Hey, how many usability consultants has Macromedia employed? :p

Macromedia, I want some money too. I'll sing your praises if you want. And I don't charge as much as Filbert either.

Posted by: MadMan on August 21, 2002 02:56 AM

 

I think that UIE actually started this bandwagon, since they (and I mean Jared Spoole mostly) have always been more moderate about Flash, and published this paper well before Uncle Jacob strapped a rocket to the bandwagon!

Posted by: Alastair on August 21, 2002 06:15 AM

 

Alastair, I'm not sure that is the case. I just received their email newsletter and they are promoting this article as if they just published it.

START RANT HERE -- Then again, I can't tell. UIE does not date their articles and that really makes me angry. That practice is a total crock if you ask me. Many news sites do this too, so UIE are not the only culprits. I'm telling you, not dating articles is one of my top complaints. I want to know how fresh things are! -- END RANT HERE

Posted by: John S. Rhodes on August 21, 2002 07:22 AM

 

The "Flash = evil" issue is a troll. Flash isn't the culprit. There's nothing inherently wrong with Flash technology, just the fact that many designers apply it in unusable ways.

If someone with a good eye for usability and user experience builds something, it stands a good chance of being usable no matter what the underlying technology is. It doesn't really matter if the technology is HTML, Flash, Curl, Rebol or VB.

Let Macromedia have their go at it. Flash MX will succeed or fail on the merits of those who build with it. HTML is great for a wide range of content needs, but it's no secret that HTML's weakness is native-style applications.

The bad news of the Flash MX story is that many of the designers that build bad Flash sites are not likely to do a better job in the networked application space. But again, that's not Macromedia's fault.

Posted by: Brittlestar on August 21, 2002 10:50 AM

 

While I am not a big fan of Flash sites, Flash itself is a great technology... provided you have the tools to view it.

For example, Joel just put up a great Flash demo of their product (http://www.paxlogica.com/cdFull.html) that got me interested in a way that none of his previous writings or any of the articles about the program have. That's the power of Flash. But, if that was all he was relying on to sell his product, he'd be screwed for all the visitors who don't have Flash in their browser or who don't want to take the time to view it.

That's my beef with sites that are needlessly Flash based just to make them "look cool." That kind of thinking needs to be stamped out.

Posted by: Lydia on August 21, 2002 12:45 PM

 

UIE has been bullish on Flash for some time now. Their first report on Flash usability came out in November of 2001. I've been talking about using Flash to improve usability for a bit longer, starting in June of 2000 on Flazoom.com.

I don't think the UIE report is a case of usability folks jumping on a 'I love Flash' bandwagon. Insteead it is just a case of usability folks focusing attention on the usability enhancements of possibly the most popular piece of web-based software on the Internet. Web users have adopted the Flash plug-in at an astounding rate. In part because it offers more bang for the byte than any other plug-in and also becasue it offers users the type of content that is promised by marketing hype but is rarely delivered.

Intel used to say that you needed a Pentium III to view streaming video and 3D and interactivity on the web. The majority of web users found that is not the case. Even with their pentium IIIs the content of the web was still very static and un-engaging. Flash 5, and now the Flash 6 plug-in delivers the type of content that many users bought their computers hoping to get. As usability profesionals, we must look at the features that Flash can offer, and how these features can be employed to make the web easier to use.

Posted by: CHris on August 21, 2002 01:18 PM

 

Thanks CHris. Good comments. Indeed, you have been talking about Flash and usability for a long time. Flazoom is a great resource.

Posted by: John S. Rhodes on August 21, 2002 03:27 PM

 

I think we should consider Flash the beginning of the new internet....you know, the one they always promised us but never delivered.

I think one day we will look back, reflectively, on a fully immersive internet experience and say....it started with flash...pity so many idiots misused it way back when…..

Posted by: JB on August 21, 2002 10:15 PM