RoboDemo 5

Introduction to RoboDemo 5

RoboDemo 5 assists you in building interactive and animated simulations in the Flash format. These simulations would typically be used for online training, demonstrating features and benefits of software, and for creating tutorials. RoboDemo allows you to almost instantly create a RoboDemo movie by recording your mouse movements and onscreen activites as you go about a task. You can then add customized text captions, audio, animations, interactions (such as quizzes with scoring), images, special effects, and more. With the FLA Module (available separately) you can even import RoboDemo projects into flash for further editing!

A Look Inside

When I first received RoboDemo5, the only instruction manual included was a "Installation Guide," which reminded me how to use a cd-rom drive. I thought that they would include a bit more, but I later found out it was not needed! If you take a look at the user interface, you will see why. It is very easy to use. This is usually where Macromedia excels, designing user interfaces which allow you to know what you are doing right when you open the software package.

When you open RoboDemo5, it first asks if you would like to see a tutorial. If you click yes, you get to learn the basics of creating a new project. The best part is that the tutorial they show you was created using RoboDemo5!

The Views

Here are a few screenshots of the application.

RoboDemo 5 - Main Screen

RoboDemo 5 - Edit Screen

RoboDemo 5 - Bandwidth Monitor

RoboDemo 5 - Export Options

If you would like to see an example of what kind of movie can be produced in RoboDemo 5, you can check out:

• The RoboDemo Tutorial
• TechReviewer's Test Movie - How to Install the Google Toolbar (Broadband recommended)

Some of the New Features

Interoperability

Import FLA files

Import files created with Macromedia Flash MX or MX 2004 into a RoboDemo 5 frame.

Import AVI, SWF, and animated GIF files

Import helper videos to go along with your simulation, such as including a talking head, etc.

Import PowerPoint

Import your entire PowerPoint projects or just individual slides.

Combine projects

Import content from existing RoboDemo projects, even when they were made at a different size!

FLA Module (Available separately)

Transfer your entire RoboDemo 5 project into Flash for editing.

Manifest Generator

RoboDemo is compliant with other eLearning applications, creating SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) and AICC compliant content.

Create Professional Simulations

Full-Motion Recording

When you use "Full-Motion Recording" you can record rich-media and on screen animations. This is good for recording 3D animations and drawing applications such as Photoshop.

Project Templates

Speed up your production time by creating templates with consistent backgrounds, caption styles, etc.

Keyboard Interactions

Simulation keyboard interactions which can also be combined with mouse clicks or text entry.

Text Entry Box with Multiple Correct Answers and auto-focus

Text entry boxes can be simulated with a blinking cursor. Data can be submitted via a custom key press or a mouse click.

Change Canvas Size

Don't like where the controls are? You can actually place the playback controls, captions, or logos outside the simulation or demo by adding space around the move using the resize feature.

Crop

Resize your movie to playback on a smaller screen.

Audio Timing Control

Select when the audio plays. You can making it start at the start of a frame, after it has played for X seconds, or synchronize it to a specific caption on the screen.

Insert Button Objects

In addition to click boxes and text entry boxes, you can insert customizable buttons.

Visual Double Click

Don't want to use audio? You can have a visual double click to hint to the viewer when they need to double click something.

The Experience

What's the best way to experience all of the features of a product? To use it! To check out some of the cool features, I created a RoboDemo test movie on how to install the Google Toolbar. The experience overall went pretty well! You start off by defining the size of the window you want to record, hit record, and then just go about doing the task! One of the best features of RoboDemo 5 is the easy editing ability. If, for example, some window pops up that wasn't in the correct spot, or if you accidentally do the wrong thing, you can just edit it out! Believe me, this is very helpful!

Another great feature is the animated text. You can easily make a cool animated frame by hitting Insert -> Text Animation Frame. The problem is that you can't do this with a normal frame. It requires it's own, although you can insert an image in the background.

One helpful feature for creating internet learning applications is the ability to make a quiz frame. Not only can you keep track of their score, but you can also have a wide range of options such as if the quiz is multiple choice, a single choice, or true and false. You can also have multiple correct answers.

If you are interested in the users being interactive in a demo, you could use click boxes which will wait until the user clicks an area before it can continue to the next frame (among other options).

One negative side of my experience was when I was trying to create a demo recording in Photoshop, and the recording ended, saying "Capture could not be performed due to an error. Please contact technical support." This would not have been a problem if it happened right away, but I was around 3 minutes into the recording. Please note that this problem only happened once, and I have not experienced it again.

Who is RoboDemo 5 for?

eLearning Professionals

RoboDemo 5 is the perfect software package for training, as it can deliver content online, or on CD. ELearning features include quizzes for scoring, SCORM/AICC compliance for integration with a learning management system (LMS), and direct integration with Macromedia Authorware and Questionmark Perception.

IS Support/Office Assistance

Tired of explaining to people how to do a task over and over again in programs like Word or Outlook? This is the perfect solution! (Perhaps I should use RoboDemo to show my dad how to use a computer!)

Technical Support

This is the perfect program for both explaining to customers how to do things, and for training technical support staff members how to deal with a specific problem. Instead of using a huge Technical Support staff for covering common problems, RoboDemo could help customers 24/7 on your website.

Technical Documentation

Need to document your new desktop or web-based application? RoboDemo should be a great solution. You can easily create "how to" tutorials with this software.

Marketing/Sales

Looking for an efficient tool for demonstrating software products to the media and potential customers? You can now create your product demonstration in a matter of minutes.

R&D

Sure RoboDemo is good for demonstrating applications that are already production-ready, but what about prototype software? It works just as well! You can easily import simple images or layouts for your prototypes and create interactivity with click boxes.

Conclusion

I am convinced that this is a great software package that is very easy to use, and can create quality output products. Macromedia RoboDemo 5 is the perfect solution for those who do not want to spend countless dollars on a flash expert for creating eLearning tools, help systems, documentation systems, etc. In fact, there is no Flash knowledge required to use this software. I would highly recommend RoboDemo 5 for the previously mentioned tasks!

Pros

• Easy to use
• Great features
• Compatible with other software

Cons

• None