Date Posted: October 19, 2006
Update: March 30, 2007 Version 4.2 includes Movie Mode capture capability and enhancements to simulation scripting, playback controls, and template functionality.
What is IBM Simulation Producer?
IBM® Simulation Producer is an MFC VC++ (Microsoft® Foundation Class, Visual C++) application that creates application simulations that can be displayed in various modes: as a Java™ applet, as a Flash movie, and as DHTML/JavaScript. The simulations can also be exported as workflow instructions in Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Adobe® FrameMaker.
How does it work?
Simulation Producer is an application simulation program, ideal for quickly producing learning interactions. In a manner similar to that of a "screen cam," Simulation Producer captures events (such as mouse and keyboard interactions) and the screen changes associated with those events in an application; however, Simulation Producer extends this function by making the images and events interactive: The user is allowed to click on buttons and to type text.
Developers can then enhance the individual screens of the capture by adding the following: comments, highlights, graphics, input areas, captions, assessments, feedback, and audio.
At any time while the capture is being edited, developers can preview the simulation and see how it will appear to the student when played within a Web browser. In order to promote learning, Simulation Producer supports three playback modes:
- "Show Me" plays the capture back, expecting no input from the student.
- "Guide Me" prompts the student to reproduce the mouse and keyboard interactions that were shown in "Show Me."
- "Let Me" allows the student to reproduce the interactions without guidance.
The captured events and related information are saved as XML; the screen changes are saved as PNGs. During playback, a student is prompted to duplicate the input events, and the images are replayed in movie fashion.
About the technology author(s)
Brad Wells is an IT architect for IBM AIS Learning Development in Atlanta, Ga. He graduated in 1989 with an M.S. in computer from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Wells has 17 years of experience performing software design and development on a wide variety of hardware and software platforms. His expertise includes client/server development under Windows ‘95 and Windows NT, device driver development on AIX, microprocessor tool development on OS/2, and more. Most recently, Mr. Wells has been designing and developing educational software.
