[documentation] How to get more people involved with documentation

[Laura Scott]

On Jun 18, 2006, at 12:30 PM, Steven Wittens wrote:

>>
>> <embed> <object> <param>
>>
>> ...for embedding Quicktime and Flash movies. I know this creates  
>> issues as the updated IE cannot see QT without a Javascript helper  
>> (see http://developer.apple.com/internet/ieembedprep.html) but it  
>> sure would be nice to be able to visually enrich the handbooks  
>> with images and video.
>
> Err, do we really need this?
>
> Properly embedding QT/Flash for all browsers is tricky and takes a  
> lot of ugly HTML.

No, I don't think these tags re needed. But an embed is required for  
Flash video, in my experience. (Otherwise flash will present at any  
old resolution, since it is technically resolution-independent in  
terms of presentation scale.) With today's codecs, Flash is the  
optimal video format because of browser compatibility, omho. (I love  
YouTube, but it is not a fair representation of what's possible.)

> Embedding also means that you need to go dig into the source to  
> save the file locally.

A separate link for download is also possible -- certainly not  
precluded, and is an option offered on many sites.

> Finally, it means we force everyone who views the page to download  
> all embedded videos, which may not be desirable.

This is a very valid concern. However, it really depends upon the  
media file's own settings. A properly configured streaming  
presentation of video is going to download only the buffer.  
Progressive download would download all the way, but for anything  
longer than 5 min it's probably better to go with streaming (unless  
people want to download the file) because of these bandwidth issues.

We could establish a practice of embedding only in linked pages.

Then again, I make the suggestion to enable these tags only so we can  
have more rich media presentation (which also makes the implicit  
"sale" that yes, Drupal can work for rich media sites). Please  
consider it an "it would be nice" kind of suggestion, without any  
insistence on my part.

Laura


>
> Linking to the file in question, perhaps with an image as the link,  
> is preferable IMO.
>
> -1.
>
> Steven Wittens
>
> --
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