John Pape Online Blog

In this article I am going to explore two area in web development.  The first is the concept of “Usability“.  The next idea will be “Accessibility“

In the world of web development usability is a major issue.  By usability I am talking about testing websites to make sure that the visitor can quickly, easily and simply navigate a website.  This makes the user experience better.

The idea of Accessibility goes even further than usability in that its goal is to allow access for all people.

A little history

Nearly 1 out 5 individuals in America have some level of disability.  This translate to about 30 million people.  As the population grows older this number is expected to increase as there will be more and more senior citizens.  Do you know that in the past 10 years there was an increase of 25%.  Unfortunately, with age come physical changes.  Some of these can limit a persons ability to do things.  But keep in mind this is not the only segment of the population that suffers disabilities.  And there needs need to be met.

Making the Internet Accessible

The Internet has become an integral part our everyday lifestyle.  It allows us to do things unheard of a decade ago.  The web offers us ways to communicate.  We can obtain information on nearly every subject under the sun and beyond.  We now have social online gatherings.  The opportunities abound will limitless ways to engage cultural activities.  The list could go on.  But the sad reality is that the disabled are sometimes excluded from totally experiencing these benefits.  However there is hope in providing for standard of accessibility that will help these individuals.

Ways to Improve Accessibility

Here is a list of ideas from the Web Content Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 that was created by the Web Accessibility Initiative of W3C.  These are way to increase the accessibility of web content.

1. Provide alternatives to audio-visual content

Not all people will be able to use different kinds of content. These people may be disabled or may have a lower version of Internet browsers. Movies, sound clips, animations and other contents should be translated into text alternatives so as to provide information to the broadest range of viewers.

2. Developers shouldn’t rely on color alone

Many people are impaired in color differentiation. Developers shouldn’t rely too much on the use of colors to relay information in the websites. Charts that are color-coded should be modified and the background and foreground colors of the websites should have enough contrast to enable people with color differentiation impairment to easily navigate the site.

3. Clarification of the use of natural language

Content developers usually mark up the changes in natural language in their websites. They should be able to identify the dominant language that is used in the site so as to avoid confusion.

4. Control of content changes that are time-sensitive

This issue particularly involves people who have visual or cognitive impairments and those who are not able to read texts that are moving quickly. Movement is seen as an over-all enhancer to the look of the site, but it may pose some problems to people with cognitive impairments.

5. Accessibility of user interfaces that are embedded

Objects that posses their own interfaces should be made accessible, and alternative solutions must be provided if this is not possible.

6. Provision of orientation and context information

The provision of information on how the objects are organized is important to provide people with guidance on how to access information.

This is by no means a comprehensive list but they are some practical tips to make a website more usable.  Careful consideration needs to be taken to make sure that Accessibility is included in the design process and that viable alternatives be provided.

Benefits

There are many benefits to improving accessibility of websites.  These benefit not only help those with disabilities but also improve the entire web community.  Businesses, Service Companies, Organizations and you as well will benefit.

Need A Web Site?

Custom Web Design for Small Businesses by professional and experienced web designer and developer.

Here is what I can do for you…

• Innovative Web Design
• Graphic Design Logos
• Maintain Your Website
• Data Driven Content
• Flash Applications
• Build Shopping Carts for Ecommerce
• Custom PHP Applications and Programming
• WordPress Installation & Customization

Get an affordable, attractive great website today. Hire Me For Your Web Design Solution. View my portfolio at http://portfolio.mediatunes.com

Technorati Tags: accessibility, information technology, usability, Web Design

Design is one of the defining element that attract Internet user to your a site.  A major deterrent that keeps someone for staying on a site is the lack of appealing graphics.  The challenge for a Web Designer is the create a site that not only is attractive to the user but to keep them interested as well

Just putting graphics on a website isn’t the only factor to consider.  Graphic must be used correctly.  If the graphic cause the user to turn away because they are just plain bad or they are overwhelmed that’s not good at all.

It is important to have an attractive design.  It it the choice of design that needs consideration.  And the main consideration to be concerned with the the final user.  A successful design that is attractive and functional is one that reached its goal.

Graphic on the Web is considered of of the element of multimedia.  When using several design elements like text, sound, animation and graphics your goal is to really a message to the user.  When using multimedia in a web site it is vital that it is integral to the content.  It must reinforce and support the message of the page content.

Using graphic can increase learning in a positive way.  That is only if the image is being used properly.   The concept is to remove all barriers to communication and increase understanding.

To help illustrate this point I’ve put together this short list of things to consider when using graphics on your website.

1. Make sure have to have the graphic

Don’t add a graphic for the sake of having a graphic.  Make sure it serves a positive function to the content.  It is easy to overuse graphics on a page.  The real down side is that large unnecessary graphic slow down page load time.  Remember time is important to your user.  All graphic therefore must support the message and have relevance to its meaning.

2. Repetitiveness

Repeating a message or concept over and over increases retention.   This can be true of graphic elements as well.  A logo used consistently on your site will increase brand identity.   Button with similar graphic elements are useful in usability.

3. Keep it Consistent

Keep thing it their place.  If your logo is located at the top left it needs to be there at the same place on each and every page.  The same with your navigation graphics.  Don’t move things around this will confuse and frustrate your user.  The same goes with the use of color.  Find a theme and stick to it.

4. Media Loading Priority

As a page loads certain elements get loaded as the browser loads the page.  Try to have the markup done is such a way as to load text before graphics.   This will help the user know if the information is pertinent to there quest for information.

5. Page Loading

Keep in mind that graphics load much slower than text.   The goal is less than 5 seconds.  The maximum amount of time should be no more than 15 seconds.   Also, with more people using High Speed Connections this frees you to add more multimedia to your site.  Just make sure that your target users is up to speed.

6. Optimize Speed

Images need to processed to optimize speed.  The web world is much more different than the print world.  In the print world Hi-Res images are the standard.  However Hi-Res does not work on the web.   By optimizing the image you will save time for your visitors.  Here are some thing to consider when optimizing for speed.

• Make the graphic size a small as possible. Don’t use the browser to resize
• Decrease image resolution.  If your image is 600dpi you must reduce it to 72dpi
• Limit the colors that will be used for the images.
• Limit the use of animation in the graphic.

In web design there can be a conflict between total control of the look of the page and the needs allowed by the user.  This is the great balance of design.  A good design accomplishes both ends.  It take a lot of effort to create an attractive and effective web site.  By following the guidelines here the results will be better.   But first is to satisfy the user above anything else.

Need A Web Site?

Custom Web Design for Small Businesses by professional and experienced web designer and developer.

Here is what I can do for you…

• Innovative Web Design
• Graphic Design Logos
• Maintain Your Website
• Data Driven Content
• Flash Applications
• Build Shopping Carts for Ecommerce
• Custom PHP Applications and Programming
• WordPress Installation & Customization

Get an affordable, attractive great website today. Hire Me For Your Web Design Solution. View my portfolio at http://portfolio.mediatunes.com

Technorati Tags: design, graphics, usability

Today I want to explore the element of design.  Design is an art and is subjective to the tastes of the individual that experiences the design.  To put this concept into perspective I will present this scenario.  Imaging you are going to but a T-Shirt.  What do you look for?  For most of us we will look for a design that works for us.  So we can conclude that design is a key aspect in our decision.

One of the best ways to look a problem is to look at it from another person’s point of view.  To do this I will present two different situation to help you understand this concept.

Site 1:

Bob is shown a website.  This website has good design features, amazing images, good choice of color.  All the images are relevant to the content.  The choice of font are easy to read.

Site 2 :

Next, Bob is shown another website.  This website features gross and ugly images.  The resolution is out of whack.  The images have nothing to do with the content.  The color scheme looks like it came out of a blender.  There are no less than 10 font styles used on the page.  Each page has a different layout.

Observation:

Looking these two sites from Bob perspective might go something like this:

Bob really likes Site 1 a lot.   He is impressed with the artwork and design.  He found it easy to navigation.  It was as though the design enhances the content.  Bob, enjoyed the site so much he stayed a while, learned many new things and even came back.

As for Site B Bob could hardly wait to leave the site. Visually it gave him a migraine.  There was now way he would ever want to return.  It was so bad that he even removed from his browser history. Now that’s bad.  The worst thing Bob did not fell comfortable, was distracted and was disappointed.  Not very welcoming was it?

Analysis:

Like it or not most people DO judge on first impression.  In these two cases the impression ranged from good to bad.

Often our ego gets in the way of good design.  The primary thing to take away is to plan your websites carefully.  Get feedback for others and get their perspective.  Remember, everyone is different.  Keep in mind design is subject to interpretation.  The goal is to create a favorable impression the first time.

Need A Web Site?

Custom Web Design for Small Businesses by professional and experienced web designer and developer.

Here is what I can do for you…

• Innovative Web Design
• Graphic Design Logos
• Maintain Your Website
• Data Driven Content
• Flash Applications
• Build Shopping Carts for Ecommerce
• Custom PHP Applications and Programming
• WordPress Installation & Customization

Get an affordable, attractive great website today. Hire Me For Your Web Design Solution. View my portfolio at http://portfolio.mediatunes.com

Technorati Tags: information technology, Internet, usability, Web Design, Web Development