Re: Animation on a website

Hello,

>I have a good friend that despises nearly all new web medium. He uses
>Lynx as a browser almost exclusively, and when he does use NN4 he turns
>off all graphics, Javascript, Java, etc. He thinks that the internet
>should be only for information, not for lights and bells.

Well, isn't his usage of the internet valid? Content can be presented
using bells and whistles, but in the end, all that matters is the
content. IMO there are too many websites out there with too many
meaningless things to say, who say it using lots of 'flashy new technology'
and suddenly think that their content is great. The internet (and the
web) was designed for quick and effective dissemination of information,
not for presenting "content" in a flashy manner.

>I think people like him really hold back technology. 

I disagree. I believe it is people like you who really hold back
technology. When MSIE came out with a conflicting HTML standard to
Netscape, what happened? Web authors and developers have to try
and make sure both browsers can see the information properly. Netscape
had frames, so you had to make sure that the Microsoft people could
still see it. Microsoft had the <marquee> tag, you had to make sure
that Netscape people could see it. Microsoft went with ActiveX,
Netscape went with JavaScript. Microsoft does JScript.
Shockwave flash arrives. Realaudio, realvideo, vivo, etc etc.

There is now a plethora of conflicting standards out there, and
it's getting harder and harder for web developers to maintain
compatability across the board while having the required 'flash'
that people demand. If people stuck to an agreed standard technology
could advance while keeping in mind the poor people stuck using
Netscape 2 in their school or library.

>I'm the type of
>person who doesn't like to use ALT tags in IMG for people who have
>non-graphical browsers, because if they are shut off completely from
>this aspect of the web, they will eventually feel compelled to upgrade
>their browsing technology. 

I doubt that will happen. If a page demanded that I install Netscape
or Internet Explorer 4, I'd just click on 'stop', and go back. The
author is insolent in demanding that I view their content using a
particular set of standards. If I came across a page without ALT tags
in lynx, then that's just too bad for the author.

Techniques like yours really isolate the site from the internet, and
do not "advance browsing technology". 

>I think people like my friend are missing 99%
>of the idea of the WWW. After all, it was created to make information
>more accessible AND better looking.

The idea of the WWW was a method of information dissemination, and
was never intended to make data better looking. If you wished to present
your data in a particular format, that was your business, and never the
intention of the WWW. What you *are* doing, however, is isolating your
site to a few who have exactly the same browser setup as your own, and
therefore restricting access to people who use an older browser, or do
not have as fast an internet connection as yours.

>So I say, go with the animation! Those few out there who don't like
>animations can just be web hermits like my friend. : )

If you wish to go with animation, go for it. However don't go
overboard, as with all things, moderation is the key. However, if
you are using animation just for it's own sake, forget it. Make
sure there are other ways people without the capability to
display animation can see the information.

Regards,
Justin.




+- Dzine Source - Programming and CGI
|  "For all your internet design needs" |
   http://www.dzinesource.com/         -+

HWG hwg-theory mailing list archives, maintained by Webmasters @ IWA