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Asma Chaudhary | B.F.A. in AVT + COMM

COMM 361 Online Journalism

Scrolling vs. Paging Web sites

According to Interactive Media Associates, a media firm that analyzes user accessibility, discusses the impact of page scrolling.

Image provided by Microsoft Clip Gallery Office Online

There is a typical goal of “three screen shots of text” that most Webmasters hope to follow because Internet readers dislike scrolling through excessive amounts of text.

A new concept is to break down text to one screen shot and allow the reader to click on a page number to continue reading.

Another page I came across within the same Web site is titled, “Top Reasons to Design Your Site Using Templates.” There is great information about Web page design and how templates provide a theme and consistent feel.

A template is a basic look for a Web site and contains a consistent logo and navigation. The content within the pages can change but the overall look should feel the same. This includes color choices or specific text and headlines like in a stylesheet.

Top Reasons for Templates:

1. Overall consistency
2. Quick ease with maintenance
3. Speed of implementation
4. Branding
5. Consistent navigation
6. High-end applications (Flash or JavaScript) made easy for all personnel

Why?

• Consistency allows a Web site to promote a certain message whether it is professional or casual.
• Maintenance should be quick in case the Web site needs to be updated or changed over time.
• Implementation needs to be efficient so that information can be entered quickly as HTML coding.
• Branding displays graphic design aspects so that visitors recognize the Web site from others.
• Navigation should be common sense because it can confuse users and make them leave the Web site.
• HTML coding should remain comprehensible by all staff so that changes can be made when needed.

“In conclusion, using templates to develop your Web site will mean long-term benefits in more reliable development, tighter and more consistent user interface design, and speedier maintenance production cycles. As corporations come to rely upon their Web sites as their chief means of communication -- with customers, employees, business partners, and others -- the use of templates in design will prove itself a critical advantage,” said Michelle Cameron, vice president of IMA.

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