Comments on: Bandwidth and technology constraints http://www.bemdesign.com/wordpress/2008/09/19/bandwidth-and-technology-constraints/ Mostly musings on design Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:48:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ben http://www.bemdesign.com/wordpress/2008/09/19/bandwidth-and-technology-constraints/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Ben Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:31:59 +0000 http://www.bemdesign.com/wordpress/?p=120#comment-60 Ryan, I think that a server-side script would have been the most optimal solution. But I don't have access to their server, don't have the server technology they are using nor did I have the time to do something in this regard. Along with all the other mentioned constraints was a project deadline of September 30th (end of the fiscal year and the budget needs to be used by then). So I had about two weeks to design and develop this site, including client communications and approval processes. Ryan, I think that a server-side script would have been the most optimal solution. But I don’t have access to their server, don’t have the server technology they are using nor did I have the time to do something in this regard. Along with all the other mentioned constraints was a project deadline of September 30th (end of the fiscal year and the budget needs to be used by then). So I had about two weeks to design and develop this site, including client communications and approval processes.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.bemdesign.com/wordpress/2008/09/19/bandwidth-and-technology-constraints/comment-page-1/#comment-59 Ryan Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:20:51 +0000 http://www.bemdesign.com/wordpress/?p=120#comment-59 I don't see any problem with using Flash as long as you ensure that the site degrades gracefully (ie, is usable without flash, preferably without the user even knowing that they are missing anything), and the Flash is *very* lightweight, so it doesn't jam up the non-broadband connections. As far as JavaScript libraries to do fancy effects, I've heard good things about the <a href="http://ejohn.org/blog/processingjs/" rel="nofollow">Processing</a> library, and I have even seen a very impressive JavaScript Guitar Hero game made using it, though I have not used it myself. On the other hand, Flash may be more widely suported than some more advanced JavaScript effects. As far as the raw requirement, rotating images can be done client side with or without flash, and it can also be done server-side, which seems like the best solution to me because it doesn't rely on any client capabilities other than image display. I don’t see any problem with using Flash as long as you ensure that the site degrades gracefully (ie, is usable without flash, preferably without the user even knowing that they are missing anything), and the Flash is *very* lightweight, so it doesn’t jam up the non-broadband connections.

As far as JavaScript libraries to do fancy effects, I’ve heard good things about the Processing library, and I have even seen a very impressive JavaScript Guitar Hero game made using it, though I have not used it myself.

On the other hand, Flash may be more widely suported than some more advanced JavaScript effects.

As far as the raw requirement, rotating images can be done client side with or without flash, and it can also be done server-side, which seems like the best solution to me because it doesn’t rely on any client capabilities other than image display.

]]> By: Ben http://www.bemdesign.com/wordpress/2008/09/19/bandwidth-and-technology-constraints/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Ben Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:33:09 +0000 http://www.bemdesign.com/wordpress/?p=120#comment-58 Thanks for your comment Derek. I should clarify "rotating" - the client wants to be able to change the images over time to dynamically change the "look" of the site - and if it happens to "fade-in" and "fade-out" while doing that, all the better. Also they want to, perhaps a year down the road, easily change up these images with new ones. So the solution needs to be "client" usable/changeable. I'm not sure if a JavaScript framework would make this easily possible. I have considered it though. One reason I think the client is fixated on Flash is that I created a Flash "rotating banner/image-news" app for one of their other sites. So they see that and go, "Why can't we use something similar here?" Thanks for your comment Derek. I should clarify “rotating” – the client wants to be able to change the images over time to dynamically change the “look” of the site – and if it happens to “fade-in” and “fade-out” while doing that, all the better. Also they want to, perhaps a year down the road, easily change up these images with new ones. So the solution needs to be “client” usable/changeable. I’m not sure if a JavaScript framework would make this easily possible. I have considered it though. One reason I think the client is fixated on Flash is that I created a Flash “rotating banner/image-news” app for one of their other sites. So they see that and go, “Why can’t we use something similar here?”

]]> By: Derek http://www.bemdesign.com/wordpress/2008/09/19/bandwidth-and-technology-constraints/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Derek Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:30:51 +0000 http://www.bemdesign.com/wordpress/?p=120#comment-57 If you just need some image rotatin, couldn't you just use JavaScript? Libraries like scriptaculous and jQuery can do some nice effects, though I'm not sure if they will spin images around. Worth a look, though. If you just need some image rotatin, couldn’t you just use JavaScript? Libraries like scriptaculous and jQuery can do some nice effects, though I’m not sure if they will spin images around. Worth a look, though.

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