What is Macromedia Flash and why does Corpedia use it?
Macromedia Flash is the most commonly accepted “plug-in” for multimedia on the Internet and is distributed by Macromedia Corporation. Corpedia utilizes Macromedia Flash in order to make courseware that is both dynamic and interesting while still maintaining low bandwidth requirements. To get the same level of interactivity and dynamic content, other interactive software has much higher bandwidth requirements and require heavy plug-ins. Flash compresses audio and graphics associated with Corpedia’s programs into mathematical formulas which are downloaded and then reassembled on the users’ computer desktop, which allows for smaller downloads and higher end quality. The simple analogy is that Flash vs. Non-Flash internet-based programs are the difference between digital (Flash) and analog (non-Flash) television.
