Re: webcraft reading

Bob Solfanelli (rjs7v@virginia.edu)
Tue, 1 Oct 1996 16:36:06 -0400 (EDT)

A>I come from that skeptical post-structuralist mindset that says
>you can't get away from noise, and you really can't clarify your
>intention beyond a certain point, or be certain it will be embodied
>in your communication as received. That's not to say you can't be more
>or less noisy, more or less clear, and in the web you have control over
>two of the three phases of the process (projection and interface) rather
>than just one (projection), so I guess that's hopeful.
>
I tend to agree with this. I think there is only so much a web author can
do to minimize the noise. I also think that authors need to be extra
careful because this technology is progressing so rapidly. With the
implementation of more advanced web design, there seem to be more
opportunities for noise to increase. Sure, it's neat to see pages with Java
scripts and Shockwave presentations, but at the same time, I personally
notice that these things sometimes tend to stray from the original message.
I guess that the author needs to be especially careful when using these tools.

>> -In the section on Inline Graphics the author says that
>> hypertext/web authors must always be "courteous to the audience
>> trapped behind a slow link...." Do you agree with this
>> statement? Should an author need to alter his or her projection
>> to satisfy ALL members of an audience? Is it rude to design a
>> site with a fast-link audience in mind? Should an artist be
>> forced to name an unnamed piece just to provide a text
>> alternative for the text-only browser?

I think the first thing that needs to be considered here is the primary
audience. If the page is intended to be viewed by the general public, then
yes, I feel that the author should be considerate of the viewers with slow
connections. There is nothing worse than seeing nothing but "transferring data"
on the bottom of your browser for 10 minutes.
On the other hand, a page might be written specifically for a certain group
to view. Perhaps a company resource where the vast majority of viewers will
be using computers within the office, where the author knows they have a T1
connection. Then the page can be designed to take advantage of the wide
bandwidth.

--
Bob Solfanelli 
http://faraday.clas.virginia.edu/~rjs7v
rjs7v@virginia.edu


"Speak when you're angry and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret!"
                                                    -Henry Ward Beecher