Technical Note

Learning Now v1 software is written with Adobe Flash and Actionscript 3, the latest Internet Application software rated as the best on the industry since the infancy of the Internet. The Student Module and the Editor Module have recently been converted to Actionscript v. 3. All the improvements are too many to be listed here. Enough to say that the new version is much faster in loading (files are smaller), in processing data (the speed increase is quite amazing) and the modules are much more stable with all major browsers.

Relational Database
Learning Now v1 is an Internet and Stand-Alone application that runs an extensive relational database with two main interfaces: the Student Player reads the database and displays the information in the form of interactive screens.

The Editor or Wizard is the main database editor. Its graphic interface and use of Drag & Drop allows the user to navigate and manage the database transparently.

The Wizard hardly looks and feels like a database manager.

Modular Structure
Learning Now v1 is built using ActionScript as its main core. Most of the software is written in code. Adobe Flash is used for its graphic interface to create templates and modules that can be used to transfer the content of the database into a simple-to-use and friendly graphic interface.

The software has also an extended modular structure, with small and efficient modules. This modular structure and extended relational database make it easy to customize and expand. New modules can easily be added to the structure for new features. Modules are very small in size, since most of the action is defined by code. Recurrent elements are stored in shared libraries. All this allows a very fast loading process from CDs and over Internet connections.

Stand-alone and Internet Applications
Learning Now v1 Student Player comes as a stand-alone application that can be run from CD or self-installed on the user’s computer when inserting the CD the first time. The Internet version is also available, as demonstrated on this site.

This demo will show how incredible and powerful (and wonderful!) Adobe Flash can be handling thousands of records from a very complex database!

The Internet Player currently uses a basic series of PHP/mySQL scripts - also written in Perl. Tracking scripts can be defined by simply editing the setup.xml file of the program. The Internet version built-in tracking system allows teachers and supervisors to monitor the progress of any student registered to the project anywhere in the world.

Learning Now v1 Editor – or Wizard – initially designed as a stand-alone application, now also allows users to edit and create new courses, books and presentations and add them to the main server online.

Data management
Learning Now v1 includes a very powerful Exporting utility that checks the stability of the data and generates text files that can be used to setup distribution CDs, web servers or simply backup the database tables. The routine currently generates over 2000 pages of data in just seconds. Databases are installed on the user’s computer when the program is first run or when the data is required by the program.

Internet users will see their data libraries at times updated (or replaced) when entering a new section of the Internet training center. New data files describing the section are automatically loaded when entering.

The update to Actionscript v.3.0 brings a few new features and serious improvements in some areas of the software.

A – Installation scenarios:
The following scenarios are supported in the new version.

1. Installation on a single computer:
A teacher has ONE computer. All students use the same computer. The software is installed on the computer.

2. Installation on networked computers – Option A:
The local network does not have a web server. The software is installed on each computer. The situation is similar to the previous scenario. Students must always use the same computer.

3. Installation on networked computers – Option B:
The local network has a web server (available for free) but does not have the power to manage heavy traffic. The software is installed on each computer. But in this scenario, all students’ logs are stored on the web server. This allows students to return and use any computer to resume their studies. [new]

4. Installation on networked computers – Option B:
The local network has a web server (available for free) and manages all the files, like on the Internet. The software is NOT installed on each computer. Students can return and use any computer to resume their studies.

5. Installation on an Internet Web server:
Similar to previous scenario. The courses are available worldwide.

Software works on Windows, Mac and Linux. The intranet can be set on Linux with Apache web server (all available for free). Apache web server can also be installed for free on Windows computer using the “Web Developer Server Suite”.

At this time of development (April 2008), Linux version is not very stable. The Linux flash Player is still a beta version and seems to crash with some components of Actionscript 3. We are waiting on a new release of the player by Adobe to fix the current problems.

B. Speed
Actionscript 3 compiled files are smaller than previous version, which allows a faster download of the modules. The capability of streaming sounds allows also a great improvement in speed since none of the sounds have to be downloaded prior to display lessons or help menus.

C. Improvement in interface
The new version displays a much better feedback to the user when loading files. The display includes a percentage and a progress bar and integrates all files being downloaded in the same progress report.

The list of courses, as well as the lists of Activity Areas and games in rooms are displayed using new components that automatically adjust to the number of items to display. When the number is greater than the space available on screen, a scrollbar appears and allows the navigation to additional items. This new feature allows an unlimited number of courses, activity areas and games.

The two modules are written in Actionscript v.3. They counts about 100,000 lines of codes, i.e. 2500+ pages.

A very powerful tool for web sites

Learning Now v1 Internet version allows the easy creation of Web Training Centers. The software when installed on the server can manage as many sections as needed. Each section includes its own set of data files and resources (images, sounds, clips). Each section is fully autonomous from the others and can be individually customized with its own sets of help figures, images and sounds effects.

When entering a new section, the Internet Player loads the data files that define this specific section and displays it to the user. The same interface can display all sort of styles, looks and feels. The same web site could hold 100’s of courses all organized in sections.

The current demo is a brief presentation of the possibilities. As time provides, a more elaborated set up will demonstrate all the potential of this new educational software.

Learning Now v1's potential is enormous. See our Current Status report for additional technical information.

Learning Now - Version 1.2
Copyright © Fabrice Menoyot - 2006-2009