There are some great new features that can be introduced to websites. Many people love some of the newer Web 2.0 ideas - but should they be incorporated into our corporate websites and intranets?
When I was a young programmer I used to enjoy finding neater and more efficient solutions to routine problems rather than adopting tried and tested conventional coding used by my colleagues.
There is no question that in your late teens and early 20’s that your brain is more agile and creative. It’s important in the new media that we effectively harness this talent, but also recognise the limitations of this approach.
Today young programmers get the greatest buzz by exploring the very newest features that software can offer. They delight in the fact that packages such as Macromedia's 'Dreamweaver' have made HTML programming a whole lot easier.
We need to think carefully before we do implement some of the newer ideas
It's now a doddle to introduce features such as roll-over buttons, invisible drop down menus and 'ticker tape' style messages. But the consequence of this is that in the space of a few seconds web page files become over-burdened with visual distractions and embody serious usability and accessibility issues.
Take roll-over buttons for example, the user is expected to grope all over the screen with the mouse to find hidden links. This is an accessibility issue to some.
Then there are the double and triple drop-down menus that are a nightmare to use.
I have just had an operation on a finger and at the moment I have a practical appreciation of this!
Newer technologies
One favourite technology used by designers is to introduce whizzy animated graphics created with Macromedia Flash.
Usability research confirms that programmers are excluding some site visitors who are either unable to view the Flash 'design experience' - or simply prefer to link to a competitor's simpler and less techy site instead.
Flash can justifiably have its place further within a website but it shouldn't be employed on a splash home page. Especially if it leads to significant waiting times before entering a website.
I am not knocking all new technologies, they can significantly enhance the site visitor's experience. There can be very sound reasons for introducing wikis, surveys, mash-ups, blogs and other features. However, we just need to think carefully before we do implement some of the newer ideas.
The geek may need to be kept unders strict supervision!