“Yeah, Right Flash is dying! And we have been hearing that for years now”, a statement that is heard most often when we pitch the idea. As learning solution providers, it isn’t surprising to encounter people who view change with skepticism. But, the fact is undeniable. Flash is all set to exit the market scene in 2020. What then? The last-minute rush and mayhem? Instead, plan ahead and understand the need.
We have already discussed about the decreasing popularity of Flash and the alternate solution that it Adobe came up with. While Flash is still supported by most browsers currently with/without extensions, the increasing safety risks cannot be overlooked. It was recently found that, it is really easy for hackers to inject malware into the Flash plug-in. More importantly, one year down the late Adobe is all set to discontinue the work on SDKs (software development kits) for Flash. What then? It is considered that all organizations will hence be prepped up to handle the change. The solution being conversion to HTML5.
While the flash-based advertisement can still be run on desktops, the device preferences have changed greatly and in the recent years there has been a surge in mobile data and video consumption and hence Flash-based content no longer holds precedence.
If that is not the reason enough for moving to a different platform, then what is? Here are some additional reasons.
The Prolonged Stay:
While the change in technology and the changes associated to those aren’t new. Flash has been in the downfall for long, and yet stayed on. But, the issues with device battery drainage, incompatibility, and security issues make it difficult to advocate for the use. For organizations that are starting up a new training strategy, the pick is always HTML5 considering the current requirement.
The Awareness About HTML5:
HTML at the beginning was viewed with doubt as there were various features that couldn’t match up with Flash. The scenario has changed today, HTML5 a combination of HTML, CSS and Javascript can recreate all the interactivity and in a better way too. Moreover, the availability of developers with the necessary skill sets has increased too.
Versatility:
Multiple devices, operating systems and the likes call for development that fits all shapes and kinds. Now that Flash requires special tweaks and add-ons to run on different devices, HTML5 gains popularity due to its versatility. Courses developed in HTML5 can run consistently on any device, including mobile devices. And a single source file works for all too.
Outreach:
The changing device usage pattern and the changing demographics of the workforce both call for device agnostic learning solutions and for greater outreach HTML5 based courses work the best.
Offline View:
The thing with Flash-based web courses was that the loading and the whole experience would hinge greatly on the connectivity and speed. With HTML5’s offline downloading option, this is no longer an issue and is extremely helpful for training the employees in areas with low/no connectivity, without compromising the overall learning experience.
Analytics:
What, when, how the learners learn is a question that most learning providers and organizations wish to keep a track of. HTML5 offers better tracking and analytics and reports to collate the findings too.
As Flash steps aside in the eLearning scene, its presence in the archives too stands the chance of decreasing. As creating new courses in HTML5 continues, the legacy content too can be put to good use by recreating, redesigning and repurposing.
Very soon, the option of running Flash content with a wrapper will become obsolete too. While most browsers have stopped supporting Flash completely, Chrome and Firefox will stop supporting Flash by December 2020. So, dig out those old Flash-based eLearning content, check whether it can be salvaged or move on to a more flexible and updated way of learning.
While Flash media player has stayed strong through all the adversities, the tenacity will not hold for long. The change is inevitable and the sooner we accept it, the easier it will be. The change may be tough, need investments and efforts in planning, but the outcome would be future ready eLearning for the learners of today.
Need assistance in Flash to HTML Conversion? Just drop us a message and our team will be quick to assist.