Posting Date: October 13, 2002
homework due October 14 -- "Due by 4pm: Please read the article by John Rhodes. E-mail me a short paragraph stating how you either have or will implement some of the suggestions in the articles for your pbj site."
*places vitual apple for the teacher on the desk* - 'Here you are Mr. Rhodes!' *student finds seat and waits attentively*
On Article
Let your ideas have sex - I do not think comments such as these are appropriate for an educational arena.
A high level of failure is inevitable. - Excellent news.
On Homework
Rough sketches will not be accepted - Ah well, thats me knackered then.
Frames Training - Yehhhh baby, give me some of that!
Do we get to see their homework?
Seriously though, this course seems to be mainly a "Dreamweaver in xx days" course. Would it 'almost' be better just to buy all the Filbert books and read them instead?
Oh and here is a handy lesson on how to create a Timed Popup Window
I can't find anything on e-mail address harvesting though.
I wish that I could say something positive about John Rhodes' essay, Evolution, Usability, & Web Design, but it left me unmoved, honestly. His comparison of the web to that of Darwin's theory of evolution, left much to be desired. Evolution is not allergic to change. It does not suppress all possibilities. And it doesn't favor backward locomotion. It does not limit growth and experimentation.
The author never provides any examples of sites that he considers to be good, nor does he explain the "standard" of which he's basing his ideas. I use the web at least 60 hours a week, and I strongly disagree with the authors' assertation that 99% of Flash sites are horrible! When he talks about usability, which sites is he referring to, and what audience demographic? We do not live in a homogenized soceity, and choice won't breed complacency with boringly delivered information. People will surf where they feel comfortable. Of course a 40 year old is not going to find a site designed for a 20 year old appealing, and vice-versa. There is room for everyone on the web, I repeat, there is room for everyone on the web. There is even room for gratuitous animation.
The author also fails to take into account that the world-wide-web has been in existence, publicly, for less than ten years. Which means that we are all still learning to use it, and realize it's full potential. To say that web designers, particularly those who utilize flash, which has been around for a shorter amount of time, are missing the mark, is quite presumptious. Remember, there is an entirely new generation of people growing up with the web who will speak its language fluently.
Let's also be honest. The web is competing with television. And unfortunately, it is competing for an audience whose attention spans have dwindled over the years. Overall, I believe that people appreciate beautiful design and the time designers put into keeping the interface from being cold.
For example, John Rhode's web world site repels me, I feel like I'm looking at a computer. How hard would it have been to at least put in a background color?
And choice of font? yeuck!
In regards to "slow" download speeds, flash requires a minimal amount of memory for use and vector based graphics are much computer friendly. And which way are we headed? Well, if the telecom giants world-wide ever get their acts together and more providers are allowed to enter the marketplace for cheaper DSL services, speed could become a NON-issue. Take South Korea for example, over the years it has become the leader in broadband usuage. Who would have thought?
I enjoy visiting experimental and trendy design sites. I find learning my way around the designers interpretation of an idea challenging, fun and exciting.
Regarding http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20001029.html What exactly is a non-standard GUI? Is this guy serious?? Can just anyone claim to be a "usability expert"?
I tell ya...this debate gets old. No energy to fight it anymore...but I do have one question, Kim: What are web sites supposed to make you feel like you are looking at, if not a computer?
Mike, what is a telephone supposed to make you feel like you are looking at, if not a piece of fabricated plastic with buttons?
If my phone has a microchip to accommodate Caller ID, does that mean that my phone looks like a computer? A web site makes you feel like you are looking at a web site. It is its own entity.
I think Kim is Jack. I counted eight paragraphs.
OK, just let me know when the title to that bridge clears, seems I have some extra money.
Must I quote Frank again?! "Don't feed the trolls!"