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DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A WEB CHART SYSTEM USING OPEN FLASH

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The world to a large extent depends on the internet which can be referred to as a gigantic library that makes information available in a quick and easy manner. The information is accessed via a web-based interface that allows users to interact with the web pages on a web browser program. The interface which should give users a sense of satisfaction by producing desired result should be appealing in a non-distracting way. Managers often depend on data summaries which are often represented as graphs for decision making. In the past, the internet servers are relied upon to process heavy data and return the output to programs like excel or math lab for plotting. In this project, we intend to develop a simple framework that plots on the web page once data has been processed and supplied to the Open Flash Engine. This will make data processing and display for quick management decision to be faster, more reliable and on demand. In the chapter we will introduce Flash, Open Flash and other background issues about the project and clearly specify our objectives.

1.1     Background to the Study

Flash is an authoring tool for creating interactive interface which may contain digital media content, including graphics, animation, audio, video and interactive media. Flash is most commonly used to display animated and/or interactive content on web pages but it can be used for other applications as well.AdobeFlash manipulates vector and raster graphics to provide animation of text, drawings, and still images.Vector graphics is the use of points, lines, curves, shapes, and polygons which are all mathematical expressions to represent images in computer graphics. Flash’s vector feature allows files to be packed down into very tiny sizes which loads fast on the web page and it also makes images crisp without losing detail when given a high level of magnification thereby making it resolution independent unlike its raster graphics counterpart that saves millions of dots to represent an image that appears jagged when scaled up because of its resolution dependency.  It supports bidirectional streaming of audio and video, and it can capture user input via mouse, keyboard, microphone, and camera. Flash files are in the SWF format, traditionally called “Flash movies”, having a .swf file extension and are accessible via Adobe Flash Player which integrates with web browser programs as plug-in on various computer systems and devices. Flash has practically no browser compatibility issue which for the most part, makes Flash movies work the same way irrespective of the browser program used.

1.2  Statement of the Problem

Most web users are confronted with dynamic web-based interface that can cause frustration due to the time it takes to load on web pages and also images that appear jagged when scaled up as a result of the heavy use of raster/bitmap graphics. The lack of drawing canvas on the HTML pages also complicates the situation.

1.3     Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is to develop a web-based interface for plotting of charts using the open flash chart framework. The objectives include:

·  To design a web chart system

·  To develop an application for drawing charts on web pages.

1.4     Limitations of the Study

The study will be developed for simple charting. Complex charts and surface charting will not be covered in the project. Users of complex chart may have to rely on the classical method presently used.

1.5     Significance of the Study

Enable better analysis and decision making by allowing comprehensive and free-flowing data exploration.

It provides the ability to spot patterns and trends.

Increase user satisfaction by enhancing the look of any application, report, or presentation.

Lower developments cost and speed time-to market.

1.6     Definition of Terms

INTERNET: is a global system of interconnected computer networks.    

CHART: a graphical representation of data using symbols.

FLASH: Flash is an authoring tool for creating interactive interface which may contain digital media content, including graphics, animation, audio, video and interactive media.

OPEN FLASH CHART: Open Flash Chart is an open source Flash-based graphing and charting tool developed using ActionScript 3 and compiled using Flex.

ANIMATION: a process of creating motion and shape change illusion by means of the rapid display of a sequence of static images.

FRAMEWORK: a supporting structure around which something can be built or a system of rules, ideas or beliefs that is used to plan or decide something.

INTERACTIVITY: is a concept in computing that enables users to enter data or command and the computer responds accordingly.

USER: a person who uses the computer for work, entertainment business or communication.

WEB-BROWSER PROGRAM: a software application for retrieving, presenting and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web.

GRAPHICS: are images or visual representation of an object.

RESOLUTION: expresses the number of pixels (individual points of colors) contained in an image that is displayed on a monitor.

PLUG-IN: is a software component that enables a web browser to display additional content it was not originally designed to display.

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