How does it work?

What is the Internet?

Computer Protocols

• TCP/IP: Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

• HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol

• FTP: File Transfer Protocol

• NNTP: Network News Transfer Protocol

• SMTP: Simple Mail Transport Protocol

• POP: Post Office Protocol

Clients and Servers

Browsers -- Netscape

Internet Explorer (IE)

Resolution of the Monitor

Color Palate

Other Distortions

No Images Displayed

Why not load images?

Speed

• Pages must react in 0.1 second for the to feel that the system is reacting instantaneously to his or her requests.

• Pages that react in about 1.0 second will allow the user's flow of thought to stay uninterrupted, even though he or she will notice the delay. The user does lose the feeling of operating directly on the data.

• Pages that react in more than 10 seconds will loose the user’s attention, especially without feedback. Feedback during the delay is especially important if the response time is likely to be highly variable, since users will then not know what to expect.

How much material?

What works?

Content is KING.

•Content online should be updated as often as the information changes.

•Give the user a reason to come back to your pages -- change the information available!

•Keep pages small (fast to load and read)

•Use graphics limited

•Use multimedia only when it will improve user’s understanding of the page.

Speed is the PRINCE!

Format

• The first page should always be limited to what the user can see on one screen.

• Limit pages that require scrolling to the second or later page.

• Do not require users to “click through” too many pages to get to the option they want.

More Format Hints•Make sure your pages will be attractive with variations in the browser and size.

•Keep your format consistent between your pages.

•Document your pages!

Documentation• Location of your web page

• Date the page was last updated

• Name and/or email address to contact in case of questions or problems

• Name of your business

• Location or mailing address

• Telephone and/or FAX numbers

Help your customers find you!

• Provide a useful URL