Archive notice: This article was originally published on July 23, 2007. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Adobe Systems today announced the new Adobe Captivate 3 for creating computer-based simulations, situation-oriented training modules and interactive learning tests. The new version offers, among other things, multi-mode recording and recording replay, expanded import from Microsoft Powerpoint as well as support for rich-media formats such as Adobe Flash, SWF, MP3 and AVI. With Captivate 3, training experts, trainers and other professional users can quickly create interactive learning content even without programming and multimedia knowledge.
“When experts are given the right tools to share their knowledge with others, that can significantly improve the quality of training content”, says Don Walker, Senior Director, Product Marketing and Business Development in the Print and Classic Publishing division at Adobe Systems. “With Adobe Captivate 3, we continued to set standards in the field of e-learning and enable every user to create interactive simulations, screen recordings, tutorials as well as online training modules that captivate viewers very easily.”
With the help of the intuitively operated user interface, Captivate 3 enables the rapid creation of effective software training materials by simply recording screen movements. Different learning methods can be implemented: Demos that present tasks including mouse movement and with automatic text descriptions, practice simulations with automatic or individual feedback to the user, or examination sequences for evaluating user interaction.
Captivate 3 makes it easier for providers to create effective and meaningful tests and reduces the opportunities for cheating. For this purpose, test questions are selected at random from a question pool and the multiple-choice answers are mixed. The solution also offers a selection from a variety of possible test formats, including sequence, short answers, fill-in-the-blank texts, true or false statements, matching via drag-and-drop and image selection options. The new recording replay function now also enables the recording of web applications in Internet Explorer, allowing professional providers of learning materials to create interactive software guides with step-by-step instructions without difficulty.
Thanks to expanded support for Microsoft Powerpoint, users can now convert slide animations to the Flash format and thus produce interactive presentations with audio and video elements. Support for SWF, MP3, AVI, FLA and FLV files, together with new visual effects such as rollover objects and animated slide transitions, ensures better effectiveness of presentations and training material.
“The same ease that Captivate 1 brought to software simulations and Captivate 2 to scenario simulations is now also available for the areas of training and assessment “, Frank Nguyen, Emerging Technologies Manager at American Express, says. “To measure learning success, instructors can now develop tests that use valuable functions such as random arrangement, combining elements and even repeating questions.”
Adobe Captivate 3 creates content in the widely used Flash format, so that files can be sent by email, published on websites as well as on the intranet and used for online help. The new XML import and export function simplifies the localization process for projects, because recordings can be converted into the XML Localization Interchange File Format (XLIFF). Integration with other Adobe solutions such as Acrobat, Connect, FrameMaker and RoboHelp as well as with e-learning management systems (LMS) that meet the SCORM 2004, SCORM 1.2, AICC and PENS standards increases the effectiveness and reach of training content.
Adobe Captivate 3 will be available for Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows Vista and is expected to be available from autumn 2007 for around 549 euros plus value-added tax. Registered users of Macromedia Captivate 1 and Adobe Captivate 2 can purchase an upgrade to Adobe Captivate 3 for approximately 239 euros plus value-added tax. Special prices for volume licenses as well as for companies and the education sector, along with further information about Captivate 3, can be accessed on the Captivate website.
Further links:
- Adobe Captivate 3
