Web Design & Development
Whether you are after a simple online presence or a full-featured, dynamic website, I can help you realise it. I have years of experience in developing public facing websites and am adept in XHTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, Javascript and Flash.
Standards Compliance
There are a number of reasons websites should be coded in compliance with standards:
- Predictable
Well coded websites will display predictably, even if the browser does not support all the features used. This means that when someone views your site from an older computer you can rest assured that they will get a similar experience to those using newer machines.
- Accessibility
A website should be accessible to as many people as possible. Standards compliance allows vision-impaired users to comfortably browse a web page using screen reading technology (in Braille or speech). It also allows non-human users, such as search engine "bots" (like Google), to easily read a page — which helps with Search Engine Optimisation (how your website is ranked in search results).
- Updating
Poorly structured code makes a website more difficult to update and maintain. Which makes changing or adding content more costly, particularly if you cannot use the original designer.
Content Management
While some websites can remain largely static, others require regular updates and changes. A good content management system allows the client to easily update their own website. This can be in the form of a blog, an e-commerce control panel or something bespoke. If you would rather not update your website yourself I offer maintenance services so that your website is always up-to-date.
Mobile Browsing
Computers are not the only tools for browsing the web. More and more people are using smartphones and tablets to surf the internet. Mobile users have different requirements — layouts need to suit a smaller screen and webpages need to be "lighter" due to the slower download speeds.
Javascript
I can develop Javascript applications to suit your specific needs. Current frameworks such as MooTools and jQuery allow for a variety of tools and effects that will work across browsers. AJAX means that webpages can be updated without the user having to load a new page — one of the best examples of this is Google's suggestions which update themselves as you type. All scripts I write degrade gracefully — which means that if a browser does not support a feature, the webpage will still work.
Flash
I am able to develop Flash applications, but I can also advise you as to whether Flash is necessary, and what your other options are. Here's a list of some of the main pros and cons with Flash:
Pros:
- Audio & video
Flash is currently the easiest way to play audio and video on the web.
- High market penetration
While Flash is a plugin, in Australia the market penetration of Flash Player 10 is above 98% (according to Adobe), so only a minority of viewers will be unable to see Flash content.
Cons:
- Inaccessibility
The content in a Flash application is inaccessible to screen readers and most search engine "bots" (Google is able to read some Flash websites). If the information is important an alternative source should be supplied.
- Required as a plugin
Flash needs to be installed as a plugin for the user to be able to view Flash applications. While a number of browsers now include Flash by default, it is not possible to install it on the iPhone or iPad.
