Adobe’s Adobe Captivate 8 (http://tinyurl.com/npvaw63) is the latest version of its eLearning authoring tool. The software is designed to reduce the learning curve by allowing trainers and educators to author once and deliver multi-screen responsive content without programming. Adobe Captivate 8 includes several new features such as location and gesture support, new customizable interactions, themes and smart shapes to create and deliver impactful mobile eLearning.

For example, authors don’t need to change how they create content. Content will rearrange itself for new tablet and mobile views based on the selected theme. Content can be tweaked for a specific device by moving, resizing and editing objects.

What’s more, content can be published as a single project and automatically delivered as the most appropriate experience for a learner’s device. Authors can use the geo-location feature to deliver location-aware content and take advantage of gesture support to allow learners to tap, scroll, pinch, and swipe their way through courses.

Authors can also create show-me product demos in HD video, let-me-try simulations, and test-me compliance training materials; transform Microsoft PowerPoint slides into HTML5-based eLearning content; include eye-catching quizzes and interactions; and publish projects to desktops, YouTube, leading learning management systems and to mobile devices as apps.

Authors can enrich courses with customizable out-of-the-box assets, such as actors, drag-and-drop elements, themes, responsive themes, and more. Themes can be saved and reused across different projects. Further, content creators can choose from a variety of interactions, including Millionaire, Hangman, Jigsaw, Pyramid, and Accelerometer-based interactions and augment eLearning content with in-course YouTube videos and web pages.

Updates from Captivate 7 and Captivate 6 (and earlier) are US$399 and $999, respectively. Captivate 8 is also available for US$19.99 per month for an annual subscription. It’s compatible with Mac OS X 10.7 or higher.