spinal column - 1st draft

[dissector]

Hi everyone

I'm trying out a new format for my tutorials. They are going to be html based with different sections on different pages. The text of the tutorials is on the html page so that it is searchable, able to be indexed and easily modified by non-flashers. The pages will also be SCOs (shareable content objects) so that more tutorial pages can be shared in different tutorials - eg a surgical condition tutorial can include a page from the relevant anatomy tutorial.

http://www.dissectionroom.com/vertebralcolumnindex.htm

This is the first draft of a new tutorial in this format. I know I have work to do on the animations but would appreciate comments about the new format, navigation, loading times, are the tutorials understandable?

I would also like suggestions about reducing download times. Things I am considering -
- reducing the mp3 voice over quality
- loading up the animations out of view on the previous page so that while one is playing the next is loading up or variations on this theme.
- getting rid of the 3d and hand drawing the graphics... as in my other tutorials.

Please compare to the older tutorials (under tutorials in the menu strip) if you have time.

Thanks

Chris

[ronaldmeij]

Hi

I like it verry mutch , marketing wise its really smart because of the story telling u listen and read so u keep the clients longer on the site...

Quallity of vocals are nice and clear so ... u have a good product !

keep up the good work and keep on flashing !!!

http://home.wxs.nl/~rmgel000/

Ronald Meij.

[gilesb]

hi there thanks for the comments on my site

so i looked at yours

i have not really ever looked at flash as an e learning tool - but hey its obviously very good!!1

;liked your site alot - very clear and concise

You asked about mp3 stream etc

I can solve your problem - buy wildform flix!!!

you can set your audio to stream over any internet connection and the audio stream quality over a 56 k modem - around the 32Kbps mark is more than adequate - and it always streams

hope this helps

gilesb

[stuartkey]

thats great, i never learned so much about bones in all my life!

The idea is great, I was quite surprised at the amount of speech you'e squeezed into the swf files. It was a bit quiet, and some b/g hiss, but it's acceptable.

I would have liked a pause feature, just to give you time to digest the info?

[mrxypaxn]

Don't worry about changing the 3d models, if won't help. The files are all exported as vector graphics(they have to be to be edited in Flash), and don't take up any more room than a normal keyframed animation sequence. So don't waste your time.
Nice site, I'm going to follow it to see how it develops.

[dissector]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I think the download times are probably acceptable from what you are saying. If I drew the pictures of the spine etc they would have a lot less curves and hence be a lot smaller. I've optimised the imported swfs as much as possible but the spine swfs still have hundreds of curves per keyframe which is what is taking up the most space. I like the idea of a pause button.. don't know why I didn't think of it. I'll have to think how to a/s it.

Chris

[gilesb]

that "pause" feature??


on (press) {
_root.yourMCinstanceName.gotoAndStop(_root.yourMCi nstanceName._currentframe+1);
}


this avoids the "stop()" totally and therefore allows you to restart at the same positio that you stopped

this will work along with other different scripts etc etc

simple play button to restart

on (press) {
_root.yourMCinstanceName.play();
}


you would also have to link this stop and start feature to any synced swf or video that is playing to, but that should not be too hard...


etc
etc
etc

hope that helps


gilesb

[dissector]

Hi

2nd draft now done - I would appreciate any opinions on how it could be improved.

There are now 2 versions one 800x600 and one 1024x768

http://www.dissectionroom.com/tutorials.htm

Thanks

[flashmx boy]

Hello, your site is easy and clean nice . Its easy to understand the text... And its easy to Learn your Tutorials::..
Your HTML site is just great, and your logo is nice.
Maybe you should use some other colors.....

Keep the good worrk up man

[pheck]

chris,

congrats on a job well done. i like the use of 3d very much. it is definitely not overdone. the load times are fine (but i'm on t1). consider having an option in the beginning for voice over or no voice over (perhpas the 56ker would prefer to read the text him/herself). on page three i don't like how the vert body comes over the cord. perhaps shift it over to the right a tad. great job!