Prior to HTML5, user interaction was done primarily through Adobe Flash and a little JavaScript.

Example of how I used Flash (with ActionScript):
<http://coursecontent.ntc.edu/CIT/husband/pois/lp1/m31-attackers.html>

Example of how I used JavaScript:
<http://coursecontent.ntc.edu/CIT/husband/webdesign2/lp1/discussions.html>

Lesson 8 Video:

<http://coursecontent.ntc.edu/CIT/husband/webdesign2/lp4/videos/lesson8/lesson8.html>