Case Studies
Case Study: Traffic
What do you do when you need to get an amazing idea for a product no one has ever seen out the door? Call Atimi, like the creator of Traffic, Forrest Maready did.
For Atimi, this project involved constant collaboration with xm|Edit, to make sure all the needs for this innovative product were met. Many iterations of the user interface occurred, all of which had consequences to the underlying logic.
"This project required deep knowledge of the video editing space, and how Traffic blows away all the tedious tasks that editors face," said Scott Michaels, Director of Professional Services, Atimi. "We took these as challenges to our architectural design of Traffic, and believe me you haven't seen anything yet, with the underpinnings in Traffic created for the next set of features."
About Traffic:
Traffic is designed as a companion program to Final Cut Pro, to run along side it and be called into action whenever there is some difficult or tedious work to be done. You could edit an entire show in Traffic if you would like, but it would be difficult, as that is not its strength. It's strength is in managing and manipulating the hundreds of parameters and decisions and controls that go into any sequence.
Traffic presents a new model in the non-linear editing school of thought. It utilizes what's called a dependency graph, and it's the same interface that high end visual effects software like Apple's Shake™ uses. Operators connect "nodes" together to form a chain of events they want to perform on a clip. Traffic employs this node-based interface and has infused it with an editor's mindset. Changes and tweaks that seemed too tedious or even impossible to do can now be done in a matter of seconds.
Traffic is a stand-alone application that is designed to work in tandem with Final Cut Pro. Final Cut Pro does not have to be on a computer to run Traffic, as it can manipulate the projects, bins, and sequences of Final Cut Pro by itself. However, the level of integration we have put into Traffic will make it much more powerful if you use them together. Traffic reads in a Final Cut Pro element, like a project, bin, or sequence. You then take this element and manipulate it by connecting together the various manipulation nodes that are available in Traffic in the schematic view. The schematic view reads left to right, and you can think of it almost like an electrical circuit. At the end of the circuit toward the right, you can connect your work to an Output node that will create a new Final Cut Pro project, bin, sequence, or Quicktime.
Traffic is not only a new way of editing, it's a new way of thinking, and Atimi helped us realize that dream.
- Forrest Maready, Product Manager, xm|Edit
Case Study: PumpOne
PumpOne needed to reduce the time to market, and create user-friendly installs for its iPod/Treo based workouts. PumpOne came to Atimi to get professional service and a quality product on time, into the store, and reduce the total support needed for their products.
PumpOne’s Co-founder Craig Schlossberg wanted Atimi to create a tool to automate the creation of installers for both Mac and Windows. PumpOne needed to deliver over 70 product lines, each consisting of different sets of images for workout routines. These workouts needed to be easily updateable, and provide a common user experience across both PC and Mac environments. Atimi created a system to generate all the 70 installers automatically, as well as eliminating the previously manual sync portion of the cross-platform installers for PumpOne’s iPod media.
The resultant system for PumpOne is also extensible to the growing product line, and Atimi continues to work with the team at PumpOne to keep them doing what they do best, creating workouts and videos for their many customers.
About PumpOne:
PumpOne is the first portable training program for all color image-ready handheld devices like the iPod or Treo. PumpOne is like having an elite personal trainer that fits in your pocket and goes where you go.
PumpOne puts a professional workout regimen at your fingertips by seamlessly utilizing something you probably already bring to the gym – your iPod (or other image-ready portable player).
For more information on PumpOne visit www.pumpone.com
Craig Schlossberg, Co-founder, PumpOne
