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Interface
Usability in Flash
Article by Merien
Q. Kunst
Conclusion: the Flash Experience
This tutorial has
addressed only a few of the many topics that are relevant to Flash developers
who care about the user friendliness of their creations. Although some may be
very obvious, this is no guarantee that they aren't easily overlooked. Flash has
become so versatile that it's hard to tell people how they should use it, certainly
because it is used for so many different goals. The focus of this article has
been on the use of Flash as a tool for creating rather straightforward Websites.
These are sites that want to inform, entertain and maybe even educate their visitors.
The
most important thing to realize about Flash is that it really is just a tool.
If you need to create something, first think about what you want to make, and
think about how you're going to realize it afterwards. It's bad practice to assume
that Flash is such a cool program that it will be a good way to create anything
you might conjure up. If the project has elements that would benefit from the
features Flash offers, use it the best way possible - again, that doesn't mean
using all the imaginable tween effects you can think of, but it does mean thinking
about the user experience you want to create.
That user experience is dependent
on overall impression, entertainment value, ease of navigation, loading times
and the sense of control by the visitor. These criteria pose quite a challenge
to the best designers and developers. At times, it may be boring or frustrating
to address these criteria, but in the long run it will make your Flash masterpieces
more durable and appreciated.
Online Reference
This tutorial
wouldn't be complete without some interesting links. To ensure that they will
remain current, I've added and area to the Quintus Flash Index, where you'll find
additional information about this subject: www.quintus.org/use
Publication Information
This article was written for the Flash 5 Bible (published
February 2001).