Chapter 9

Jumpin' Jack Flash

"I Believe Flash Abuse and Mystery Meat Navigation Are Signs of the Apocalypse"

Flash -- What It Is

Flash -- Good or Evil?

Go to the Principal's Office

Macromedia Flash is the perfect example of a tool that's neither good nor bad. It's how designers use the tool that's good or bad. In the original edition of this book, back in the last century, Flash was listed as one of the bleeding-edge technologies. Well, in the 21st century, Flash is now mainstream, but the arguments over whether and/or when to use it are still causing bloodshed.

When Flash animations play, many ("most" if you listen to Macromedia) Web surfers never notice that their browser is actually loading a foreign application. The Flash plug-in allows browsers to run Flash programs that range from the sublime to the ridiculous. We'll look at both.