Achieving Web Site Usability Through the Use of Frames
The issue of web site usability has garnered much attention today. In fact, there have been laws and legal moves against web site developers who would not take into consideration the wide range of people who will be viewing their web sites.
The issue of usability has been founded on the context that there are a lot of people who are disabled or impaired in some way. In America alone, there are 1 out of 5 people who are disabled in one way or another.
The Internet has provided us with ways to communicate, interact, exchange information and do business. It is a pertinent tool in providing much needed avenues for accessing these things especially for people who are disabled. This is why usability has been a pressing issue in terms of web site development.
Frames and web site usability
One of the ways which can increase the usability of a web site is the proper use of frames. Frames basically segment the browser into different portion and each portion is independent from the others. There are two major schools of thought when it comes to the use of frames: one that says frames should not be used and one that says that there are advantages to using frames in web site development.
This article tries to give guidance on the use of frames in web site development. The ultimate aim of web site development is to make it easier for more people to use the web site, whether with the use of frames or without them.
Why not use frames?
There are a lot of negative thoughts when it comes to the use of frames in web sites. Here are some of them:
Printing
There have been much complaints about printing web pages that are framed. Internet browsers seem to select the frame to be sent to the printer randomly. The user cannot usually print the frame that he wants because the computer selects the frame which is the focal point of the webpage.
Downloading
Many newbies in the field of web site development employs frames to be able to cut the downloading time of their web sites. This can only be achieved if the right ways of presenting the content are achieved. Other contents such as style sheets, images and scripts are recommended to be cached.
Linking
Using frames which contains third-party information can raise issues of infringement of copyrights and trademarks.
Bookmarks
Visitors usually cannot mark the particular frame that he wants when using framed web sites. The basic structure of frames deviates from the normal structure of unification of the “web site.” This can cause problems in bookmarking.
Search engines
Search engines encounter problems when indexing framed web sites. This is a result of the frames paradox. The “spiders” of the search engines are drawn to what developers refer to as black hole pages.
Over-all usability
Surfers may become confused with the structuring of a web site which uses frames. The provision of multiple scrollbars will definitely add to the problem. If a designer hides the scrollbars, the contents of the web site may become inaccessible.
Advantages in Using Frames
There are also some key advantages in using frames. Many people are still lured to use frames in their web sites and listed below are some of the explanations why they are inclined to do so:
Ease in designing
One of the key features of the usage of frames in web sites is that it makes the job easier for the developer. When a developer employs frames, he is relieved of the task of putting the logos and navigation menu on every single page that he will develop. Frames can contain these information and need not to be copied every time a user clicks another page of the web site.
Flexibility
Frames provide a surfer several mini-browsers which he can view all at the same time. This allows for more flexibility in terms of getting more work done or getting more information for a single viewing of the webpage.
Quicker downloads
With the use of frames, different web site contents need not be downloaded every time a click is made. This makes downloading much easier because contents that should be re-downloaded need not be downloaded because they are contained in a different frame.
These are just some of the features and perceived disadvantages of the use of frames. They can be used as long as the developer knows how to fully maximize the potential of frames without making them a problem for the surfers.
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very nice article thanks for posting…..
E-orchids