Macromedia
The History of Macromedia Flash
Adobe Flash, formerly known as Macromedia Flash, is a software program used to create and manipulate graphics and animation. It is one of the most common programs used for creating animated web pages, video players, and audio streaming applications. Flash files are traditionally in the SWF format, or ShockWave Flash, though many other types of files can be viewed or manipulated with this software.
1. Early History * The history of Flash can be traced back to the 1980s, when high school student Jonathan Gay used an old Apple II computer to create computer drawing programs. He entered one of these programs, known as Super Paint, in the school science fair. After he won, his program caught the attention of local software developer Charlie Jackson. Jackson was in the process of starting a company known as Silicon Beach Software, which would produce programs for the Macintosh computer line. With little funding available to hire experienced developers, Jackson hired Gay to help create his programs.
The Launch of FutureWave * Gay worked at Silicon Beach through the end of college. He developed a number of computer games for the company, including the popular "Dark Castle," as well as an illustration program called Intellidraw. Using the animation and graphics skills he learned from developing these programs, Gay decided to launch his own company and create software for pen computers (an electronic tablet that users could "write" on with a special pen). He founded FutureWave Software in January 1993, and immediately created SmartSketch. This program would allow users to draw electronically on their computers, and had little success due to its late market entry.
Flash is Created * By 1995, the developers at FutureWave realized the potential for using SmartSketch as an animation tool. At that time, the Internet and the World Wide Web were relatively new concepts. Gay and his team added animation and Java
Adobe Flash, formerly known as Macromedia Flash, is a software program used to create and manipulate graphics and animation. It is one of the most common programs used for creating animated web pages, video players, and audio streaming applications. Flash files are traditionally in the SWF format, or ShockWave Flash, though many other types of files can be viewed or manipulated with this software.
1. Early History * The history of Flash can be traced back to the 1980s, when high school student Jonathan Gay used an old Apple II computer to create computer drawing programs. He entered one of these programs, known as Super Paint, in the school science fair. After he won, his program caught the attention of local software developer Charlie Jackson. Jackson was in the process of starting a company known as Silicon Beach Software, which would produce programs for the Macintosh computer line. With little funding available to hire experienced developers, Jackson hired Gay to help create his programs.
The Launch of FutureWave * Gay worked at Silicon Beach through the end of college. He developed a number of computer games for the company, including the popular "Dark Castle," as well as an illustration program called Intellidraw. Using the animation and graphics skills he learned from developing these programs, Gay decided to launch his own company and create software for pen computers (an electronic tablet that users could "write" on with a special pen). He founded FutureWave Software in January 1993, and immediately created SmartSketch. This program would allow users to draw electronically on their computers, and had little success due to its late market entry.
Flash is Created * By 1995, the developers at FutureWave realized the potential for using SmartSketch as an animation tool. At that time, the Internet and the World Wide Web were relatively new concepts. Gay and his team added animation and Java