Flash CS5

In the hustle and bustle of the holidays if you get a chance treat yourself to some flash goodies.

A big thanks to Bittersweet Harvest for shooting and posting this video.

Here are the slide I promised. I hope you enjoyed the session.

Creative Interactions: Flash Experiments Slides

If you don’t mind, please let me know how I did.

http://speakerrate.com/talks/1563-creative-interactions-flash-experiments