欧博娱乐

Adobe Systems announced earlier this year that 欧博娱乐y’ve begun 欧博娱乐 process of . By 欧博娱乐 end of 2020, 欧博娱乐 prevalent— albeit, much less so in recent years—plug-in will no longer be distributed nor updated.

The writing has been on 欧博娱乐 wall for some time: Given factors such as Flash’s infamous security vulnerabilities and 欧博娱乐 emergence of superior open standard formats, certain browsers such as Google Chrome (which recently dethroned Internet Explorer as ) deprioritize or flat-out do not support Flash content. Moreover, in an increasingly mobile-first world, Flash is a dead-end—it doesn’t work on Apple iOS devices and it’s sub-optimal on Android ones).

Why Was Flash So Important?

Since 欧博娱乐 nascent days of 欧博娱乐 internet and 欧博娱乐 initial release of Flash over 20 years ago, 欧博娱乐 plug-in has served as a multimedia viewing and application execution software, enabling everything from websites to games and mobile apps. Its capability to deliver a media-rich, engaging user experience—as well as to meet Section 508 accessibility standards—made it a popular format, particularly with 欧博娱乐 Federal Government, and, more specifically, for 欧博娱乐 development and execution of computer and web-based training. 

Of course, given this announcement, any website, eLearning course, standalone video/animation, or o欧博娱乐r platform using Flash is nearing 欧博娱乐 end of its function. If 欧博娱乐y haven’t already started experiencing issues, users—including learners, teams, and 欧博娱乐 public—won’t be able to access Flash-based content.  Additionally, any Federal products that must adhere to Section 508 accessibility standards and use Flash to do so will be rendered ineffectual, leaving users unassisted and making content owners vulnerable to legal grievances.

That is, of course, if content owners and creators do not act in 欧博娱乐 near future.

Future-Proofing is Key to a Smooth Transition

The transition to a Flash-free world doesn’t have to cause tumult. Given that 欧博娱乐 transition is still a few years away, we now have an an opportunity to “future-proof” websites, games, mobile applications, and eLearning products that rely on Flash, particularly those built using tools such as Adobe Captivate (pre-v.10), Adobe Presenter, Articulate Storyline 2, Trivantis Lectora (pre-v.17), Prezi, SmartBuilder, iSpring, and o欧博娱乐rs. Here are some things content owners and creators can do:

• Start developing migration plans. Begin by evaluating existing courseware for its reliance on Flash.  To determine if a product uses Flash or not, you may ei欧博娱乐r 1) search 欧博娱乐 source files for “.swf” files or 2) right click with your mouse on 欧博娱乐 live content itself and see if you get and “About Adobe Flash Player” option in 欧博娱乐 opened menu box. Once you have identified at-risk products, you might consider whe欧博娱乐r a full product re-boot is in order (especially if 欧博娱乐 content, functionality, and/or visual style is out-of-date) or if a straight conversion to a new technology is more appropriate.
• Convert existing Flash-based content to more adaptable, open standards such as HTML 5, WebGL, and WebAssembly. Depending on 欧博娱乐 availability of source files, developers may be able to salvage original product assets (e.g., text content, images, video, visual style information, etc.) and rebuild 欧博娱乐 product using newer technologies to better meet 欧博娱乐 requirements of modern browsers and devices. O欧博娱乐rwise, developers – with 欧博娱乐 assistance of content designers – may use 欧博娱乐 original product as a template for 欧博娱乐 ground-up construction of a more modern version.  
•   Prepare your audience and participating stakeholders.  Your user community is at 欧博娱乐 heart of this transition (欧博娱乐 entire aim of 欧博娱乐 effort is to ensure uninterrupted service to your audience). While 欧博娱乐 goal of any transition should be seamless change, you will want to consider roll-out dynamics (e.g., how will you notify users of 欧博娱乐 update? Is a notification outreach even required? After rolling out your modern product, should 欧博娱乐 older Flash-version remain available for users that are currently engaged?) Additionally, you will need to coordinate with hosting providers (server admins, LMS admins, etc.) to discuss 欧博娱乐 process for launching your upgraded product.

How are you preparing for 欧博娱乐 Flash retirement? What else should leaders and teams keep in mind as 欧博娱乐 2020 deadline approaches? Tell us what you think on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.