Interactive Animation in Medical Education using Macromedia's Flash

Kent Judkins

Louisiana State University Medical Center - Shreveport

Abstract:

Whether teaching medical students or helping patients to understand key concepts for informed consent, animation and interactivity may be a way to improve learning. Static textbook images with myriads of callouts can be overwhelming. Simple cursor rollovers can help to focus on more specific areas. The learner may step through a process at his or her own pace, clicking the mouse when ready to move on to the next concept. Exploration of a subject can be non-linear and linked to other related topics. Images enhanced with movement, 3-d qualities and sound may better engage the user and be more memorable. Macromedia's Flash, a relatively new software product, available for Windows and Macintosh, makes it easy for anyone to develop interactive animation.

There is currently no other software product that does the same thing. Here are some of the features that make it so unique and so powerful:

· Flash is primarily an application for creating animations

· These animations are based on Vectors (instead of pixels)

· Being vector-based, file sizes are small and they download quickly

· Vectors also allow animations to be scaled to any size without loss of smooth curves and details

· Flash movies can be imbedded into your web pages or saved as stand-alone projector applications

· Flash movies can be interactive and can be linked to other movies or web pages

· New versions of Netscape and Internet Explorer already have the plugins in place to view FLASH files

· Sound may be added and synced to screen actions

· Movies are compatible with Macintosh and Windows platforms

· No scripting is required, it is easy to learn

· You may use Flash's innovative drawing tools or import vector drawings >from Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw

· You can even import bitmap graphic and use them as bitmaps or convert them to vectors

The animations we have created for our medical school curriculum have been well received and effective in teaching "hard to visualize" concepts. Small file sizes and big impact are a great combination for web-based teaching or at least for files that students can download quickly.

Benefit in Attending Session:

Attendees will have a chance to see some of the FLASH animations that we have created and are using in our medical school curriculum. They will also see how simple it can be to learn FLASH and develop simple interactive animations. Attendees who have already developed FLASH animations with medical themes can share their files by adding them to a collection which will be published on the Web after the conference.

PRIMARY AUTHOR'S INFORMATION

Kent Judkins

Biometry Department

LSU Medical Center

1501 Kings Hwy.

Shreveport, LA 71130

Telephone Number: (318) 675-4596

Fax Number: (318) 675-7757

E-mail Address: kjudki@lsumc.edu

Web Site: http://www.j-itm.com/prac.html