In the last few years, web applications have evolved from HTML/CSS websites into engaging applications that provide a rich user experience. Adobe spotted this trend early and has developed technologies that provide some of the best user experiences possible. Adobe introduced the term rich Internet application (RIA) to describe these interactive web applications.
The two main Adobe technologies that allow RIA development are Adobe® Flex® and Adobe AIR™. RIAs can run inside the browser or on the desktop (using Adobe AIR). Examples of these applications are available in the Flex Showcase and the Adobe AIR Showcase.

These resources provide a combination of online workshop modules for self-study, course projects to apply the skills learned, and book recommendations to put together a course on RIA design and development.
Work with a team to design projects in Adobe Flex and AIR, and get an opportunity to win recognition, travel, software, and cash.
In May, Adobe was a sponsor of the 2008 Reel Ideas Studio Student Filmmaking program in the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner. See the impressive work of these students in two different locations. For a selection of films, visit Adobe TV, which is featuring a new video each week, and click Video Professional. To view all of the films, go to Reel Ideas Studio and click At the Theater.
Frank Nguyen (May 27, 2008)
Use Adobe Captivate to align eLearning assessments with learning objectives.
Mark Badger (May 19, 2008)
Mark Badger finds ways to teach visual thinkers how to code in ActionScript® and soon in Flex.
Steve Anderson (April 14, 2008)
Steve Anderson of USC interviews Scott Mahoy, creative director for the Labyrinth Project, about his design philosophy and use of Flex.
Sean Morrow (April 14, 2008)
Sean Morrows of NSCC talks about what Adobe Flash® and Flex have meant to his Web Development program.
Jeffrey Heer (March 10, 2008)
Jeffrey Heer of UC Berkeley shares insights about improving decision-making with interactive visualizations powered by tools built with Adobe Flash.
Will Carter (March 10, 2008)
Veronica Paredes of USC interviews Will Carter about his trajectory as a web/mobile developer and his tools of choice.
Erik Loyer (March 10, 2008)
Erik Loyer of Song New Creative shares his rubric for determining what kinds of projects need Flash and which need Flex.
Professor Mike McKean (February 25, 2008)
Professor Mike McKean of University of Missouri Columbia talks about a campus competition using Adobe AIR to spur innovation for enhancing citizen involvement in journalism.
Yakov Fain (November 1, 2007)
Yakov Fain tells why he teaches Flex in his NYU classroom.
Yakov Fain (November 22, 2007)
Steve Anderson at USC interviews Erik Loyer of Song New Creative.
Areez Gangji (September 9, 2008)
Areez Gangji discovered ten Flex and AIR applications that can help students organize their notes, connect with others, edit photos, tame their media, and share documents.
Frank Garofalo (July 31, 2008)
Frank Garofalo worked with three other students to create an AIR application for his senior project that streamlined delivery of the course content for all students and faculty.
Lee Byron (May 19, 2008)
Lee Byron and his team of Carnegie Mellon students used Adobe Flex to develop a video-messaging service that enables flirting.
Adam Hosp and Nick Leonard (April 14, 2008)
Hosp and Leonard developed an AIR application that lets users distribute their favorite news articles, images, and videos to their social networks.
Jonathan Coffman (March 10, 2008)
Jonathan Coffman shares information on the project his team developed for the AIR platform that helps newspapers support citizen news input.
Tyler Travitz (February 25, 2008)
Tyler Travitz at RIT shows off his independent study project created with Flex.
SPIELERKABINE.net ("The Locker Room") is the first social community in Germany to use Flex in the front end.
The Flex developer for SPIELERKABINE.net talks about his award-winning Web 2.0 project.
If you are a current student or faculty member at an educational institution, you can get Adobe Flex Builder™ 3 Pro software free.