> > Web designers are using too much graphics and are ignoring the
poor rural
> > communications infrastructure when designing web sites, thus
hampering
> > Internet use in the bush and frustrating rural users.
> >
> > Comment?
>
> I absolutely, completely, unequivocably agree.
I almost, might, possibly agree.
There are a hell of a lot of good reasons for "fancy, overdone"
graphics in websites. I think the problem lies in the separation of
skills between designers and web coders (notice I didn't say
programmers?)
Sure, there's different skill sets, but most "web designers" I meet
are NFI when it comes to optimisation and download times. Have you
seen the schlock that comes out of Dreamweaver, FrontPage, et al.?
I'm sure you have...
The problem is, most designers are happy to use these tools without
considering the effects. They'll have their images split into
fifteen separate pieces, requiring a request for each, etc. Trying
to treat a "web page" like a page is ludicrous!
Any great web coder can whip up a brilliant looking page in under
50k - which I think is quite reasonable. The smart ones will
understand the protocols behind their page, and optimise it
accordingly.
Trying to educate your average J. Q. Designer about the effects of
what he/she is doing is nigh impossible. "I think visually!" being
the most frustrating cry of ignorance.
Publishing for the web *should* be simple, to leverage the power of
the medium. But, the difference between web and print isn't that
great when it comes to the professionalism and underdstanding of
the medium required: Wanna do something spiffy in print? You need
an understanding of the medium (ie. don't send RGB files to your
printer as a very simple example).
Wanna do something spiffy for the web? Understand the medium!
> No wonder I use lynx more often than netscape. But, with almosat
everyone
> using frames, that's becomming harder and harder these days.
Frames are the devil's gift to the web - and yet, the survey says
designers LOVE them... and they use them SO inappropriately. I've
seen pages where, instead of nesting the frame layout on one page,
each separate frameset was in a separate file. Now, that sucks for
obvious reasons - but did anyone consider managing the project?
Howard - these "tear apart and discuss" questions of yours are
great! ;)
- Jeff
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