flash image on our home page

[Thomas M G Bennett]

Karen makes a good point, who is your target audience and what are their
modes of access?  And keeping with the lowest common denominator, a static
W3C compliant page should be a default page for clients to connect to with
links going to optional WEB pages, IMHO.

Thomas

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-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of Karen Harker
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 8:41 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: flash image on our home page


I think that the primary reason given for rejecting such technology is load
time.  This is a problem for all Web development - balancing technology that
is available to developers with the technology that is available to users.
When the latter is unknown or quite varied, then the problem is even harder
to solve.

The simplest solution, yet least palatable to developers, is to develop to
the lowest common denominator. The more complex solutions require gathering
user information (via surveys, user logs,
etc.) and developing dynamic systems that can adapt to the technology
available to the user.  The Flash/Non-Flash router of Jim's page is a good
example, yet this is obviously not enough if most of these users are
accessing the page remotely using 56K modems.

The developer can also enrich the site by using server-sided systems as much
as possible.

When the technology available to the user is known and similar to the
technology available to the developer, then the door can be opened much
wider to i
ntegrate such technology to enrich the system.

Things we consider before integrating higher-technologies into our site
include:
1) The technological standards of the *users of the system we are
designing*.  This user group may or may not be the same as the users of our
main site.

2) The advantages and disadvantages of including the high-technology,
including how it can and cannot enrich and enhance the site.

3) Alternative solutions, include parallel systems (low-tech/high-tech),
server-sided syst
ems, etc.

Most developers understand that the use of new technologies needs to
examined carefully with an eye on the end-user's actual (not perceived)
experience.



Karen R. Harker, MLS
UT Southwestern Medical Library
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX  75390-9049
214-648-1698
http://www.swmed.edu/library/

>>> "Drew, Bill" <drewwe at MORRISVILLE.EDU> 7/5/01 8:15:32 AM >>>
"Flash is good for games, situations where animation is mandatory, and
presentations to small children, but should be exor
cised from
situations where textual methods are adequate. This means libraries
(except maybe for children's libraries)."

I am disturbed by the broad condemnation of any technology as the quote
above from Tony Barry suggests.  Flash works very well in instruction and
other situations.  It has been at least two decades since libraries (all
types) have been places "where textual methods are adequate."  We have to
reach out to the MTV generation.  I would bet that many librarians out there
are part
of the MTV generation.  I believe it is entirely appropriate to use
flash and other animation methods on web pages as long as alternatives are
provided.  The flash on our library page serves a decorative and marketing
function.  It does not provide anything in terms of content. I see nothing
wrong with that.

Bill Drew
drewwe at morrisville.edu



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