Website and Graphic Design
Website and Graphic Design
This article was first published on July 13, 1998.
There is a new form of discrimination being formed in the minds of computer users. Some don't know it, some do. No matter if you are aware of the problem or not you are probably a victim or an aggressor, if not both.
Digital discrimination is when advances or differences in technology leads to restriction of use and incompatibility. Prime examples are found on the World Wide Web, although there are instances that crop up in everyday life. For example; there are lots of secretarial jobs in our weekly, local newspapers. Nearly all of them demand word processing skills and experience with computers using the Windows operating system. Try making an application that states that you are an expert operator of Word for Macintosh, chances are that you wouldn't stand a chance because, employers either haven't heard of Macintosh or they think that the two operating systems are nothing like each other. Okay there are huge differences between the two operating systems but both are similar in operation when it comes to saving and printing files, they are similar enough for an operator of one to be able to utilise the other without too much complication. Of course the same would apply with an advertisement for a experienced Mac operator with knowledge of PageMaker, Photoshop and so on, someone who had learnt these software packages on a Windows machine would probably not get the job.
The Apple verses Microsoft debate, is an argument that has spread from the boardrooms into the homes of many people around the world, because of the Internet. The argument about which is better continues, and will do so for many years to come, nothing is solved nor proven, the people just argue. The commitment of each person to there chosen machine is powerful and the Internet has brought these people together to form tribes that hate the opposition. When these tribes clash they do so with spiteful words and often foul language, no side will back down, no side seems to listen to the other's views. The technology they claim to argue about is set aside and the battle commences.
The Internet has spread digital discrimination all around the world, and it has become the main carrier of the disease. In fact the Internet has been the main breeding ground for new strains of digital discrimination.
Since the World Wide Web became popular in the mid-90s more disagreement followed and more tribes were formed. Netscape verses Microsoft (them again) in the great battle of the Browsers, followed the same pattern of argument without a cause, without solution.
The actual discrimination is more noticeable on the World Wide Web. As new advances are made in what can be achieved in the field of publishing on this wonderful media new arguments were raised. The technology moves on a step, whilst the people fail to follow such trends. The gap between what people are able to view on the World Wide Web (using their chosen version and brand of software) and what features are used increases each time a new technique is released in either HTML, JavaScript or other Web related languages, or even when a new Browser Plug-In is invented and made popular.
The most widely seen type of digital discrimination on the World Wide Web is when a site cannot be accessed and seen by certain Web Browser software. We have all seen the message, "best viewed with," followed by the name or logo of either Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. Some of you may have only seen the message and a link to one of these companies' Web sites, demanding you download the software before viewing the site. This is when digital discrimination is at its most annoying.
Not allowing certain groups of people to enter a Web site is a prime example of digital discrimination. Apart from being refused entry, the annoying thing about this practice is the fact the people who producing such Web site are not doing themselves any favours. If the site was for a company selling a service or product they might be losing potential customers. Would you expect to walk into a shop for some groceries only to be refused because you drove a small hatchback and not the latest and fastest sports car?
Web designers seem to be the main offenders in the digital discrimination. There are a lot of Web sites that cannot be seen by older software because they use Frames (when the Browser window is split into two or more sections). I know that Frames do offer certain advantages when used well but a Web site should work if a Browser cannot handle this feature.
Another example of digital discrimination are Web sites that insist on using high numbers of graphic files that replace text. What happens to people who do not want to download graphics because of slow connection speeds, or disabled people who utilise text only Web Browsers so the text on a page can be read out to them? On most Web sites these people would be staring at a blank screen or listening to their computer saying, "image, image, image..."
If a designer is going to utilise the latest HTML techniques and Dynamic HTML they must consider those who will be able to see their desired effects, and what they are going to do about those who will not.
Hopefully, the NEW Direction Web site is usable by everyone not matter what type of Web Browser/Computer set up they use. We aim to provide a Browser Friendly environment to be utilised by all. There are sections that this will be impossible, like the Digital Art section for instance.
The Web Design section will give advice about making your Web site readable by everyone. It is really easy to do, even if you want to incorporate the latest techniques that will only be seen using the Version 4 Browsers.
If you have a Web site, or design sites for other people, take a look at those designs and ask yourself if it time you took a NEW Direction.
January 7, 2009
