2020 Marks the End of Adobe Flash! - What does this mean? How does it affect you? What's the solution? - eNyota Learning
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2020 Marks the End of Adobe Flash! What does this mean? How does it affect you? What’s the solution? eNyota Learning, Whitepaper, July 2019
Contents
3
Introduction
4
What are the other industry leaders saying?
5
Scope of this whitepaper
14
Conclusion
15
About eNyota Learning
© 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 02
Introduction
2020 will finally mark the much-anticipated
end of the Adobe Flash Player, a popular
authoring software developed by
Macromedia, acquired by Adobe. It is
commonly used to create games, vector
graphic-based animation programs, graphic
illustrations, and courseware in a resizable
format with easy sharing abilities.
The discussion to end licensing and promotion
of the Flash software and Flash supported
media content was first started in 2010 when
Steve Jobs stated “Apple would discontinue
supporting Flash player across all its devices
which include the iPhone and iPad, and
MacBook will eventually stop supporting
flash”. Flash will by default remain switched
off, only an explicit permission from the user
will allow the device to access Flash player
and its supported content” This did not come
as a surprise since the use of flash has been
on a regular decline with the introduction of
more robust authoring and designing tools
supported by HTML5 like Articulate 360,
Elucidat, and Adobe Captivate 9.
© 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 03
What are the
other industry
leaders saying?
A report by Google Chrome dated February taking this decision is the ease with which
28th, 2018 stated that the percentage of hackers can target Flash content or infect
daily Chrome users who’ve loaded at least Flash files with malicious software which
one page containing Flash content per day execute themselves upon opening. Adobe
has gone down from around 80% in 2014 to
has given an ultimatum to all who use
under 8% in early 2018. Google Chrome’s
share of the worldwide internet browser Flash to complete converting their files by
market as of 2018 is 60.98%. 2020. This white paper intends on clearly
outlining what does the end of Flash mean for
those whose eLearning courses are still in Flash
With the decline in its popularity and finding format.
acceptance as a collector’s item amongst old
tech enthusiasts and Flash media collectors, As of now, HTML5 is regarded as the ideal
Adobe finally released a public statement successor of Flash owing to its mobile-optimised
saying “We will stop updating and distributing functionality and the ability to run on all
the Flash Player at the end of 2020 and we major browsers without crashing. It is also not
encourage content creators to migrate any a plugin. In essence, it is a part of your web
existing Flash content to other new browser and does not need to be installed,
open formats.” rarely crashing or malfunctioning like Flash.
This message specifically means there won’t
be any support, updates, or patches to fix
Flash-driven content. The driving force behind
© 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 04
Scope of this whitepaper
The whitepaper intends on addressing the following questions regarding Flash and
its discontinuation.
1. Why should you convert from Flash to HTML5?
2. What are the alternatives to creating courses in Flash authoring and how do they differ?
3. What are the prerequisites to converting your old Flash driven content to HTML5, and how
to do it?
Converting Flash to HTML5
Rebuilding the course in HTML5
4. How to identify courses running on Flash?
5. Our solutions to your Flash problems
Converting your Flash course for you
Rebuilding a close replica
1. Why should you convert from Flash to HTML5?
With the introduction of HTML5, multimedia content can now be rendered without the need to
install a plugin or player application like Flash, which means less updates and plugin crashes.
But, there is more to why you should convert from Flash, and it has to do with a set of core
problems that Flash players are commonly susceptible to. Which leaves your Flash developed
eLearning courses open and vulnerable as well.
Security Issues
Flash codes are riddled with loopholes which cyber attackers exploit when targeting the
mass audience. In 2017, 63 security vulnerabilities of which 57 critical Flash code issues were
identified, which gave attackers access to expose information and bypass accesses to obtain
sensitive information via mundane vectors or by executing arbitrary code. Put simply, attackers
gained complete access of personal and company PCs collecting login data, credit card
passwords, company trade secrets, and encrypted systems asking for major ransoms to decrypt it.
Mobile Responsive
Flash is not supported on iOS devices such as iPad and iPhone. Flash also does not support
touchscreen interfaces very well due to mouseover issues. Since most modern smartphones and
tablets are touchscreen-operated, this renders Flash unresponsive on mobile devices. It also
consumes more power making it an unfavourable application for laptops and other mobile
devices, owing to which Apple disabled Flash for its iOS. Flash courses are full off glitches when
operated on mobile devices causing mobile operating systems to crash or freeze.
© 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 05
Browser Compatibility Issues
Google has reported “The current Google Chrome browser will block Flash and use HTML5 by
default”. For Apple’s Safari browser, it is turned off by default and requires explicit permission.
Microsoft Edge will disable Flash by mid-2018. Users can choose to re-enable it. However,
Edge will ask for permissions every time a user chooses to use it. By 2020 Flash will not be
supported by any Windows device and users can no longer enable it on their browsers.
Performance on Various Operating Systems
Flash performs poorly on Linux and Mac OS X. HTML5 outperforms Flash by running 58%
faster on these operating systems. Since Flash does not have access to the graphics processing
unit (GPU), heavy graphics processing tasks are performed by the central processing unit (CPU)
and this causes the entire system to slow down. Furthermore, in order to play SWF files, Adobe
Flash is required to be installed (not a browser plugin anymore) and ensuring your device and
OS are Flash compatible is a must.
No Updates
Currently there are two methods of updating your Flash player - automatic updates and
manually. These updates are crucial in plugging loopholes as identified in the first point (security
issues). With the end of updates in 2020, Adobe will no longer work towards identifying
loopholes and releasing updates aimed at fixing these issues. In short, your Flash-driven
courses will leave your system susceptible to even more attacks and data leaks than before.
Furthermore, Adobe will provide no form of recovery support.
With issues as critical such as these, Adobe is recommending users whose eLearning courses
are built in Flash to start converting them immediately. Once the updates and supports stop,
converting large amounts of files and courses will become a tedious task. They recommend to
start converting courses through 2018, 19, and 20.
2. The alternatives to creating courses in Flash authoring and how do they differ?
Currently there are alternatives to developing courses using the Flash authoring tool which work
better. Some of these are written in JavaScript which is a part of HTML5. A combination of
HTML + JavaScript + CSS is considered to be more superior to Flash in an overall comparison.
Others are independent authoring tools which allow you to export your finished courses to
HTML5 format for easy access over YouTube and cloud hosted LMSes that run on your browser.
© 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 06
The authoring tools mentioned here are Using custom coding, game-based learning is
ideal to convert Flash courses to HTML5 added to the eLearning modules. If the Flash
formats, while helping you create new courses have specific functionalities which
courses as well. cannot be recreated using templates provided
by other authoring tools, custom HTML5 helps
Articulate Storyline achieve those. The only drawback to using
custom HTML5 is the expertise in coding
Regarded as the most popular authoring and thorough knowledge of the tool that is
tool, Storyline is a powerful authoring required.
system enabling the creation of engaging
and interactive courses. It allows you to Elucidat
export your creations into Flash and HTML5.
However, keeping 2020’s event in mind, This is an authoring tool known to create
there are possibilities of Storyline stopping content which is compatible over all web
the exporting of courses to Flash. Storyline browsers making courses glitch free and
provides an elaborate library of ready-to-use smooth to operate. Elucidat focuses primarily
characters and software simulation abilities. on creating HTML5 courses. It also comes
Some known drawbacks are the high licensing with a host of pre-made templates, theme
costs and no video publishing options. collections, collaboration elements, and
user-friendly layouts. Its responsive design
Custom HTML5 allows it to work easily on mobile devices.
Most drawbacks are on the developer’s end
Custom HTML5 courses are responsive like the lack of a dedicated app.
or possess a fixed layout to add custom
interactivities which suit your course needs.
© 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 07
Gomo Adobe Captivate
A SaaS-based authoring tool, Gomo creates Developed by Adobe, Captivate is a popular
responsive and adaptive HTML5 eLearning authoring tool used to create rich multi-
content. The content created is accessible media content. Developers can easily export
easily over desktops, tablets, and phones. It is their creations to HTML5. Courses created
an easy-to-navigate system used by beginners in Captivate are rich in interactive elements.
to experts for various creation and conversion Content is responsive across desktops, PCs,
needs. With a host of templates, Gomo laptops, tablets, and phones making your
ensures your courses are visually stimulating. course multi-device compatible, easy to access,
One of the biggest advantages is its highly and user-friendly over multiple platforms.
responsive nature over multiple devices. Courses created are SCORM compliant. The
However, it is considered most suitable for drawbacks to creating courses in Captivate
text-based or audio-supported courses. are its lack of a proper video editor plus a
Synching audio with video is a hassle. complicated interface. Additionally, there is no
automatic way to create responsive courses.
Adapt Learning You need to manually design layouts to suit
various resolutions.
For an engaging and seamless learning
experience compatible over multiple devices, Lectora Inspire
Adapt Learning is considered a versatile
Lectora is capable of converting text dominant
authoring tool. It is known for its high visual
courses to simple HTML5 format which can
resources, forcing users to arrange content
render itself quickly on small devices of
in a meaningful way. This is a learner-
various sizes. It is capable of converting
centric authoring tool which focuses on giving
courses to SCORM and AICC formats as well.
the learners an above average learning
It is also considered as one of the fastest
experience with navigations and interactions.
conversion tools available. The drawback here
One of the drawbacks to Adapt Learning is
is similar to that of Captivate.
the time invested in creating complex courses
especially with graphics, since it requires an
experienced person to handle. Claro
Developed as a web-based content
Articulate 360 Rise authoring tool, it allows users to develop
courses together. It supports both online,
Rise is another addition to the already offline, and mobile-based learning. Authors
impressive suite of authoring tools by can access information from a central
Articulate. Designed primarily for the creation repository. It allows objects to be reused and
of responsive courses, something Storyline provides a responsive mobile output. Some
lacked, Rise helps build courses using template drawbacks are a lack of software simulations
style framing. Responsive over multiple and limited video and audio editing options.
devices, it makes previewing easier. It also It comes supported with mobile player which
exports to SCORM/xAPI for easy upload to allows viewing of content in offline mode on
the LMS. the mobile.
© 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 08
3. Prerequisites to converting Flash files to HTML5 and how to do it?
Old Flash files are still useful. However, the Flash format is not. Hence, conversion is the best
option to retain safe use of old courses.
Converting Flash files to HTML5 is possible. It can save you major costs of time and money
involved in recreating courses from scratch. However, it is not an easy task and a set of
prerequisites and steps to follow decide the success of migrating. It is strongly recommended
to outsource the conversion task if you do not possess prior knowledge or experience, as
attempting to convert a great number of old Flash files to HTML5 may result in considerable
loss of time and efforts yielding little to no outcome.
Furthermore, different conversion tools yield varied outcomes. Some can support an output
to video while others cannot. Therefore, it is advisable to seek support of an expert who can
successfully implement a switch using a suitable tool based on the required end outcome.
The true advantage of converting Flash courses to HTML5 is the ability to run the newly
converted files over all devices and web browsers easily. Old converted courses are now made
accessible on iOS and Android mobile devices.
Converting Flash to HTML5
Source files
Before starting the conversion process, it is imperative that all source files used to develop the
Flash content are centrally available. These files include audio, video, .fla, .as files. If the source
files are not available, there is very little you can do but recreate the course from scratch
(explained in the next subset).
© 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 09
Prepare existing content
Once the source files are collected, the existing storyboard has to be extracted. This includes all
written content, navigation tab labels, dialogues, and interactive texts.
Select the right authoring tool
Identifying the correct tool depends on the desired outcome. While some tools are great to
create immersive courses with good animations and effects, others are better at handling audio
synching and creating slide like courses. Refer to Point 2. (The alternatives to creating courses
in Flash authoring and how do they differ?). Each authoring tool has its area of expertise and
drawbacks. It is recommended to hand over the source files and the existing course to experts
who can better understand the limitations and benefits of using a certain tool and successfully
convert it.
Test layouts
Having a good knowledge of using the tool is a huge requirement in this phase. Preparing the
graphical user interface (GUI) is important. Not all features of Flash can be recreated in other
authoring tools. Animations may need to be created as a video. If a change in the player is
required, outsourcing is a better option.
Publish to HTML5
After multiple tests and setting periodic benchmarks along the way, you finally arrive at a
complete, ready-to-publish course. It is important to test the course’s functionality throughout the
development phase to avoid any rework or redesigning at this stage. Once finalised, the course
can now be published to HTML5.
There may arise the possibility where the source files are not available or accessible. In such a
case, rebuilding the course from scratch is the only option. It is advisable to hand over the Flash
course, with any kind of available files, to a course developing expert who will recreate your
course from scratch with as much accuracy to the original Flash course as possible.
© 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 10Audio files
Images Video files
Rebuilding the
Course in HTML5
Create a Animation
storyboard need
• Create a storyboard: This requires the expertise of an Instruction Designer (ID) who will draw
up a storyboard of your existing course, either by extracting elements that can be extracted,
or recreating by observing the existing course and its functionality.
• Images: By observing the existing images, the experts will then proceed to source images
that are identical or close representations. Images can be sourced from online sources where
royalty free images are easily available.
• Audio files: Course creating experts possess vendor relations with voice over (VO) agencies
where audio is recreated based on the language and region your course is intended for.
These audio files are then synched with the video or animations carefully.
• Video files: Video files are usually present within the source files. Since the source files
are unavailable, videos are either provided by you or need to be recreated from scratch.
A good alternative to recreating videos is recreating the video as an animation. Since
procuring a video director + actors + venue + equipment can add to increasing costs.
• Animation need: Flash provided some excellent animation abilities. However, using the
existing authoring tools, animation cannot always be recreated like Flash once did. If
the animations used in your earlier courses are crucial to the teaching outcome, consider
designing the slides as videos in tools like Adobe After Effects and embed them as MP4s.
We recommend taking this approach only if the animations are extremely important to the
training. Videos can pose problems in loading in the learners aren’t on a great bandwidth.
© 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 11*Source window media player
4. How to identify if your courses are running on Flash?
By right clicking on the selected course screen, a Flash context menu appears with “About
Adobe Flash Player *version details*” mentioned at the bottom of the box. This is an indication
of a Flash developed course. Such courses must be converted to HTML5.
What solutions do we provide?
When it comes to converting exiting old Flash courses, we provide two straightforward solutions:
01 Converting your Flash courses to newer, more modern formats
If the courses built are a few years old, we typically advise and encourage you to reconsider
the overall instructional and visual design approach. Standards and trends in online learning
have changed and we encourage our clients to opt for newer and better ways to train their
people. At this phase, we can revamp the instructional and interactive design of your older
course to a newer, more impactful approach. Discuss your thoughts and ideas with the ID you
are partnering with. Take their opinion on ways you can bring new life to your training. For
example, if you had an all text onscreen approach with minimal interactivity, consider taking a
more engaging approach but using limited text onscreen and having media and audio drive the
training. Appropriate images may be extracted from your existing courses and reused, but if
you decide to go a whole new way, then these images may be discarded, and new ones can be
sourced or created.
© 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 12Add gamification elements to your course like scores, leaderboards, timers, etc. Make your training more impactful and your learners more competitive. Make sure your LMS supports gamification as well. We can use a variety of tools to achieve this fun and modern way of training. Articulate Storyline 360 is a great way to build courses that will run on multiple devices (in a more adaptive rather than responsive way). Another great addition to spruce up training is breaking it up into smaller chunks and converting some of that training into video. Animated explainers are great ways to not only build interest about training, but also give bite-sized information to learners, on-the-go. Please note, these kinds of approaches are not recommended if you need your courses to be purely responsive. Having text and media build up on a smaller screen isn’t a great way to view your training on the phone. However, if bite-sized and on-the-go training is what you’d like to opt for, responsive tools like Rise, Adapt, Gomo, and Elucidat are great options to consider. They are easy to work with, cost effective, and serve all the functions required of mobile courses. 02 Creating a close replica of your existing Flash course Again, if you’d like to continue using the previous methods of training, we can create a replica (keeping in mind the limitations and features of the tool being used) to recreate your older Flash courses. If you have access to the source files, then we would need to start by extracting everything from the UI design to the assets that need to be reused. If the source files are not available, then we would need to recreate everything to resemble to original course. © 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 13
Conclusion
We at eNyota have over 12 years of
experience in the field of eLearning course
development. Our field of expertise lies in
creating complex animation and interactive
simulation courses for all industries
and businesses.
Our team of experts are experienced and
possess knowledge in creating new courses as
well as converting old courses using all of the
authoring tools mentioned earlier. Depending
on your need and budget, we can offer a
variety of options in terms of instructional,
visual, and interactive design. For further
clarifications on how we can help you convert
your Flash courses or how we could help you
design new courses from scratch please reach
out to us at contactus@eNyotalearning.com.
© 2019 Property of eNyota Learning Inc. 14About
eNyota Learning
eNyota Learning is a 12+year old company
focused on providing learning solutions to
organizations worldwide. Our clients comprise
corporates as well as training, education, and
eLearning companies. We work with clients in
the US, UK, Europe, and Australia, providing
solutions to their training and eLearning needs.
We work with organizations looking to train
their employees, partners, and customers using
web-based training or mobile-based training.
Our current offerings include:
• Custom/bespoke learning
• Mobile learning
• Translation and localization
• Custom/bespoke software development
• Animated explainer videos
• Abara – our Learning Management
System
• Extended course development teams
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