Rolling Out The Beta

The time has come for me to reluctantly roll out the first prototype for general use.
So far I have only created module maps for dreamweaver, Working with Tables, Working with Images and Working wit Text. Each map is created using the same settings for the semantic engine.

Take a look [video tutorial maps].



I decided to go for the name "video Tutorial Maps" as its a bit more descriptive of what they are and how they work than "Quantum Semantic Learning Spaces".

As I published these maps to the site one thing that became clear is a problem related to the transparencey of the swf. Given the detail of the graphic in a map it is important to make the content have a high level of contrast with the background of the map. This is important not only for readability but also as a reference point for users when dragging the map.
Initially I set the swf to transparent using wmode the embedding settings so that the gradient background of the web page design I have would show through. This presented some isssues with dragging but they were solved in this prototype.

[ziggy flash prototype]
This maps works perfectly as long as two things are true.
1. you are using internet explorer
2. You have a SXGA resolution monitor.

the resolution has to be high enough so that scroll bars do not appear on the browser window otherwise the windwo will move up and down when you use the scroll wheel to zoom.

The browser problem is a bug with firewox and opera. Essentially the way Firefox anf opera handle embedded swf file that are set to transparent is different from internet explorer. When in transparent mode mouse events do no propgate down to the level of swf file. Since ziggy is programmed using actionscript 3.0 and it object oriented "language" uses event listeners as its primary method of capturing mouse events. The mouse a events such as doublke click, or scroll are not setected by the swf when viewd in these browsers.

There are a couple of workarounds for these browser bugs however given the debvelopment I plan to do on the interface i hardly seems an appropriot use of time to chase browser bugs. So my solution has been to simply change the settings so that the swf is no longer in traqnsparent mode but rather has a fixed color background.
After a few different grays i decided on a blue to match the page baqckground. but of course that can be changed if needed.

Here is some more information on [video tutorial maps]