How Adobe Flash Fading Away Is Going To Impact The eLearning Industry
It is common knowledge that Adobe Flash is not supported on iPhones and iPads. While Apple has been a long-standing critic of Flash, recently the software from Adobe found criticism from two more technology companies: Mozilla and Facebook. Recently, Mozilla’s technical team decided to block Adobe Flash from the Firefox browser. And a week before, Facebook’s Chief Security Officer had asked Adobe to announce the end-of-life date for Flash as the software is too vulnerable from a security point of view. In light of these developments, it is widely predicted that the future of Adobe Flash is at risk.
HTML5: The Alternative To Adobe Flash
HTML5 has emerged as a strong alternative for Flash in many areas, including eLearning. The biggest advantage of HTML5 is that is supports multiple devices such as smartphones and tablets. Also, as more and more organizations are moving towards BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), HTML5 is likely to get more popular in the coming years. Here are some of its advantages:
- Unlike Flash, HTML5 doesn’t require any plugins.
- HTML5 seamlessly allows inclusion of audio and video files into the code.
- HTML5 is an open technology (unlike Flash, which is controlled by Adobe) and thus it is more flexible.
- All new browsers are incorporating HTML5.
The 2014 International Tablet Survey conducted by Harris Poll and sponsored by Dell, surveyed IT Decision Makers (ITDMs) in 10 countries: U.S, U.K., India, Japan, China, Brazil, France, Russia, UAE/Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.
The findings are very interesting and provide an insight in the use of tablet devices in the workplace:
- Tablets are a standard part of their company’s IT offering or currently under evaluation, and/or they allow employees to use their own tablets.
- Mobility cited as a key benefit of tablet usage by IT Decision Makers.
- Tablets have met or exceeded expectations in all countries; as such, IT Decision Makers plan to deploy more tablets.
The report also spoke about how tablet adoption has increased productivity and how it has done so by making it easier to work while traveling, allowing better customer service, providing faster or more convenient access to information while out in the office or in the field, or allowing real-time entry of information to reduce duplicated work.
What Does This Mean For The Future Of eLearning?
HTML5 has several advantages and is fast catching up with Adobe Flash: Especially now, with the high usage of smartphones and tablets both in the corporate world as well as in education.