[Web4lib] Tools for designing for lower bandwidth users?

[Wiegand, Laura K.]

YSlow (a Firefox add-on) is very helpful for diagnosing page-load issues. It can also tell you how long it took to load components on your page, perhaps allowing you to accomplish what you describe below.

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Cornwall, Daniel D (EED)
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 1:11 AM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Web4lib] Tools for designing for lower bandwidth users?

Hi All,
 
I've been coming to the realization that some of our organization's web pages may be very unfriendly to low bandwidth users. See http://www.museums.state.ak.us/online_exhibits/AlaskaGameShow.html for an example. It comes right up in the broadband friendly office I created it in, but takes quite awhile to load in other places. 
 
I think I could come up with different ways of presenting this material. It would help if one or both of the following were available:
 
1) A site or program that could take a URL and estimate the total loading time for various bandwidths.
2) Some program or site that could simulate lower bandwidth connections so I could be sure I wasn't developing content for high end bandwith users only.
 
Any ideas? I know I could sum up the HTML and all the images and then plug in that figure to a speed calculator, but I'm hoping for something a little more automated.
 
Thanks in advace for any assistance you can offer. - Daniel
 
===============================
Daniel Cornwall
Head of Technical and Imaging Services
Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums
PO Box 110571
Juneau AK 99811-0571
Ph: 907-465-6332
Fax: 907-465-2665
E-mail: dan.cornwall at alaska.gov
 
What does the Division do? See http://lam.alaska.gov <http://lam.alaska.gov/>  for a sample.
 
My opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.
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