Thursday, August 30, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Basics Of Ecommerce Web Design
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ray_Yee]Ray Yee

Design And Layout

Before we cover the basics of designing an ecommerce website, let me ask you a simple question: Which do you think is more likely to succeed? A website with a clear, simple and professional design, which is well targeted at the niche market? Or a website with flashy animation, graphics or audio that detracts from its primary purpose – to convert visitors to customers?

Obviously, a clear and professional design is better able to convert online visitors to paying customers. When designing your website, pay attention to the following:

Since the online community is generally impatient, your homepage must be able to capture the visitors’ attention within the first few seconds, or they are likely to lose interest quickly and leave your website. In general, you should aim to capture the visitors’ interest within the first ten seconds of their visit and persuade them to continue browsing your site. Thus, your headlines and sub-headlines should be well written to catch the visitors’ attention and get them to continue reading.
Your salescopy are the words that capture your visitors’ attention and compel them to make purchases. A good balance between salescopy and graphics on your website enables you to present the value of your products effectively. Do not focus solely on either aspect – a good balance of both gives you a sales process with the highest chance of sales.
Navigation must be consistent. Your navigation links must be named clearly, and your navigation menu should be placed consistently on a specific location of your web pages, like horizontally across the top or vertically on the left. As a rule of thumb, your visitor should be able to access any information they’re looking for with a maximum of 3 additional clicks.
The opt-in offer is a web form that you can use to collect the visitors’ email addresses. Apart from getting visitors to buy from you, the secondary purpose of your site should be to collect the visitors’ email addresses, allowing you to send product promotions to them in future. Hence, your opt-in offer must be placed at a prominent spot on your website, e.g. on the top-left corner of your homepage, to yield the highest visitor opt-in rate.

When designing your website, there is one crucial point you need to keep in mind – your website serves as a platform to display your catalogue of products to your customers. The aim of your website is then to convert the visitors of your website into buyers.

Remember to focus on leading the visitor through the sales process step-by-step. Produce clear instructions and directions to tell the visitor what to do, and not leave the visitor to figure out how to make a purchase. This is an extremely important factor influencing the conversion rate of your website.

Images

The images you display on your site should mainly comprise of photographs of your products. Do not include fanciful ‘cartoon’ graphics or animation – these make your site appear unprofessional, and drive your visitors away in a hurry!

With regards to the image file formats, all your photograph files should be in the JPG format. This is the best format to display your pictures with excellent quality and low file size at the same time. Don’t forget – the time it takes for your webpage to load should be capped at a minimum.

On the other hand, images like your business logo and navigation buttons should be in GIF format. These pictures do not require resolution as high as your photographs – and the GIF format offers the lowest size for such files.

Keywords And Search Terms

Your business keywords and search terms are also critical considerations when designing your website. Deciding on your keywords beforehand optimizes your website for the major search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN. Given below are the steps to take for proper search engine optimization.

Before writing your content and salescopy, first brainstorm a list of keywords related to your business. The Keyword Suggestion Tool from Yahoo! Search Marketing is very useful for producing a list of keywords. The exact number of keywords depends on the range of products you have.

When designing your website, include these keywords in the page titles, meta tags and heading tags. Doing so will definitely improve your search engine rankings for those particular keywords. Additionally, you should also sprinkle your keywords uniformly throughout the page when writing the page content.

Browser Compatibility

Apart from Internet Explorer, the online community also uses other internet browsers like Netscape Navigator. When designing your website, you need to ensure that it is compatible with other internet browsers, or your website will appear with a messy layout. Ensure that visitors using other browsers like Netscape can also view your product catalogue with ease.

Things To Avoid

Overuse of banners, graphics and color. Too many pictures or banners only distract the visitors from their purpose – to browse through your products and make a purchase. To reiterate, your website should have a simple, professional design that serves one purpose only – to get your visitors to buy from you.
Slow loading time. How many times have you left a website during the first few seconds of your visit, simply because you were too impatient to wait for the entire webpage to load? Remember to design your website such that it loads within the first 2-3 seconds for an average broadband user. Minimize the size of your graphics if possible.
Patterned, colorful backgrounds. Do professional websites like Amazon.com or Yahoo.com use patterned or colorful backgrounds? Using a white background is a safe bet in most cases.
Poor spelling and grammar. The text on your website must be grammatically correct with accurate spelling. Nothing diminishes your credibility as quickly as poor spelling and grammar.

In conclusion, you need to pay attention to the design and navigation, the images, the keywords, and also the browser compatibility for your website. Avoid fanciful graphics, slow loading time and inaccurate spelling when designing your website. Remember – the single critical aim of your website is to convert your visitors into paying customers.

Ray Yee is the founder of Dropshipperscentral, a website that provides a wealth of informative articles, guides and resources on everything you'll need to know about setting up and marketing a Drop Ship Business. Click here for the Drop Ship Directory from http://www.dropshipperscentral.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ray_Yee http://EzineArticles.com/?Basics-Of-Ecommerce-Web-Design&id=214072

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Computer Animation Takes The Lead
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Philip_Nicosia]Philip Nicosia

There’s really no stopping the various types of media from going high-tech. Technology used from the broadcast and print media to the multimedia is advancing almost every day. Animation in the movies and television is just one example.

Animation is responsible for the funny, adorable and sometimes tough cartoon characters we love to see on TV and in the movies. Before, it the making of cartoons was just done manually (drawn by hand) but now, computer animation is the latest trend. Walt Disney used to be synonymous to cartoons but today, numerous companies have gotten into the business of animation. The latest buzz is that Disney Animation officers are planning to return the Walt Disney studios in Burbank, California to its original status as an exclusive hand-drawn animation company. “Lilo and Stitch” was Disney’s last hand-drawn and big hit animated film.

Computer animation makes use of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics. When used in films, it is referred to as computer generated imagery or imaging (CGI). This digital technology has somehow replaced the stop motion animation of 3D models and frame-by-frame animation of two-dimensional illustrations.

In making 3D animations, objects or models are normally built on the computer monitor and 3D figures are manipulated with a so-called virtual skeleton. For 2D animations, separate drawings and separate transparent layers are used even without a virtual skeleton.

Computer-animated films usually cover animal characters such as in “Finding Nemo,” fantasy characters like “Shrek” and “Monsters, Inc.” as well as humans that are still cartoons such as “The Incredibles.” A more realistic simulation of humans has been attempted via the movie “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” but it needs further improvement.

Other than the U.S., another highly-developed country that has a great fascination for animation is Japan. Anime (short for animation) in Japan became famous because of its unique format of storytelling compared to the country’s live-action industry. Japan is known for its robot anime like the Gundam, Voltes V and Mazinger Z that became classics in the 1980s. The origin of Japanese anime can be traced to the early 20th century when Yamamoto explored the techniques in animation that were being done in Germany, France, Russia and the United States at that time. Anime has also been greatly influenced by the Japanese manga and light novels and covers genres such as action, adventure, children’s stories, drama, comedy, fantasy, horror, science fiction and romance.

Animation companies actually have a staff of creative people who can really draw well. Some of them have also outsourced their services and have put up offices in countries whose citizens are blessed with great talent in drawing and have a passion for animation.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Nicosia http://EzineArticles.com/?Computer-Animation-Takes-The-Lead&id=505043

Monday, August 27, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Attack of the Animated Web Page Ads
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Aidan_Maconachy]Aidan Maconachy

Annoying animated ads have been taking over cyber space lately.

How are you supposed to read a column when a moving pen keeps drawing a disco dancing silhouette on someone's arm over and over - a silhouette that does a frenetic John Travolta type dance in the corner of your eye. As if we aren't visually overloaded enough these days!

You can just imagine a bunch of advertising nerds sitting around trying to devise better ways to grab our attention. One says "yeah let's have the chipmunk race up and down the tree. Even if they try and read through one end of a rolled newspaper they won't be able to escape the blur".

Advertisers sometimes get it badly wrong. It's not only about animation, or concept originality or design flair. They need to consider what type of reaction the ad induces in the viewer. In a lot of cases animated ads on a page of text induce resentment, if only because people like to be bale to focus when they're reading.

A blogger I was reading on this topic said he scrolls rapidly on a page he visits to block out a hyperactive squirrel and an aerobic blond on eternal repeat.

One Daily Telegraph page I was on had a firing canon, that kept recoiling as it blasted again ... and again ... while some other frenetic behavior was going on in a box further up the page. It was like trying to read in the middle of the Battle of Waterloo.

Why don't advertisers understand the basic truth that a lot of people who are visually assaulted will make a point of NOT clicking on the ad. Some people even develop a prejudice against the product. Have advertisers ever speculated how much they may have lost as a result of turning off potential consumers? Might make for an eye opening survey.

But maybe there is a sizable demographic out there that becomes hypnotized by repetitive motion. Their eyes glaze over as someone's head gets tattooed forty times in a row and they simply cannot resist the urge to click on the cranium.

The sites hosting these ads, need to think of their visitors' eye health. If I go blind after a site has upped the number of animated ads to four while I'm struggling from sentence to sentence in a page that is like an ant colony, I have no doubt there is a Florida lawyer who will be very happy to hear from me.

Aidan Maconachy is a freelance writer and artist based in Ontario. You can visit his blog at http://aidanmaconachyblog.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aidan_Maconachy
http://EzineArticles.com/?Attack-of-the-Animated-Web-Page-Ads&id=460205

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Design Considerations For Animated Web Sites
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mike_Adley]Mike Adley

Web sites with animation, sound, video, and other enhancements can be interesting and promote user interactivity. However, websites with all the bells and whistles can also take too long to download and discourages users. Fortunatley, a wealth of techniques and options are available to help keep download time to a minimum.

-Bandwidth, which is the transfer rate of data to the user's browser, has hindered the development of websites with multiple media effects and enhancements.

-Many techniques and options are available to help keep website graphics and animation download time to a minimum and include use of tables, colour reduction and optimization of graphics, use of thumbnails, reuse of images, optimal placements of scripts, and selection offast loading type of web browsers such as Firefox.

-Several online web software tools are available to perform various tests on your web sites, such as web site garage, sitescan survey, pehtoori (html validation service), link alarm, and site inspector.

Bandwidth Issues

It was not long ago that the norm was the 56K modem. Today, many users (appr 55%) still use the 56K modems for surfing, so bandwidth must still be a concern to website designers. However, with technological advances such as fast cable modems, TI lines, etc, bandwidth will become less of a concern in the future. However, today you must still design websites with bandwidth in mind.

Many techniques and options are available to help keep website graphics and animation download times to a minimum. The following tips will help you create web pages that load as quickly as possible:

Use tables for putting graphics together to reduce the size of a gif animation. Depending on what your animation is like, tables can help reduce its overall file size. For example, you may have an image you want to animate, but only a small part of the image will actually be the animation. You can manually cut up the image into different pieces using a program like photoshop, or automatically, using a special utility like Ulead SmartSaver Pro. If you use photoshop, you must put the resulting graphics back together in your html editor using table cells. Programs like SmartSaver creat the html file with the graphics already in the table cells. By slicing up your image into sections, the samll part of the image that animates will now be in a table cell by itself. The rest of the image in the other table cells does not become part of tthe actual animation itself, thus reducing file size.

Reduce the colour palette of your gif animation. You can greatly reduce the size of your gif animation by reducing the number of colours in its colour palette. For example, if you have a 256 colour image and decrease its colour's to 64, the size of the animation will be significantly smaller. However, too much colour reduction may have an effect on image quality. Obviously, some complexities exist for animated gif creation. Fortunatley, several software options are available that help with palette and overall gif animation optimization, such as Equilibrium's Debabilizer, Digital Frontier's HVC ColorGif, Ulead's gif animator, as well as online gif optimizing services, such as gif wizard, and gif cruncher.

Reuse images throughout a website. Reusing images, if possible, is another way to decrease download time since the browser downloads and places the images in the pc's cache. For example, if you use an image on your home page and then use the same images on four other pages of the website, the image has to download just once. Thus, download time is kept to a minimum since one image downloads instead of five separate images.

Specify Height and Width in your html code for your animated gif images. You should always specify height and width in your html code for your animated gif images. If you do not specify height and width in your html code, then the browser will wait for the graphic to load before loading the text. You should also be aware that setting the height and width in your html code to a size smaller than the graphic will not reduce download time since the image's file size will remain the same as it was before.

Specify a low-res image to display as a high res image loads. You can create a low -res variation of a jpg or gif image to appear while waiting for the high res image to finish downloading. When you do this, the page appears to load much faster to the user. In reality, the extra image actually adds to the total download time. To add a low-res variation, you simply add an attribute to the image tag like the following:

IMG src="image-high-res.gif" lowsrc="image-low-res.gif"

Be sure to use jpgs for colourful photographic images. While you could compress your photographic images as gif images, jpeg compresses colourful images with generally better results, since jpg images offer 24 bit colour compared to gif images' 256 colours.

Substitute thumbnails for larger images on a webpage.

Use interlaced jpg and gif images. You can save your images as interlaced jpg and gif images that will display a preview of the images as they load.

Alright, now go and CREATE!

M Adley is webmaster @ [http://your3dsource.com]your3dsource.com , a resource for beginner to intermediate web designers and 3D artists. [http://www.your3dsource.com]www.your3dsource.comLearn Computer Animation [http://www.your3dsource.com]www.your3dsource.comGif Animations

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Friday, August 24, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Web Animation
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gelfey_Sterling]Gelfey Sterling

At a basic level animation can be thought of as a flicker of life in objects. For example a flying bird is an "animate" object while a glass vase is an "inanimate" object. In real life inanimate objects move because of external forces, but in the virtual world, technology and imagination work together to create movement. Animation has become popular because real life has movement and the human eye is naturally attracted to movement.
Over the last 100 years animation has developed into a huge industry.

Computer animation has advanced rapidly, and is now approaching the point where movies can be created with characters so lifelike as to be hard to distinguish from real actors. This involved a move from 2D to 3D, the difference being that in 2D animation the effect of perspective is created artistically, but in 3D objects are modeled in an internal 3D representation within the computer, and are then 'lit' and 'shot' from chosen angles, just as in real life, before being 'rendered' to a 2D bitmapped frame. There were predictions that famous dead actors might even be brought back to life to play in new movies.

Animations can be used in various ways on a web page such as making a log presentation more interesting by activating charts that dynamically show changes over time. Again animated games are very popular on the Web, especially 3D games. Animation attracts the attention as it is dynamic. For example animated buttons on a web page attract more attention than the static buttons.

When we speak of types of animations, the simplest type is an animated GIF. Animated GIFs are popular because they are easy to create and don’t require special software for viewing. Another type is the animated text where the text changes color, blinks, or even explodes like a firework. Rollover effects changes the state of an object when the mouse cursor is moved over the object.

Flash is widely used to create animations for the Web because Flash animations are usually small in size and most Web users have the Flash player installed in their web browsers. In the future the animations on the Web will be more interactive and 3D animations will be widely used. Web animations will be used widely for education and entertainment. The gaming industry will increase its presence on the Web and support 3D and interactive animations. Animations that use simulations will be used for training and education. A lot of focus will be on multi user interactions and 3D animations and on making the Web more and more interactive.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gelfey_Sterling http://EzineArticles.com/?Web-Animation&id=171112

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

How to Get Forensic Trial Animation Admitted
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Nicholas_Deleault]Nicholas Deleault

With continuing technological advancements, no longer must attorneys rely on traditional forms of evidence in order to prove, defend or prosecute a case. The use of forensic computer animation used as evidence has exploded, bringing with it challenges to traditional principles of evidence admissibility. As offered, these computer created animations purport to demonstrate how a certain event did or did not occur. The unique characteristic of these animations is that they act as a means to synthesize all the evidence presented at trial into one visual representation. Their use can be either greatly effective or unfairly prejudicial. Animations allegedly demonstrating how an act did or did not occur can have tremendous persuasive value in the minds of the jury. Instead of forcing the jury to integrate every theory and piece of evidence into one seamless mental thought, a forensic animation seemingly combines all pertinent facts into a visualized theory of the truth. While these animations are merely representations of theories, the jury will often accept them as the truth of the matter due to their highly persuasive and prejudicial value. In one key study, 82% of trials where animation has been introduced as evidence has led to victory for the moving party.

The key to arguing for or against the admissibility of computer forensic animation lies in the attorney’s ability to understand the standards of admissibility applied to such evidence. Computer animation can generally be broken down into two differing classes of evidence, each with its own standard of admissibility:

Computer generated evidence as demonstrative evidence:

When arguing in favor of the admissibility of computer generated evidence, the best argument to make is that the evidence is merely demonstrative. Demonstrative evidence inherently carries no independent probative value and is used for five general purposes: (1) to educate your audience; (2) to explain something; (3) to persuade your audience of something; (4) to dissuade your audience of something; and (5) to reinforce something your audience already believes.

Arguing that your computer generated evidence is merely demonstrative evidence directs the judge to use the low relevance standard in determining its admissibility. After categorizing the evidence as demonstrative evidence, the judge will then ask the following questions in order to determine its admissibility:

Is it relevant? Does it have a tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence? .” F.R.E. 401 (2006).

Does it aid the trier of fact in understanding pertinent information?

Does it accurately reflect the elements of the situation it is portraying?

If the evidence is deemed as demonstrative and the answers to the preceding questions are all in the affirmative, the evidence will be admissible, provided that its probative value is not “substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.” F.R.E. 403 (2006). This low threshold test will allow for the admissibility of most demonstrative evidence. The key to getting your computer animation evidence in is to argue that it falls within one of the five general categories of demonstrative evidence. The successful attorney must know the tests and the questions to ask, and have the ability to persuade the judge that the evidence being offered is subject only to the general relevancy standard in order to gain admission into evidence.

Computer generated evidence as simulation (substantive) evidence:


When arguing against the introduction of forensic animation, the better choice is to argue that the animation constitutes simulation evidence, requiring a higher standard of admissibility. Computer simulations are seen as blurring the line between demonstrative and substantive evidence. Simulation evidence is highly effective because it allows for complicated facts, data and evidence to be extrapolated into one visual demonstration of every piece of relevant evidence. Because of the role that humans play in the creation of computer animations, judges will often view such animations as substantive evidence, requiring the expert creating the animation to take the stand in order to allow for cross examination. When arguing that a computer animation is simulation evidence, the arguing attorney must focus on its technical aspects and the role that humans played in the selection and interpretation of data used to create the animation.

Once deemed simulation evidence, the judge will then consider three primary inquiries:

Is the underlying scientific principle valid? Considering whether the principle has been tested, its error rates, and the degree of the principle’s acceptance in that particular scientific community .” F.R.E. 401

Is the technique applying the scientific principle valid?

Was the technique applied properly on this particular occasion?



Each of the above questions requires extensive and substantial inquiry into the quality and characteristics of the evidence attempting to be introduced. In order for simulation evidence to be admissible, it must be more than relevant. In addition to meeting the three tests stated above, only evidence which has been proven or stipulated to as true may be included in the simulation. This higher admissibility standard is due to the highly prejudicial value of such simulation evidence. Notwithstanding its admissibility as simulation evidence, the evidence can still be barred if it fails the Rule 403 unfair prejudice analysis. The Rule 403 unfair prejudice argument is the last “bow in the quiver” for the attorney arguing against the admissibility of computer animation evidence and should only be focused on as a last resort.

As you can see, categorizing computer forensic animation as demonstrative or simulation evidence will, for the most part, determine its overall admissibility. These differing standards of admissibility are to be used as a means of argument, depending on the attorney’s role in the case. When preparing for such an argument it is important to keep in mind the opposing position and to be prepared to argue against it. As with all trial work, your level or preparation will ultimately determine the level of your success or the depths of your failure.

This article was written by Nicholas J. Deleault, Pierce Law Center ‘07. Nicholas writes select legal articles for the Law Firm of [http://www.E-legallawyer.com]Goldstien and Clegg, a [http://www.goldsteinandclegglaw.com]Massachusetts cyberlaw firm.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicholas_Deleault http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Get-Forensic-Trial-Animation-Admitted&id=348471

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Free Animation
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman]Jason Gluckman

Scores of sites offer you thousands of free animations. You can use them on your web site or send them as digital postcards.

There are also many animation software packages available for download with no strings attached. Some of them are absolutely free, some are shareware and some are free with limited functions (with the option of more once you make the payment). There are some free trials that either expire after a certain period of time or are made available only with some critical options disabled.

Here is a list of some of them:

Adobe AfterEffects (Adobe). License: Free Trial. Motion graphics and visual effects for film and media.

Animator-9 3.6 (Key Technology). License: Free. Generate animated GIFs from your digital camera.

AniS 1.0 (Tom Whittaker). License: Free. Simple image manipulation for the web.

Jumpwel (Phildes0. License: Free. Basic object manipulator for use in HTML; uses Java applets.

Macromedia Flash (Macromedia). License: Free Trial. A leading player in 2D vector animation.

Macromedia Director (Macromedia). License: Free Trial. Create interactive ShockWave content.

Sqirlz Lite 1.1d (xiberpix0. License: Free. Animated image distorter that exports in AVI format.

Sqirlz Morph 1.2c (xiberpix). License: Free. Animated image morpher and blender.

3D Studio Max 7.0 (Discreet). License: Free Trial. Version 7.0 of the award-winning 3D modeling and animation software package. Also comes with trials of Character Studio and Mental Ray.

Cyberdelia (Askoh.com). License: Free. 3D Animation with support for exporting into Macromedia Shockwave.

FreeCAD 8.0 (Askoh.com). License: Free. A beginner’s 3D CAD and simulation program.

Gmax (Discreet). License: Free. A free 3D program that allows you to make your own modifications, customizations, and models required for Gmax-ready video games. Based on 3D Studio Max.

Maya 6.5 (Alias WaveFront). License: Free Trial. The latest version in 3D modeling and animation.

Serif 3D Plus (Serif). License: Free. Allows animated shapes and landscapes.

Special Effects 3.2 (Mathematically Beautiful ScreenSavers). License: Free. Limited range of pre-set animations based on user preferences.

Touch Art Sampler 017 (Derivative). License: Free. Allows you to play with animations, though more of a VJ/synthesizer studio than anything else.

TrueSpace 3.2 (Caligari). License: Free. Full 3D rendering and output. Apparently completely free. Still you need to register to get an unlock code on the website. Cross-compatible with many programs. [http://www.Animation-ontheweb.com]Animation provides detailed information on Animation, Free Animation, Flash Animation, 3D Animation and more. Animation is affiliated with [http://www.i-ArtSupplies.com]Wholesale Art Supplies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman http://EzineArticles.com/?Free-Animation&id=204775

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Cartoons - Rare Animations
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell]Michael Russell

Everybody knows the very popular cartoon shows of our times, Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Yogi Bear and The Flintstones, just to name a few, have become household names just about everywhere on this planet unless you've been living under a rock, but not all cartoons that were made became popular. Some were so unpopular that they only lasted a very few episodes or worse yet, were never released to the mass public. We're going to take a look at just a few of the rare animations that have come and gone (mostly gone) over the last 80 years. It should be pointed out that an enormous amount of research and brain drain was required to come up with these rare gems.

Back in 1964 there was a cartoon by the name of "The Big World Of Little Adam". It premiered on January 1 of that year. It was a simple show about a little boy, Adam, who went into space. During the time, the United States was very much into Gemini and the space program so this cartoon seemed to make sense. While over 100 episodes were made, eventually we tired of space and the cartoon itself has totally drifted into obscurity. The only thing remaining of it is the silly theme song that you can find and download all over the Internet.

In 1949 there was a movie by the name of "My Dream Is Yours". In this movie there is a scene where Bugs Bunny tries to wake up a little boy. Later on, he can then be seen singing a song with the two main stars, Jack Carson and Doris Day, wearing bunny suits. This movie has so dropped into obscurity that it hasn't been seen on network television in over 40 years.

If you're looking for really rare cartoons you don't have to travel outside of the United States, but back in 1924 Russia produced a little over four dozen propaganda films. These animations were never exported. They were made solely for the purpose of winning over the hearts and minds of the Russian people. These cartoons were anti American, anti capitalist, anti fascist and anti anything that wasn't the Russian way of thinking. Over 80 years later nobody knows what happened to these animations.

Even some of the more famous animators in history started off by making cartoons that nobody has heard of. For example, a gentleman by the name of Duane Crowther, who was a very famous animator during the 1950s, started off his career by creating a very rare cartoon by the name of Blum Blum. This was a cartoon Crowther made when he was only 20 years old. Blum Blum was basically a cartoon about a character who wonder who he is. The animation goes from the character starting off as Napoleon and then turning into a dog and a variety of other creatures. The animation is crude by today's standards. You can actually find the animation online by just looking up either Duane Crowther or Blum Blum on any search engine.

These are just a few of the millions of rare animations that most likely people will either never see or have long been forgotten by those who have seen them.

Wouldn't it be great if we could get our hands on all of these rare gems? The only problem would be to find the time to watch them.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to [http://cartoons-guide.com/]Cartoons

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell http://EzineArticles.com/?Cartoons---Rare-Animations&id=180179

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Stock Animation
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman]Jason Gluckman

Stock animation is one of the more popular forms of animation. Anyone looking for help with a project that needs animation can use stock animation. Stock animation has grown in popularity due to the increasing reach of the Internet and television. Stock animation is used to entertain and present information in an interesting way, so as to sustain viewer interest. In fact, many a company owes its profile presentation to stock animation.

Animation projects are time consuming and require a lot of creative output. With this being the case, the use of stock animation helps reduce the time and aids in increasing creativity required for completing an animation project. Stock animation is often the start for a project, as far as an animator is considered. Stock animation also goes well with other creative elements. You can now make your own DVD using stock animation. One can use stock animation for backgrounds, making certain sequences more interesting to view.

Stock animation comes in different formats like animated gifs, flash animation, and composite animation. The gif format, also known as the graphics interchange format, is used for some Web page animation. They can be found in literally thousands of Web sites on the Internet. These animations are considered annoying by some. The next most common form of Web animation is Flash, which is perhaps the most versatile and widely used form of animation as far as the usage. Stock animation for Flash, though expensive, is time saving and makes for excellent creative output. Composite animations are created by combining different animations together to create a single finished animation. They are used in television to a great extent.

Although there are different formats of stock animation, one can choose the right one suitable for one's project. One can get extensive information on stock information and the different types of software used through online resources. [http://www.Animation-ontheweb.com]Animation provides detailed information on Animation, Free Animation, Flash Animation, 3D Animation and more. Animation is affiliated with [http://www.i-ArtSupplies.com]Wholesale Art Supplies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman http://EzineArticles.com/?Stock-Animation&id=407465

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Choosing the Right Animation Software
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Wain_Roy]Wain Roy

The computer graphics industry has come such a long way that if you start to count the number of computer animation software that existed or still exist in the market, you’d make a list as long as an F1 track. Jokes apart, it is fact that there are a lot too many options if you’re trying to choose the right animation software and this is what makes a decision difficult. All you need to know is your purpose.

You may ask a few questions—is it user-friendly? Does it have the best functionality? Is it the best product within your budget? Has it got the finest features? Which level of handling do you need it for? After you know your intentions for sure, make your choice.

3D animation software come in varied ranges and levels of complexity. But even the simplest low-end 3D software available today can render jaw-dropping graphics and animation. Therefore, you need to be extra careful in selecting the right 3D software to serve your needs. Good news is that most 3D versions are available in their respective demo versions. So you may judge their suitability before you finally commit buying one.

If you just want to get started at low cost, there are the basic level 3D software packages available, which sometimes even come free. These have the very rudimentary features and are as easy to handle as possible. 3D Canvas, Xara 3D, Adobe Dimension Amorphium, Poser are some names which require mention in the list of easy-to-use, simple 3D animation packages.

While choosing the intermediate or middle-level 3D software, be a little more prudent—examine the quality of rendering and speed before you seal a deal. This category of software has varying degrees of sophistication, with some offering radiosity at an affordable price. Strata 3D, Pixels (only for Mac), Bryce 3D, Blender are some of the names under the middle-level category.

At the high-end level, it is the implementation of the software that makes this category sharply different from the other two levels. Most of the applications at the advanced level have mind-boggling functionalities and powerful rendering. Lightwave 3D, Houdini, 3Ds Max, Maya 3D are some of the popular choices in this level. Of these, Maya is a front-runner for its amazing capabilities at character animation, video games development, visual effects, etc. Maya tutorials are available online to make learning this software easier. And like all the rest, it’s better to try hands on before going for it.

High-end complex 3D software learning is no duck soup for sure. But who’d mind a little adventure when it doesn’t cost anything? You may check out the [http://www.cgwhat.com/]free Maya video tutorials to get an idea about the software. Only when you know them all, make the final pick.

Wain Roy is an internet marketing professional expert in various industries like real estate, web design, finance, medical tourism, Canadian pharmacy drug and [http://www.cgwhat.com/]Maya tutorials

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wain_Roy http://EzineArticles.com/?Choosing-the-Right-Animation-Software&id=679675

Friday, August 17, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Animation
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman]Jason Gluckman

Simply speaking, animation is the process of making films, movies, videos or computer games in which drawings or models of people and animals seem to move. The illusion, in fact, is created by the consecutive display of images of static elements. In the case of film and video production, it refers to techniques by which each frame of a film or a movie is produced individually. There are various methods of generating these frames. It can be done with the help of computers, by photographing a drawn or painted image, or by repeatedly making small changes to a model unit, and then photographing the result with a special animation camera. When the film is viewed after stringing the frames together, “persistence of vision” creates an illusion of continuous movement.

Generating such a film is usually very labor-intensive and tedious in “traditional” animation. In the case of computer animation, however, the process is much less labor-intensive, and generally much cheaper. The other advantage of computer animation is a bigger margin of error, because the use of digital files helps to undo any mistakes up to a certain number of steps.

Although animation has been mostly used for entertainment, now it is being increasingly used as instructional animation and educational animation to support explanation and learning.

The "animated cartoon," as developed early in the last century and refined by Walt Disney and others, requires up to 24 distinct drawings for one second of animation.

Animation being a very time-consuming and often very expensive process, most of animation for TV and movies is done in professional animation studios. The field of independent animation, however, has existed at least since the 1950s, when animation was produced by independent studios or individuals. Many independent animation producers have now joined the professional animation industry.

Limited animation is a method by which production can be enhanced and costs decreased by taking recourse to "short cuts" in the animation process. This method was pioneered by UPA and popularized (some say exploited) by Hanna-Barbera, and adapted by other studios as cartoons moved from movie theaters to television. [http://www.Animation-ontheweb.com]Animation provides detailed information on Animation, Free Animation, Flash Animation, 3D Animation and more. Animation is affiliated with [http://www.i-ArtSupplies.com]Wholesale Art Supplies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman http://EzineArticles.com/?Animation&id=204799

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Character Simulations Makes Any Dream Come Alive - Your Guide To
Animation.
By Paul I. Etkin

My daily routine when I was a young kid at school was to go
Home and watch the cartoons before it was time for supper. This
was usually Popeye, Yogi Bear, Tom and Jerry, Roadrunner or Top
Cat. I would laugh myself silly, and It was the perfect way to
relax after a double lesson of Math. My favorite animation
character then was Top Cat. Inspired by the Sergeant Bilko TV
series with Phil Silvers, TC ran his passage and gang of alley
cats with cunning and Style. I knew I would never be as cool as
him.

I have retained a fondness for the animation character heroes
of my youth, and love to watch the replays. Cartoons, on TV and
in movies, are still my favorite Things to watch. I'm sure I'm
not alone in this, and I think adults gain as much enjoyment
from Toy Story, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles as children do.

In fact, adults probably appreciate them more, because the best
story involving an animation character works on two levels.
There is the story which appeals to the kids and there are the
inside adult jokes going on too.

The animation character has evolved over the years, from the
first neutral scribble to the computer produced images we see
today. The Walt Disney Studio made the major contribution in the
early years, creating the iconic animation character of Mickey
Mouse, Pluto, Goofy and Donald Duck.

Walt Disney had a flair for knowing what the Audience wanted
and he wasn't afraid to try new things. The Movie industry was
skeptical when Disney released the first full-length feature
film for the animation character, with Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs. It was a success and the studio went from strength to
strength, ending up with an Empire of production companies and
nine theme parks.

There is a huge industry surrounding the animation character,
with merchandise and DVD's. Just as there are rows upon rows of
action figures of Buzz Lightyear. In the film of Toy Story, so
there are real figures of Buzz Lightyear in the shops. The
Disney theme parks give fans the chance to see their favorite
animation character up close and personal. Children are
delighted when Mickey Mouse walks right up to them and says
hello.

The biggest television animated hit of recent times is of
course, The Simpson's. This dysfunctional family has captured
the imagination of fans around the world. Homer, Marge, Lisa,
Bart and baby Maggie are well thought out examples of an
animation character, appealing to adults and children alike.

The kids like the tricks of Bart and Can sympathize with Lisa.
There are lots of cultural references in the programme for the
adults to enjoy, And guests line up to be celebrate as an
animation character. They include Paul McCartney, Sonic Youth
And The Who.

About the Author: Paul I. Etkin provides readers with
up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for
http://www.a1computermagazine.com,
http://www.computingguidezone.com, technology as well as related
information.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

How To Get Forensic Trial Animation Admitted
By Nicolas D

With continuing technological advancements, no longer must
attorneys rely on traditional forms of evidence in order to
prove, defend or prosecute a case. The use of forensic computer
animation used as evidence has exploded, bringing with it
challenges to traditional principles of evidence admissibility.
As offered, these computer created animations purport to
demonstrate how a certain event did or did not occur. The unique
characteristic of these animations is that they act as a means
to synthesize all the evidence presented at trial into one
visual representation. Their use can be either greatly effective
or unfairly prejudicial. Animations allegedly demonstrating how
an act did or did not occur can have tremendous persuasive value
in the minds of the jury. Instead of forcing the jury to
integrate every theory and piece of evidence into one seamless
mental thought, a forensic animation seemingly combines all
pertinent facts into a visualized theory of the truth. While
these animations are merely representations of theories, the
jury will often accept them as the truth of the matter due to
their highly persuasive and prejudicial value. In one key study,
82% of trials where animation has been introduced as evidence
has led to victory for the moving party.

The key to arguing for or against the admissibility of computer
forensic animation lies in the attorney’s ability to understand
the standards of admissibility applied to such evidence.
Computer animation can generally be broken down into two
differing classes of evidence, each with its own standard of
admissibility:

(1)Computer generated evidence as demonstrative evidence:

When arguing in favor of the admissibility of computer
generated evidence, the best argument to make is that the
evidence is merely demonstrative. Demonstrative evidence
inherently carries no independent probative value and is used
for five general purposes: (1) to educate your audience; (2) to
explain something; (3) to persuade your audience of something;
(4) to dissuade your audience of something; and (5) to reinforce
something your audience already believes.

Arguing that your computer generated evidence is merely
demonstrative evidence directs the judge to use the low
relevance standard in determining its admissibility. After
categorizing the evidence as demonstrative evidence, the judge
will then ask the following questions in order to determine its
admissibility:

(1)Is it relevant? Does it have a tendency to make the
existence of any fact that is of consequence to the
determination of the action more probable or less probable than
it would be without the evidence? .” F.R.E. 401 (2006).

(2)Does it aid the trier of fact in understanding pertinent
information?

(3)Does it accurately reflect the elements of the situation it
is portraying?

If the evidence is deemed as demonstrative and the answers to
the preceding questions are all in the affirmative, the evidence
will be admissible, provided that its probative value is not
“substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.”
F.R.E. 403 (2006). This low threshold test will allow for the
admissibility of most demonstrative evidence. The key to getting
your computer animation evidence in is to argue that it falls
within one of the five general categories of demonstrative
evidence. The successful attorney must know the tests and the
questions to ask, and have the ability to persuade the judge
that the evidence being offered is subject only to the general
relevancy standard in order to gain admission into evidence.

(2)Computer generated evidence as simulation (substantive)
evidence:

When arguing against the introduction of forensic animation,
the better choice is to argue that the animation constitutes
simulation evidence, requiring a higher standard of
admissibility. Computer simulations are seen as blurring the
line between demonstrative and substantive evidence. Simulation
evidence is highly effective because it allows for complicated
facts, data and evidence to be extrapolated into one visual
demonstration of every piece of relevant evidence. Because of
the role that humans play in the creation of computer
animations, judges will often view such animations as
substantive evidence, requiring the expert creating the
animation to take the stand in order to allow for cross
examination. When arguing that a computer animation is
simulation evidence, the arguing attorney must focus on its
technical aspects and the role that humans played in the
selection and interpretation of data used to create the
animation.

Once deemed simulation evidence, the judge will then consider
three primary inquiries:

(1)Is the underlying scientific principle valid? Considering
whether the principle has been tested, its error rates, and the
degree of the principle’s acceptance in that particular
scientific community .” F.R.E. 401

(2)Is the technique applying the scientific principle valid?

(3)Was the technique applied properly on this particular
occasion?

Each of the above questions requires extensive and substantial
inquiry into the quality and characteristics of the evidence
attempting to be introduced. In order for simulation evidence to
be admissible, it must be more than relevant. In addition to
meeting the three tests stated above, only evidence which has
been proven or stipulated to as true may be included in the
simulation. This higher admissibility standard is due to the
highly prejudicial value of such simulation evidence.
Notwithstanding its admissibility as simulation evidence, the
evidence can still be barred if it fails the Rule 403 unfair
prejudice analysis. The Rule 403 unfair prejudice argument is
the last “bow in the quiver” for the attorney arguing against
the admissibility of computer animation evidence and should only
be focused on as a last resort.

As you can see, categorizing computer forensic animation as
demonstrative or simulation evidence will, for the most part,
determine its overall admissibility. These differing standards
of admissibility are to be used as a means of argument,
depending on the attorney’s role in the case. When preparing for
such an argument it is important to keep in mind the opposing
position and to be prepared to argue against it. As with all
trial work, your level or preparation will ultimately determine
the level of your success or the depths of your failure.

About the Author: This article was written by Nicholas J.
Deleault, Pierce Law Center ‘07. Nicholas writes select legal
articles for the Law Firm of
http://www.goldsteinandclegglaw.com/blog, a
http://www.goldsteinandclegglaw.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Monday, August 13, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Machomer Tickets - Broadway And Animation Come Together
By Jay Nault

One would think that Broadway and The Simpsons would be
anything but a match, but MacHomer tickets are proving that
notion wrong. This unique one-man show is taking the theater
world by storm, and Rick Miller, the star of the show, provides
a combination of belly laughs and an amazing talent for
impersonation. A look at the show will explain how one man’s
talent is bringing two distinct worlds together for one big-time
show.

About the Show

MacHomer combines the story of Macbeth, the timeless
Shakespeare classic, and incorporates the characters from The
Simpsons, a potentially timeless sitcom from modern television.
The show was actually put together for students so that they
could be exposed to the works of Shakespeare and have it
presented in an entertaining manner that would keep their
attention.

The plot does not vary from the original tragedy, but Miller
“plays” the roles by working up to 50 different impersonations
from the television show into different characters in the story,
and the story is also told in modern English. The show is unique
in that it makes a tragic tale hilarious, and MacHomer tickets
have been in high demand all over the United States and Canada.

About Rick Miller

Rick Miller is one of the most respected multi-talented artists
in Canada, and he has made a career out of interpreting classic
theater and literary tales in ways that modernize the stories
and bring them to the eyes and ears of people who would not
normally want to experience them.

Miller was trained in Montreal and has several credits to his
name, including classical productions, comedies and radio and
television work. He continues to reside in Canada, and lives in
Toronto with his wife and daughter. Miller is also planning to
continue along this path of performance, and although he’s a bit
coy in regards to what he’s planning, thespians and
non-traditional thespians alike can look forward to several more
productions of classics with modern twists.

How to See MacHomer

Given the limitations of a one-man show, MacHomer can’t be
everywhere. However, the production offers a series of books and
workshops that schools and students alike can schedule if they’d
like to get a look at what all the buzz is about regarding this
unique performance.

Whether you love the theater or you don’t, MacHomer tickets are
sure to provide you with a night of laughs and an intriguing
look at a Shakespeare classic.

About the Author: Written by Jay Nault, sponsored by
http://www.stubhub.com/ . StubHub sells MacHomer tickets:
http://www.stubhub.com/machomer-tickets/ sports tickets, concert
tickets, theater tickets and more to just about any event in the
world. Please link to Stubhub when publishing this article.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Web Animation
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gelfey_Sterling]Gelfey Sterling

At a basic level animation can be thought of as a flicker of life in objects. For example a flying bird is an "animate" object while a glass vase is an "inanimate" object. In real life inanimate objects move because of external forces, but in the virtual world, technology and imagination work together to create movement. Animation has become popular because real life has movement and the human eye is naturally attracted to movement.
Over the last 100 years animation has developed into a huge industry.

Computer animation has advanced rapidly, and is now approaching the point where movies can be created with characters so lifelike as to be hard to distinguish from real actors. This involved a move from 2D to 3D, the difference being that in 2D animation the effect of perspective is created artistically, but in 3D objects are modeled in an internal 3D representation within the computer, and are then 'lit' and 'shot' from chosen angles, just as in real life, before being 'rendered' to a 2D bitmapped frame. There were predictions that famous dead actors might even be brought back to life to play in new movies.

Animations can be used in various ways on a web page such as making a log presentation more interesting by activating charts that dynamically show changes over time. Again animated games are very popular on the Web, especially 3D games. Animation attracts the attention as it is dynamic. For example animated buttons on a web page attract more attention than the static buttons.

When we speak of types of animations, the simplest type is an animated GIF. Animated GIFs are popular because they are easy to create and don’t require special software for viewing. Another type is the animated text where the text changes color, blinks, or even explodes like a firework. Rollover effects changes the state of an object when the mouse cursor is moved over the object.

Flash is widely used to create animations for the Web because Flash animations are usually small in size and most Web users have the Flash player installed in their web browsers. In the future the animations on the Web will be more interactive and 3D animations will be widely used. Web animations will be used widely for education and entertainment. The gaming industry will increase its presence on the Web and support 3D and interactive animations. Animations that use simulations will be used for training and education. A lot of focus will be on multi user interactions and 3D animations and on making the Web more and more interactive.

For more information on web developers india and offshore software development india, plz visit ==] http://www.vsworx.com

Author is a offshore software expert.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gelfey_Sterling http://EzineArticles.com/?Web-Animation&id=171112

Friday, August 10, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Web Animation
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gelfey_Sterling]Gelfey Sterling

At a basic level animation can be thought of as a flicker of life in objects. For example a flying bird is an "animate" object while a glass vase is an "inanimate" object. In real life inanimate objects move because of external forces, but in the virtual world, technology and imagination work together to create movement. Animation has become popular because real life has movement and the human eye is naturally attracted to movement.
Over the last 100 years animation has developed into a huge industry.

Computer animation has advanced rapidly, and is now approaching the point where movies can be created with characters so lifelike as to be hard to distinguish from real actors. This involved a move from 2D to 3D, the difference being that in 2D animation the effect of perspective is created artistically, but in 3D objects are modeled in an internal 3D representation within the computer, and are then 'lit' and 'shot' from chosen angles, just as in real life, before being 'rendered' to a 2D bitmapped frame. There were predictions that famous dead actors might even be brought back to life to play in new movies.

Animations can be used in various ways on a web page such as making a log presentation more interesting by activating charts that dynamically show changes over time. Again animated games are very popular on the Web, especially 3D games. Animation attracts the attention as it is dynamic. For example animated buttons on a web page attract more attention than the static buttons.

When we speak of types of animations, the simplest type is an animated GIF. Animated GIFs are popular because they are easy to create and don’t require special software for viewing. Another type is the animated text where the text changes color, blinks, or even explodes like a firework. Rollover effects changes the state of an object when the mouse cursor is moved over the object.

Flash is widely used to create animations for the Web because Flash animations are usually small in size and most Web users have the Flash player installed in their web browsers. In the future the animations on the Web will be more interactive and 3D animations will be widely used. Web animations will be used widely for education and entertainment. The gaming industry will increase its presence on the Web and support 3D and interactive animations. Animations that use simulations will be used for training and education. A lot of focus will be on multi user interactions and 3D animations and on making the Web more and more interactive.

For more information on web developers india and offshore software development india, plz visit ==] http://www.vsworx.com

Author is a offshore software expert.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gelfey_Sterling http://EzineArticles.com/?Web-Animation&id=171112

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Web Animation
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gelfey_Sterling]Gelfey Sterling

At a basic level animation can be thought of as a flicker of life in objects. For example a flying bird is an "animate" object while a glass vase is an "inanimate" object. In real life inanimate objects move because of external forces, but in the virtual world, technology and imagination work together to create movement. Animation has become popular because real life has movement and the human eye is naturally attracted to movement.
Over the last 100 years animation has developed into a huge industry.

Computer animation has advanced rapidly, and is now approaching the point where movies can be created with characters so lifelike as to be hard to distinguish from real actors. This involved a move from 2D to 3D, the difference being that in 2D animation the effect of perspective is created artistically, but in 3D objects are modeled in an internal 3D representation within the computer, and are then 'lit' and 'shot' from chosen angles, just as in real life, before being 'rendered' to a 2D bitmapped frame. There were predictions that famous dead actors might even be brought back to life to play in new movies.

Animations can be used in various ways on a web page such as making a log presentation more interesting by activating charts that dynamically show changes over time. Again animated games are very popular on the Web, especially 3D games. Animation attracts the attention as it is dynamic. For example animated buttons on a web page attract more attention than the static buttons.

When we speak of types of animations, the simplest type is an animated GIF. Animated GIFs are popular because they are easy to create and don’t require special software for viewing. Another type is the animated text where the text changes color, blinks, or even explodes like a firework. Rollover effects changes the state of an object when the mouse cursor is moved over the object.

Flash is widely used to create animations for the Web because Flash animations are usually small in size and most Web users have the Flash player installed in their web browsers. In the future the animations on the Web will be more interactive and 3D animations will be widely used. Web animations will be used widely for education and entertainment. The gaming industry will increase its presence on the Web and support 3D and interactive animations. Animations that use simulations will be used for training and education. A lot of focus will be on multi user interactions and 3D animations and on making the Web more and more interactive.

For more information on web developers india and offshore software development india, plz visit ==] http://www.vsworx.com

Author is a offshore software expert.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gelfey_Sterling http://EzineArticles.com/?Web-Animation&id=171112

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Illusion Technologies: Animation

Attack of the Animated Web Page Ads
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Aidan_Maconachy]Aidan Maconachy

Annoying animated ads have been taking over cyber space lately.

How are you supposed to read a column when a moving pen keeps drawing a disco dancing silhouette on someone's arm over and over - a silhouette that does a frenetic John Travolta type dance in the corner of your eye. As if we aren't visually overloaded enough these days!

You can just imagine a bunch of advertising nerds sitting around trying to devise better ways to grab our attention. One says "yeah let's have the chipmunk race up and down the tree. Even if they try and read through one end of a rolled newspaper they won't be able to escape the blur".

Advertisers sometimes get it badly wrong. It's not only about animation, or concept originality or design flair. They need to consider what type of reaction the ad induces in the viewer. In a lot of cases animated ads on a page of text induce resentment, if only because people like to be bale to focus when they're reading.

A blogger I was reading on this topic said he scrolls rapidly on a page he visits to block out a hyperactive squirrel and an aerobic blond on eternal repeat.

One Daily Telegraph page I was on had a firing canon, that kept recoiling as it blasted again ... and again ... while some other frenetic behavior was going on in a box further up the page. It was like trying to read in the middle of the Battle of Waterloo.

Why don't advertisers understand the basic truth that a lot of people who are visually assaulted will make a point of NOT clicking on the ad. Some people even develop a prejudice against the product. Have advertisers ever speculated how much they may have lost as a result of turning off potential consumers? Might make for an eye opening survey.

But maybe there is a sizable demographic out there that becomes hypnotized by repetitive motion. Their eyes glaze over as someone's head gets tattooed forty times in a row and they simply cannot resist the urge to click on the cranium.

The sites hosting these ads, need to think of their visitors' eye health. If I go blind after a site has upped the number of animated ads to four while I'm struggling from sentence to sentence in a page that is like an ant colony, I have no doubt there is a Florida lawyer who will be very happy to hear from me.

Aidan Maconachy is a freelance writer and artist based in Ontario. You can visit his blog at http://aidanmaconachyblog.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aidan_Maconachy http://EzineArticles.com/?Attack-of-the-Animated-Web-Page-Ads&id=460205

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