Sequoia Media Solutions

Recently, implementation of system solutions has required software developers to employ more diverse technologies, pushed forward by the industries increased requirement for WEB based technologies as part of a solution.

Sequoia Media has been able to follow this trend, and can offer the prospective client a single source solution to many diverse requirements.

With 25+ years of software development and management experience, Sequoia Media are capable of developing embedded systems, PC applications, WEB applications and CGI solutions, or a solution requiring a mix of any of the above.

WEB Applications:

Sequoia Media has a good working knowledge of many WEB technologies and is capable of implementing WEB Applications suited to client's requirements.

Listed below are the technologies currently employed by Sequoia Media and where applicable, links to sample applications and projects.

Client-Side Technology	Macromedia FLASH MX 2004 / FLASH 8 / Adobe Flash CS3
	Macromedia state that the FLASH player is installed on 98% of internet enabled browsers worldwide. The importance of this becomes apparent when you realise that FLASH content is no longer just simple animated graphics, the latest versions of FLASH can deliver far more sophisticated content than simple graphics and animation. A FLASH application is capable of connecting to server-side logic, databases and WEB services, and can present a fully functional GUI for the user. FLASH also includes a fully featured object oriented programming language closely related to JavaScript, capable of accessing all of the FLASH features within a sophisticated programming environment. For an example of Sequoia Media's use of the latest FLASH technology, take a look at the sample 'Track Day Concepts' site, which employs server-side logic to control the interface and provide database connections to parts and user data. The site also uses FLASH video (see the Guides - The Tracks menu) to display additional content within the application. All of the 'Configure/Buy' menu section is database driven content, including menus, parts lists and images etc.
	Dynamic HTML + CSS + Javascript
	Sequoia Media do not specialise in DHTML WEB design because there are many other companies that can provide elegant solutions for the prospective client. Sequoia Media's specialty is in WEB Application development, where a knowledge of programming techniques takes precedence over graphic design capabilities. However, Sequoia Media can provide WEB content developed in standard DHTML formats, with additional logic supported by JavaScript programming. Also CSS styles are used to allow for fast and easy maintenance and site consistency in design.
Server-Side Technology	Macromedia ColdFusion MX 6.1 / 7
	Coldfusion is a very popular server-side scripting language from Macromedia. It has many built-in features that make dynamic WEB site development simpler and quicker. Sequoia Media can provide comprehensive programming of ColdFusion solutions, including database access to SQL, content delivery through XML and FLASH remote services. A recently completed Intranet project for Sharp Corporation uses ColdFusion and MS-SQL technologies to provide complex test data management applications. The project consists of 50,000+ lines of ColdFusion code.
	ASP .NET + C#
	Sequoia Media can provide basic ASP .NET (using C#) server-side scripting for access to SQL databases etc. The preference is to use ColdFusion, however for non-complex developments, ".NET" can be used as an alternative solution. Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Professional 2005 is used to develop ASPX solutions.
	Database Access
	MS-SQL, or MYSQL databases servers are used by Sequoia Media to provide the back-end data for developments. In addition, use of My SQL and Microsoft Access databases can be utilised if required.

PC Applications:

Sequoia Media can provide many kinds of PC application solutions. Most solutions would be written in C++, using MFC or the .NET framework. In addition Visual Basic applications can be developed if required.

More recently Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) has been used to replace MFC applications in some suitable projects.

Sequoia Media's approach to developing solutions is to use the most appropriate technology to solve the defined problem. In many cases, a mix of PC application development, communications protocols and WEB protocols would be utilised.

Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Professional is used to develop PC application solutions.

PC Application Scripting:

Many of the heavy weight PC applications from Adobe & Macromedia for example provide the opportunity to extend the application functionality with user written scripts.

Sequoia Media has extensive experience of developing application scripts for Adobe Illustrator CS2 and Macromedia Flash 7/8.

Scripts were written to export/import text objects within a Flash (.FLA) document into an XML format that could then be used to automate the translation of the original FLA file into multiple languages.

Scripts have also been written in Adobe Illustrator to re-build fractured text objects from EPS files, into sentences and paragraphs, then exported in XML format for translation and later re-import.

CGI Design:

In addition to the main programming skills offered by Sequoia Media, additional CGI work can be carried out, either as part of a site solution requiring 3D graphics of some kind, or as a bespoke solution.

Sequoia Media are capable of generating still and video content in varied formats. Several professional content editing packages are used in the process, such as Maxon Cinema 4D for 3D modeling and rendering. This includes utilisation of texturing through Body Paint 3D, sketch and draft output using the 'Sketch and Toon' module.

Landscaping and external renders can be generated using Vue d'Espirit for vegitation, and the VRAY advanced render module for Cinema 4D, which is specifically designed for architectural visualisation.

Video and stills rendered output is achieved using Adobe applications such as After Effects CS3, Premiere Pro, Encore DVD, Photoshop CS3, Illustrator CS2 and InDesign CS2.

Refer to the 'Design Projects' page for samples of previous design projects.