Macromedia Flash, since its initial launch in 1996, has been favoured by many web designers because it added music, animation and interactivity to web pages.
The release of Macromedia Flash MX in 2003 has opened up a realm of new possibilities to the world of web design, flash animation and online games. In previous versions of Flash, the only way to update the information presented in Flash movies was to edit the content using Macromedia Flash which required highly skilled personnel. The introduction of ActionScript programming along with external datafeeds communication capabilities has completely changed this and it is now possible for the content presented within Flash movies to be managed through external content management systems (CMS).
CMSs are web-based tools that allow computer novices to update information on websites; these tools are very useful as they empower non “tech-savvy” users to present information online. The advent of Flash MX offers these same computer novices the ability to update information presented in Flash animation, enormously widening the scope of possibilities in the web design arena.
The latest version of Macromedia Flash offers video streaming capabilities and audio and video interactivity through computer-attached video cams and microphones.
