Derek Entringer is a talented Interactive Media/Web Application Developer who really loves what he does. His talents include a mixture of multimedia and application development that allows him to create dynamic and engaging projects ranging from full Flash or Director games and websites to web based CRM Applications and Flex projects. The quality of Derek’s work is determined by his vast experience. The projects created by him embody creative and modern ideas and incorporate top-notch functionality into a simple, uncluttered form.

But we got interested first of all in Derek’s activity as an interactive media specialist, as his talents are also specialized in the technologies that allow us to control the dynamic content and give us the ability to collaborate with others online. As it is known, he is a creator of FLV Player – free video player Flash component that have already came into notice of many users and Flash developers due to its significant features. But Derek is famous not only with this project. He has many achievements to his credit.

Well, enough introductions, as Derek willingly agreed to give us several priceless pieces of advice concerning interactive web application development, web design and how to make it a powerful interactive tool between you and your customers.

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Can you share with us a little bit of your history, and also what is the main attraction point that got you into the Flash Platform?

Back in 1999 I was working for a company creating a Microsoft C++ application which allowed users to interactively place office furniture, kitchen fixtures, and cabinetry within a specified floor plan. We were using AutoCad and 3D Studio Max along with our custom application to create these interactive environments. It was very similiar to todays Ikea Office Planner, but it was tied to installing on a users computer. My manager at that time asked me if I wanted to look into something called Macromedia Director to see how we might be able to port over the functionality that we currently had, to something web based. You’ll have to remember that back then, Macromedia was really just starting up to become what it is today. I gladly took on the challenge, and it was my first step into the online interactive media world.

At that time, Flash had just become accepted as a default plugin for MS IE5. It was quite a young development tool, but there was a lot of buzz surrounding it and it was a new and interesting platform. Right about then, I decided that I wanted to further my education, and learn more about interactive media. I knew that things were going to really pick up, and I wanted to be right on the forefront of how the internet was going to change. This was really the starting point for everything that I have accomplished over the last 10 years in regards to Interactive Media, and developing on the Flash Platform.

Now, I’m working as a Independent Contractor under my DerekEntringer.com brand, and am also running FLVPlayer.com.