[Web4lib] java-based navigation?

[Frank Wales]

McHale, Nina wrote:
> I was just curious about the Java-based navigation. IS it for real? Real old?

Yes to both.

Java-based menus, buttons and other navigational features enjoyed a
brief popularity around ten years ago, because at the time, they were
the only way to get things like animated effects on buttons, vignettes
and other inessential eye candy.

The cost was sluggishness (Java applets were a noticeable download in
the era of dial-up), instability (Java was immature at the time), and
reduced accessibility (without the running applet, you couldn't see what
buttons were for, and couldn't select any menu items).

They weren't a good idea at the time, and they didn't improve with age.
-- 
Frank Wales [frank at limov.com]