A holistic Rich Media custom content management system…
Since the beginning of the web, a host of sites and applications have existed that have attempted to virtually represent the experience of attending an academic institution. Starting out as building listings or slide shows, these fledgling presentations have slowly grown into more comprehensive surveys and inventories of programs, life, and facilities—an overall experience.
The Tour Experience Engine (TEE for short) is a content-managed, modular, completely interactive Rich Media Application (RMA) archetype. It is a system of creating presentations that convey true experiences though the use of multiple content elements (text, links, photos, panoramic images, video, narration, music, and animation), with an interface that is adaptable to increasing quantities of content.
It is available as the MultiMedia Engine exclusively through CampusTours / CampusTours Productions (our exclusive educational partner), and takes two forms: 1) customizable templates and 2) custom-developed multi-modular presentations.
- College of Saint Benedict + Saint John's University
- Tour - Adobe Site of the Day Winner, 2009-04-03
- Suffolk University (Boston, Massachusetts)
- Tour - Adobe Site of the Day Winner, 2008-10-03
- Jacksonville University (Jacksonville, Florida)
- Tour
- The Art Institutes (34+ US Locations)
- Tour - Adobe Site of the Day Winner, 2008-06-16
- Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Weatherford, OK)
- Tour
- Bryant University (Fitchburg, Massachusetts)
- Tour - Adobe Site of the Day Winner, 2008-08-08
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
- Tour
- Berklee College of Music (Boston, Massachusetts)
- Tour - Adobe Site of the Day Winner, 2008-05-23
- Chapman University (Orange County, California)
- Tour
- Brandeis University (Waltham, Massachusetts)
- Tour
- Fitchburg State College (Fitchburg, Massachusetts)
- Tour - Adobe Site of the Day Winner, 2007-10-17
- Paul Smiths College (New York)
- Tour
- Lafayette College (Easton, Pennsylvania)
- Tour
- Providence College (Providence, Rhode Island)
- Tour
- Baldwin-Wallace College (Berea, Ohio)
- Tour
- Patrick Henry (VCCS) (Martinsville, Virginia)
- Tour
- Philips Exeter Academy Tour (Exeter, New Hampshire)
- Tour/Map
- American Military University (Manassas, Virginia)
- Tour
- Columbia College Chicago Tour (Chicago, Illinois)
- Tour
- The Juilliard School Tour (New York, New York)
- Tour - Adobe Site of the Day Winner, 2005-06-25
- Monmouth University (Monmouth, New Jersey)
- Tour
- Clark State Community College (Springfield, Ohio)
- Tour
- University of Richmond (Richmond, Virginia)
- Tour
- Virginia Military Institute (Lexington, Virginia)
- Tour
- Millikin University (Decatur, Illinois)
- Tour
The TEE is built entirely in Macromedia Flash, and requires the latest version of the Flash Player. As a result of Flash’s capabilities, all TEEs can be Section 508 compliant upon request. The Flash Player also allows for a single plug-in to be used when presenting media to web users. No longer will a user need to use QuickTime, RealPlayer, a Java viewer or their own media player to experience media—Flash can natively handle it all.
The TEE’s content management system, Amorphous Content Management Engine (AMCE for short) is available as a standalone client-side application, thus alleviating the need for any server processes or programs to support the tour. This cuts down on internal support and infrastructure costs, as well as shortening launch schedules. In order to support this architecture, the TEE & ACME use XML files to store data, structure, and settings. This allows for the data to be repurposed down the road for different uses.
Each TEE instance is built with two main foci in mind: 1) user choices and 2) overall experience. Fortunately, #2 is aided by a solid focus on #1. Because we place high value on the desire of the web user to choose his or her own adventure, the overall experience is one that keeps the user’s interest and helps create the feeling of an active experience instead of a passive survey.
Because of the Flash architecture, all content is presented in one unified presentation layer. A user’s mouse behavior can be very commanding and reactive from an interface perspective. Unlike HTML-based tours where it is difficult to precisely control multiple elements of the browser window simultaneously, Flash handles the same action flawlessly. Therefore, the interface can come alive each time the user acts. This contributes to a more complete experience.
Each institution has different presentation needs and wants. Therefore, the TEE platform is built to handle a variety of modules. In addition to basic topical interfaces, the TEE can be an interactive map, a timeline, a student diary, a linear presentation (pseudo-video), or any other thing imaginable. The costs of new development are incurred by GroundWork and not by our clients or our partner’s clients. Therefore, even though an institution might have a completely original interface and concept designed and built for them, none of the developmental burden will be incurred. It could be the 100th time the module is built or the 1st. The costs are the same.
Each TEE is a licensed set of procedures and software, and all TEEs carry with them a standard pricing plan.
The TEE is offered as either a custom-designed graphical multi-modular system or as a single-module customized template design. There are different levels of template to suit need and budget, just as there are multiple template designs from which to choose.
For more information, fire us an email. |
