The Snap Client initiates communication with the Snap Platform and will download new Content as soon as it becomes available. The communication occurs as standard web traffic using HTTP and HTTPS protocols.
All available new Content (targeted to the user) is downloaded by the Snap Client when it communicates with the Snap Platform (even if the specified start times have not yet been reached). Hence when a user is offline, any relevant Content (screen savers, alerts, etc) that is active or becomes active (by reaching its pre-specified start time) will still be available for display to the user because it is stored locally in the user’s profile.
No – Content is automatically deleted from the user’s local profile on their computer when it expires or is disabled. It will only be viewable again if the administrator(s) re-publishes the “Content” (via the “Content” manager)
Yes – All “Content” can contain links to other information sources. This is one of the most powerful aspects of the Snap tools. Standard URL links are supported for linking to files and resources by the http:// https:// or file:// URL types. A link can direct the user to any web page on the Internet or your intranet or to any file on a shared directory in your network.
Snap Content is compressed for delivery to the user and is a similar size to standard emails. Size varies dependant on graphics, flash animations etc but typically is as follows:
• Snap Shots screen saver - approx. 50 to 200KB
• Snap Alerts, Snap Quiz, Snap Poll - approx 10 to 20 KB
• Snap Ticker - 2KB or less
• Snap Mag – approx. 50KB
It is fair to say that the impact of Snap traffic on the network is marginal compared to standard web browsing and email traffic
1024 x 768 pixels. This is the most common screen resolution used on the desktop and images in this size will scale correctly to other sized screens.
No – The Snap Client detects when any application is running in a full screen format (e.g. power point presentation, Adobe or photo package slide show etc) and delays displaying Content until the full screen format has been ended.
The only Content a user can miss would be the screen saver. The Snap Client detects if the screensaver is active and delays Content display until the screensaver is no longer active (i.e. normal use is resumed).
Assuming the Content has not been deleted or disabled by the administrator or expired (as specified by the administrator when setting up each Content item) when the user logs on, they will receive all still-current Content that has been targeted to them.
Snapshots, the screensaver tool is generally used to deliver less overt, more subliminal types of message. All users will be at or near their workstation when their screen saver is active at some stage during the day. Furthermore, in an open plan office, a significant number of screensavers are typically being displayed at any one time during the day and act as bill board advertising to anyone in the near vicinity. These factors make the Snapshots screensaver a very powerful and cost effective communications tool.
When Content expires or is disabled by the administrator the client automatically deletes the Content from the users PC – this ensures computer hard drive space is not unnecessarily being used. To put it in perspective, all web browsers typically use up to several hundred megabytes of hard drive space as an offline cache of web pages visited by users. The amount of space taken up by Snap Content on the computer hard drive will typically be less than 5 megabytes per user.
Compressed, encrypted Content is stored in the Snap Client directory. Content that has already been displayed but is still current (unexpired and not disabled by the administrator) can be viewed again by the user via the “Message History” window (shown below) which is displayed when the user clicks on the Content Manager icon. The user can click on any item in the list to view the Content again.
It is possible to upload power point presentations complete with animation via the Snap Shots asset using the flash animated template. To do this you need to purchase a plug in to power point which converts a presentation to a swf file. A number of packages are available. One such package is presentation pro. You can download a free trial at http://www.presentationpro.com/in/dnpcx
The Snap solution is hosted and managed remotely. A good comparison is internet banking. With internet banking, after logging on with a user name and password, it is then possible to set up tools (such as automatic payments to people etc). In a similar way, “Snap Administrators” (e.g. nominated member(s) of the Internal Communications team with a company) go to the Snap website, logon with a user name and password, and can then set up their internal communications tools or “Content” (screen savers, tickers, alerts, quizzes, surveys, electronic magazines). “Content” is then delivered to specified “Users” within their organization via communication with the “Snap Client” over the Internet.
In order to receive “Content” a “User” must have the “Snap Client” installed on their computer. The client is a small program (approx. 1.6M) whose sole purpose is to display and manage “Content” directed to it.
“Content” consists of any of the snap tools (screen savers, tickers, alerts, quizzes, surveys, electronic magazines) customized (with text, display style, flash animation, images etc) to display the appropriate messages as specified by the “Content Manager”.
This is fine as long as Windows is running on the user’s desktop
Content is delivered as internet traffic (HTTP and HTTPS). Hence the risk of Content transmitting a virus or other internet nasty is very low. Content is created by administrator(s) within their own network (presumed to be safe and secure). Content is sent via a secure and encrypted connection (HTTPS) to the Snap Platform (located within an industrial datacentre), and relayed back to target users using the same secure and encrypted connection.
The Snap Client, located on the users computer within the organizations own environment, initiates communication with the Snap Server located with the Snap datacentre – the return communication back to the Snap Client (on the users computer) has therefore originated from a ‘trusted source’ – this gets around standard firewall policies blocking communications that have originated from outside the organization. The only firewall ports needed to be opened to allow Snap Content to pass through are ports 80 (for HTTP) and 443 (for HTTPS). It is commonplace for these ports to be already open on the vast majority of corporate firewalls in order to provide general internet access to users so there is absolutely no requirement for firewall rules to be altered.
A big advantage of the Snap Solution is that the IT risk is extremely low due to the fact the main ‘engine’ of the solution is hosted externally and only web traffic is delivered to the organization.
Port 80 (HTTP Internet traffic) and port 443 (HTTPS secure internet traffic) must be open for connections initiated from within the company network to the Internet.
Companies generally block certain websites or only allow certain websites. Simply ensure that the Snap website (*.snapcomms.com) is set up as a permitted website.
Organizations running Windows 2000 and above have an active directory server which details the user groups within that organization. The Snap client queries the server upon installation and thereafter every 6 hours to obtain the latest information regarding user groups. This enables hands free management of user group targeting.
No, the Snap solution is not restricted in anyway by pop-up blocking software - this is because the Snap Client initiates the communication from within the organisations own environment and is therefore not subject to suppression – pop-up blocking software only inhibits communication from outside the organisation i.e. websites.
Each instance of the Content Manager is segmented from every other instance and uses the same level of security as is used in internet banking for encrypting traffic and authenticating. Administrators have to authenticate with a user name and password. All traffic is encrypted via HTTPS / SSL.
Organizations running Windows 2000 and above run Active Directory which details the user groups within that organization. The Snap client queries the server upon installation and thereafter every 6 hours to obtain the latest information regarding user groups. This enables hands free management of user group targeting.
desktop pop-up alerts ensure your message cuts through the clutter
screensavers that act as dynamic billboards to keep employees connected and reinforce messages
a scrolling ticker bar that captures attention and broadcasts critical updates fast
a customizable, auto-publishing electronic update or magazine with powerful targeting capability, which can reduce internal group emails down to zero
direct, on-screen interactive quizzes with automated scoring
direct, on-screen interactive surveys which significantly improve response rate
CUT THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS | SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA USA
TEL 1-805-758-3392 | EMAIL info@cutthroughcommunications.com