The book is structured into three parts: Foundation knowledge (general programming theory applied to Flash with short tasks to demonstrate specific concepts), Applied workshop (more involved tasks broken into three parts each--design discussion, the building steps, and analysis with suggestions of variation), and Appendices (which provides a concise listing of some of the more useful elements in ActionScript).
The book will begin with foundation knowledge and will build on that with practical workshops. This way, the readers should be able to apply what they learn to future challenges they might encounter.
Phillip Kerman is an independent programmer, teacher, and writer specializing in Macromedia products. His degree in Imaging and Photographic Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology was earned back when "multimedia" had a different meaning than today. One of Phillip's internships, for example, involved programming multiple slide projector presentations with dissolves synchronized to a sound track-the multimedia of the 1980s. In 1993, he found Macromedia Authorware a natural fit for his interest and skills. After getting his start at The Human Element, Inc., he moved back to Portland, Oregon to work on his own.
Phillip has transitioned his expertise from Authorware to Director, and now, to Flash. Over seven years, he has had to adapt to a total of 13 version upgrades-Flash 5 being the most significant of them all! In addition to retooling and building his own skills, Phillip finds teaching the biggest challenge. He has trained and made presentations around the world, in such exotic locations as Reykjavik, Iceland; Melbourne, Australia; Amsterdam, Holland; and McAlester, Oklahoma. He wrote Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash 5 in 24 Hours (that is the title, not how long it took to write). His writing has also appeared in such publications as Macworld, Macromedia User Journal, and his self-published The Phillip Newsletter (teleport/~phillip/newsletter/).
In addition to showing others how to create multimedia, Phillip has had plenty of opportunities to get his hands dirty in programming. Last century, Phillip programmed the all-Flash Web site m-three for Paris France Inc. This site was included in both Communication Arts Interactive Design Annual and the British Design & Art Direction Annual in 2000. The latest version of the M3 site won the navigation category at the London Flash Film Festival. Feel free to email Phillip at flash5@onemain.
