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Is Flash Good or Bad?

Flash Technology - Advantages & Disadvantages

Although Macromedia, the creator of Flash technology, claims that 98.3% of Internet users have the ability to view Flash, one has to consider the methodology for the survey and how well someone can view Flash.  For one thing, the survey was restricted to English speaking participants.  In addition, although the participant would have been warned not to download the player during the survey, their computer would have automatically prompted them to do so.  More importantly the survey does not take into consideration the version of Flash they may have and the speed, memory, and connection of their computer.  When you consider all of the factors, a realistic estimate of the percentage of Internet users that can view Flash as intended would probably be closer to 65%.

Should you use Flash on YOUR web site?

Advantages

  • Flash uses vector graphics, which means that the graphics can be scaled to any size without losing clarity/quality.
  • Flash gives the viewer a "high-tech" impression of your organization that is very impressive.
  • Flash can be used to create interactive animation for entertaining "Splash" pages, ad banners and even games.
  • With Flash you can deliver to your audience engaging applications and web interfaces such as training courses, tutorials and presentations.

Disadvantages

  • There are a variety of reasons why Flash content may be inaccessible. First, Flash files require a plug-in called the Flash Player. Many older browsers do not support this plug-in so individuals using those browsers will not be able to view Flash content.
  • The "Back" button does not work. If you navigate within a Flash object, the standard backtracking method takes you out of the multimedia object and not, as expected, to the previous state.
  • Link colors don't work. Given this, you cannot easily see where you've been and which links you've yet to visit. This lack of orientation creates navigational confusion.
  • The "Make text bigger/smaller" button does not work.
  • Flash reduces accessibility for users with disabilities. (Although the latest version "Flash MX" supposedly addresses many of these issues.)
  • The "Find in page" feature does not work. In general, Flash integrates poorly with search.
  • Internationalization and localization is complicated.  Text that moves is harder to read for users who lack fluency in the language.
  • Many viewers get annoyed when they have to wait for the Flash presentations to load and will end up going elsewhere instead of waiting.

To Flash or not to Flash... that is the question. The answer is up to you.

Flash Zoomable Map at CostaRicaTurtles.com | Flash Ad Banner for GottaCropShop

Where to next?

I want to learn more about: Disabled User Accessibility | Design Tips | Other Articles
 
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