Web
page pitfalls
Many web pages do NOT portray the message that is intended. They hang
(stop), take a long time to load, leave awkward spaces or even slow down your
computer. It may be your link to the internet, or the internet itself. But it
may be that the web page hasbeen designed with the latest web browser/editor
which uses facilities not available on the browser of your potential
customer/viewer. That viewer may even switch off certain attributes which
negates any efforts you, or your team of designers, produce to make the page
"glitzy".
Feature
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Alternative |
Pictures
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A lot of data
makes up a picture. It all has to be loaded to the viewer's
computer.
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Use small
pictures (thumbnails). Keep pictures on a separate page - not the front
page.
Logos, buttons & simple pictures using the GIF format are small
and quick to load.
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Animation
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They usually
annoy me. but maybe you are not selling to me
Animations are unpredictable on different browsers. They may not be
supported, in which case an awkward space may be where you wanted the
animation.
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Animate little
gismos that you consider expendable, if you must.
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Mouseovers
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The web designer
can dictate actions to occur when the mouse is over a certain piece of
text or image. It looks great when it is supported.
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Stick to simple
links for text. For images, use the "alt" text for effective additional
information - it may not be supported but it will not throw the text in
unwanted areas.
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Frames
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See animation
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It
is unlikely that you really need frames.
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Sounds
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I do not switch
my sound on unless I want to listen to sounds - not when you want me to
listen
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How
about providing a link to allow the user to download the sound (audio
clip) with a brief introduction and length of recording.
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Some browsers will attempt to work on your feature with a possible
draining of resources - which annoys everybody.
There are at least fifteen browsers out there on different
operating systems with many different versions and options. You owe it
to yourself to verify that your image is being potrayed the way you
want. Keep it simple.
Frames allow different parts of the screen to move independently to
other parts. They are rarely necessary and rarely look the same as you
intend on the browser of your potential customer. Keep it simple.
Animation should not be used for anything important. To have an
animated piece of important text flutter toward the center of the
screen, wait ten seconds before fluttering to a corner will probably be
missed completely by 60% of your potential customers. Keep it
simple.
Use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to reduce the size of your page
and introduce some nice features - and consistancy.
Animation for a flag, a dog's tail
wagging, a blinking light or anything which is expendable is probably
not a risk. Just remember, an animation may not show at all. Keep it
simple.
I am working on
this page: Keeping it simple...
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