Fluition is a fully SMIL compliant, rich-media presentation layout and sequencing tool. Fluition was designed to be easy to use but offer all of the power and flexibility that SMIL offers. Fluition eliminates the need for manually writing code and allows full multimedia layout and sequencing capabilities in a visual environment. Fluition makes use of a wide range of media file formats making it possible to create very sophisticated productions limited only by the producer's imagination.
The advancement of streaming media technologies and the improvement of data connection speeds continue to evolve the World Wide Web into the most sophisticated multimedia delivery platform in history. As the web continues to evolve, the ability to broadcast interactive multimedia to a mass audience becomes increasingly accessible to anyone.
SMIL, Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language, was approved by the World Wide Web Consortium in 1998 as the standard markup language for streaming multimedia presentations. The easiest comparison which makes the description simple, is that HTML is the language used for the layout of web pages with text and graphics, while SMIL is the language used to layout video presentations like those you'd find using RealPlayer G2 and, now QuickTime 5 or better. Examples of what SMIL can do are things like interactive video, video on demand, online training, etc.
Through Fluition and the power of SMIL, Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (pronounced "SMILE"), the ability to create and broadcast interactive multimedia presentations is simplified and becomes accessible to anyone with a computer and an Internet connection.
SMIL is a very flexible language that makes the creation of very sophisticated interactive multimedia productions possible. Fluition makes the creation of these presentations easier and more efficient.
Using SMIL, rich-media producers can now create interactive rich-media using existing media assets. SMIL allows for the creation of interactive rich-media using various media types that can be assembled using a code-based language similar to HTML. SMIL is a very flexible language that makes the creation of very sophisticated interactive multimedia productions possible. Fluition makes the creation of these presentations easier and more efficient.
The creation, organization and assembly of media for a SMIL presentation is a process that can involve many factors. There are a number of media file formats that can be used within a SMIL presentation. Fluition can use any SMIL compatible streaming media file format for presentation creation.
A SMIL presentation contains Regions and Regions contain media that is played back through a sequence. The user defines the Regions and then media files are assigned to Regions for playback. Playback can be in sequential order, or in parallel. SMIL also makes it possible to add timeline-based hotspots to media clips. Fluition has made this process extremely easy for the streaming media producer through the use of an Anchor Draw Tool and Anchor Window.
Various streaming media file types including video, audio, animation, photos, graphics and text can be assembled within the presentation and combined for a robust and interactive multimedia experience. Any production can then be played back using any of the SMIL compliant player programs that are currently available. (See the Chapters on File Types and Players for more information.)
Fluition has an easy to use interface that allows for rapid creation of sophisticated SMIL presentations. The software interface consists of a number of menus and windows. The menus offer access to the various window features and the windows either display information about components of the presentation, or allow modification of those components.
The World Wide Web has so far proven to be the ultimate example of delivering textual information and still images. The capability for linking to other sources of information has also made the World Wide Web the most diverse information delivery system ever seen in history. As the infrastructure behind the World Wide Web continues to expand and become more robust, the capabilities of the Internet for delivering more advanced media types also become more advanced.
Vector based animation has opened the possibilities offered by the Internet for content delivery in many beneficial ways. Vector based animation is a bandwidth friendly solution to offering visually interesting content which can be accessed by a huge user base.
Streaming technology now offers the ability to distribute audio and video over the Internet without the need download. Viewers can watch video and listen to audio as it arrives on their computers. End-user hardware and software power, combined with the increasing proliferation of high-speed data connections makes it now possible to deliver a high quality rich-media experience.
Rich-media presentations created for delivery over the Internet can be produced using existing media assets that were assembled for a web site. Re-use of these web assets also assists with maintaining the look and feel of the site.
Most organizations have existing print-based media assets. These assets are generally converted to electronic form for use on a web site. All of these assets can also be used in conjunction with a rich-media presentation to round out the user experience.
Still images and slide shows are also valuable media assets that can be used for rich-media over the Internet. PowerPoint presentations along side of a video or a slide show of photos over a voice-over can be easily produced, while offering a unique rich-media experience for the viewer.
Organizations with existing audio or video assets or who have production capabilities, can digitize and encode these assets for delivery over the Internet. Using SMIL and existing media assets, a full featured, interactive presentation can be assembled with ease.
Media assets that are stored using traditional or analog media must be digitized and encoded for delivery over the Internet. Digitizing media (also referred to as capturing) is the process of converting media into a format usable by a computer. Using a combination of hardware and software, media (e.g. videotapes, audio tracks, and photos, ET. Al.) is captured or scanned and stored as digital information which can then be manipulated for delivery over the Internet. Encoding software (and sometimes hardware) converts the digital media into a more efficient format for delivery using specific methods. Methods of encoding to a streaming media format include RealProducer (bundled with Fluition), or QuickTime Pro (www.apple.com).
The design and layout of a rich-media presentation can be simple or complex, depending on the quantity of media and the nature of the information being presented. The type of media as well as the aesthetic qualities of the media assets will affect the design and layout of the presentation. Consistency and ease of navigation are crucial elements for any interactive presentation.
The quantity of media in addition to the nature of the media can also affect the level of interactivity for the end user. A collection of media can be presented as an on-demand library. Large media files can also be divided into more easily consumable segments. Links to multiple media files can be placed in a SMIL presentation keeping the viewer within the player program. Secondary media can be combined with primary media to offer an enhanced experience. Related media can be interconnected and presented in an order chosen by the viewer. Customized media collections can be assembled for playback. Advertising can be synchronized with the playback of other media elements.
SMIL is a World Wide Web Consortium recommended standard for the layout and sequencing of rich-media presentations for delivery over variable bandwidth scenarios. The Internet represents the best example of a variable bandwidth scenario and SMIL was established for creating interactive rich-media. SMIL is a code-based language that offers very flexible and powerful layout, sequencing and linking capabilities. The SMIL language has sophisticated features that can result in a robust user experience. SMIL makes it possible for a rich-media producer to combine media assets with a minimal redundant use of storage space. As a code based language SMIL also offers many server side applications that are not easily accomplished using other file formats.
Once a SMIL presentation has been created it can be displayed using one of two methods. Linking to a SMIL presentation through a web site by launching a player program such as RealPlayer, or embedding the presentation player program within a web page. Either method has advantages or disadvantages and the benefits or uses are dependent on the nature of the media as well as the desired user experience.
Internet Service Providers who offer web-hosting services do not necessarily offer streaming hosting services. Streaming hosting requires more computing resources than web hosting. Streaming server software is different from other server software and is dependent on the format of streaming media being served. There are also streaming hosting providers who do not provide web hosting services. Streaming services are also more diverse in pricing than web hosting. Streaming service providers base pricing on storage, bandwidth consumption or a combination of both. Because of the code-based nature of SMIL, similar to HTML, media elements can be served from different locations transparently to the end-user.
Streaming media requires more bandwidth in addition to computing resources. Streaming media requires the use of bandwidth based on concurrent viewers as well as the duration and quality of the media being delivered. Video requires more bandwidth than audio and full screen video requires more bandwidth than partial screen. When combining other media elements into a rich-media presentation, the additional media consumes further bandwidth. Careful management and balance between user experience through design and bandwidth use are essential to an effective rich-media experience.