It can be argued that the preceding century was the beginning of the Information Age. It can be described as such because of two technological breakthroughs – the invention of the personal computer and the Internet. These two technologies combined, brought another milestone when it came to man his desire to improve the way he leverages technology, specifically the ability to communicate long distances.
The telegraph, radio, and television were considered major breakthroughs in this field but no one was prepared for the coming of the personal computers and the Internet. These two technologies combined produced another ground breaking innovation which is the World-Wide-Web and the creation of a web page and a website. The following is a discussion on the evolution of the personal computer and the Internet from its humble beginnings and how the website became a potent application of Information Technology.
Personal Computers
It all began with computers and as the name suggests it is a machine that is expected to make computations beyond the capability of humans or at least crunch a great deal of numerical information that requires a high level of consistency and accuracy.
Using this basic definition then the humble scientific calculator can also be described as a basic example of what a computer is all about. But for the purpose of this study a computer is an equipment of considerable size that was used primarily by the government to perform complex tasks. In the early days a typical computer can be as large as the average person’s bedroom. Truly, there is a huge difference comparing it to the desktops and laptops of the 21st century.
From the very beginning only governments can afford these sophisticated machines up until inventors, enthusiasts and entrepreneurs worked together, either as a team or in direct competition with each other to produce what will be known as the personal computer. A computer that does not have to occupy the whole living room but powerful enough to perform computations faster than even the most brilliant mathematician or the most conscientious student.
However, without the creation of the World-Wide-Web and the webpage the computer will continue to be an expensive toy, affordable only for those who have money to spare.
And it would have remained to be so considering that there are still alternative ways to produce that report or assignment, there is always the trusted old typewriter that can be pulled out from storage and with rudimentary skills in typing a student or a professional can still fulfill those requirements. But when people began to access the Internet and use websites, Information Technology took a decisive turn and as historians would love to put it: the world was never the same again.
Tim Berners-Lee
Before going any further it is important to understand the difference between the Internet, the World-Wide-Web, a webpage and a website. All of these can be explained succinctly using the following definition:
The World-Wide-Web is an infrastructure of information distributed among thousands of computers across the world and the software by which that information is accessed. The Web relies on underlying networks, especially the Internet, as the vehicle to exchange the information among users. (Dale & Lewis, 2010)
A web page on the other hand contains information and even links to other resources such as another webpage or images or video and when there is a collection of web pages managed by a single person or company then that is called a website (Dale & Lewis, 2010). It can be argued that without the webpage the world may never knew the full potential of the Internet and for that matter enthusiasm for improving personal computers so that it is accessible and affordable for household use.
Due to the complexity of the subject matter it is necessary to digress once more and discuss briefly the history of the World-Wide-Web so that there is a clearer understanding of what it is all about. Although there are different opinions regarding the exact history and origion of the Web there is general agreement that the basic infrastructure and laid the most significant foundation for the eventual evolution of the World-Wide-Web as known today, is none other than Tim Berners-Lee (Valee, year).
He was working at a Geneva based laboratory for experimental and theoretical physics and he had a persistent problem; he was frustrated with the high level of difficulty when it comes to finding files that he needed – and these are files already stored in the Internet (Valee, year).
The Internet is a computer network of networks with a general infrastructure that allows computers to link together using standardized protocols (TCP/IP) and in a sense there is a limited way for computer networks all over the world to communicate with each other (Cerf, 2010).
In the case of Berners-Lee and other scientists working for CERN they have to format their data so that it can be accessed by the common system used at CERN and many find it tedious and unacceptable (Cerf, 2010). Tim Berners-Lee had the same frustration but instead of merely complaining about it he figured out a solution to the problem.
It has to be pointed out that there was already an Internet or a network of computer networks but Berners-Lee created a way for all networks to share a common language so that information can be shared all over the planet. And so Tim Berners-Lee created a new language, a software called hypertext markup language or HTML (Valee, 2003). In 1990 he wrote the Hypertext Transfer Protocol and it is the software the computers and computer networks would use to communicate hypertext documents (Cerf, 2010).
He also created a way to locate these documents or files and he called it the Universal Resource Identifier, which later would be renamed Uniform Resource Locator (Cerf, 2010). In that same year Berners-Lee developed client program, also known as a browser, to retrieve and view hypertext documents and he called this client program the WorldWideWeb (Cerf, 2010). This was the auspicious beginning of the Web.
Websites
It is hard to imagine the World-Wide-Web without websites. Surfing the web would be as dull as reading an unexciting book without any illustrations. But a website, specifically a webpage that is well constructed does not only provide information but also the ability to access information in a fun and interactive way.
For instance try opening a popular website and chances are there are icons there that are clickable and will allow the use to open a new window or it will lead to another webpage or another website and this gives the user the feeling that the webpage is interacting with the user.
Without websites, surfing the web would be as dull as reading pages of after pages of technical data that does not make sense to the average person. But with websites a layman can have access to a more practical and functional page where one can get information, send information and interact in so many different ways that the user somehow feels engaged and ready to explore more.
However, this is only possible if the web developer or the author of the webpage or website is knowledgeable about recent design trends or at least sensible enough to understand that a well-conceived webpage should be easily accessible to any type of user. But this is easier said than done.
The following pages will discuss the usual problems encountered by users and developers alike. As web technology improves and its capability ramped up, more and more problems are revealed. This means that usability and functionality must be top priorities and each one should be tailor-made to suit the needs of every client and in turn the users of the said website.
Usability Engineering
In this section one can find some of the common complaints from web users. The ideas and solutions that will be used in this part of the discussion was taken in large part from the work of Jakob Nielsen, considered to be one of the experts when it comes to usability engineering.
Nielsen espouses on the need for fast and efficient methods for improving the quality of user interfaces (Stout, year). These are some of the major issues that Nielsen wanted developers to be mindful of: a) beating around the bush; b) advertising; and c) usability protocols (Stout, 2004). A more detailed description of these issues and how to incorporate principles gleaned from studying them can be seen below.
Beating around the Bush
When asked what could be the most problematic issue when it comes to website design, Jakob Nielsen said this: “The biggest mistake is really not getting to the point not telling people what they can do on the Web sites, what it is about and smothering the information in hypertalk … get to the point – that’s the number one guideline for Web design” (Stout, 2004).
For those who are not used to visiting other websites and confined their selection to popular sites such as Yahoo and Facebook may find this recommendation odd. But for someone familiar with usability and website design this is indeed a problem.
Part of the reason why Nielsen listed this issue a number one concern is perhaps due to the fact that the Internet and the World-Wide-Web is almost synonymous to freedom of expression. Therefore, everyone can build their own website, host it and then publish it for the whole world to see. Without an eye towards design and propensity towards usability it would be difficult to notice these errors; however, if the website was intended for commercial purposes then the owner must take heed.
Advertising
This one is easy to figure out. Advertising means money and explains the eagerness of many website owners to place them in their sites or allow others to install an application that will generate various forms of advertisement in their said site.
Nevertheless, there is a trade-off because in order to make money the website should attract visitors in the first place and they are not willing to visit the site if it is riddled with advertising material. The reason for visiting a website can be as varied as enjoying the content or completing a transaction; it is rare to find a person who loves to visit a website because he or she intends to view the ads.
Advertising banners and advertising content is not the strongest asset of the site and must be removed whenever possible. It is more than a distraction; it also can affect the impact of the website. It also can cause frustration such as the time when the site will fail to load because of the graphics needed for advertising content.
A designer’s primary goal is to create a website that will deliver content and user friendly applications for entertainment or business purposes. The designer cannot afford to create distractions. One usability expert also pointed out the need to guide the users, to use the overall design of the website as like a well-conceived map that does not confuse but acts like a skilled tour guide leading the way (Collis, 2007). Thus, a website must not appear like a labyrinth that adds a heavy burden to the user.
Nielsen said that there is no need to clutter the website with useless ads because website visitors can make the necessary adjustment when it comes to a website full of banner ads and animation that desperately tries to attract the attention of the users.
Nielsen said that this is called “banner blindness” the self-taught ability of website users to block non-essential stimulus, especially when it comes to advertising ads (Stout,2004). They also mastered the skill of purging the “pop-ups” when a pop-window suddenly appears out of nowhere to sell something to the visitor.
Usability Issues
One of the most common problems is the disregard when it comes to using fixed font size. Those with eye problems or reading disabilities will find it a wearisome exercise to visit a website with different fonts and font sizes. Furthermore, Nielsen added that it must be a standard feature of the site to allow user to dictate preferences (Stout, 2004). This will certainly please not just a few first-time visitors.
It is also important to be mindful of the navigation aspect of the website. Since a website is a collection of web pages and may contain links that will lead to other sites, it is imperative for the design to consider how easily visitors can figure out where they want to go and how they will do it. It is also critical for them to have a general idea where they are at in the midst of using the said site (Collis, 2007). If they feel lost then the owner of the site already lost a visitor or a repeat visit.
There is also a need to be mindful of seemingly trivial aspects of the design but in the greater scheme of things will greatly determine if the website will be a success or doomed to obscurity. Thus the website designer must first make sure that the page has a URL and so the bookmarking of the site will not be a difficult experience for the users.
It is also imperative to consider who will be the users of the said website (Collis, 2007). It is not only about their needs but also on how they will be able to access the site. This is very much applicable to those who are disabled and the elderly. The web designer must incorporate these needs into the overall design so that the handicapped and the elderly can still enjoy the benefits of the Web.
Conclusion
The invention and evolution of the Web is simply amazing. It has changed the way people see the world. It has revolutionized the way people communicate and how they do business. The whole world is indebted to Tim Berners-Lee and like-minded individuals who were willing to work on something that they believe is needed and yet not understood by many.
Yet even the creator of the Web could not have anticipated the social and cultural phenomenon that it has created in the few years that it was first used in Europe and then the United States. However, a website was not an immediate success and its growth and success was driven not merely by technology but the willingness of many people to improve their Web experience.
It is therefore imperative to be mindful of the various web design issues that can help a web developer create web pages and websites that are effective in delivering goods and services. Without a good web design then people will shy away from a particular website. But a well-conceived design will generate a great number of visitors every day and this means success for the web developer and those who hired them in the first place.
References
Dale, N. & J. Lewis. (2010). Computer Science Illuminated. MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Valee, J. (2003). The Heart of the Internet. VA: Hamptons.
Stout, Lou (2004) “Searching for Answers on the Web.” Web.
Cerf, Vint. (2010). “Internet Pioneers.” Web.
Collis (2007). “Nine Essential Principles for Good Web Design. Web.