Time for New Media Again?
Remember those times when us crazy Web Standards zealots were preaching death to Flash and all that is evil on the web? Okay, maybe we weren’t going that crazy, but you know where I am coming from. Does anybody else out there think it’s time for us to start exploring new mediums of communication with our clients, user, readers, etc? It’s great that we have stuck with simple sites and putting what is important as the focus of our sites, but do we rely to much on text to get our message across?
Don’t some messages deserve a more effective medium of communication? What has stopped you from exploring those different channels such as Flash, Sound and Video?
What’s wrong with Podcast and Vidcast? I thought those were great ways to communicate with clients. Live chat is another option.
By Montoya on April 26, 2006 10:12 am
Nothing wrong with it at all. Just wondering why we don’t see more of it.
By Scrivs on April 26, 2006 12:21 pm
Funny you should bring this up, Scrivs - I’ve been thinking about the same thing since Dave Werner’s portfolio site started making the rounds (http://www.okaydave.com/). His effective use of video allows his site to tell a story of sorts, and imbues the whole thing with personality. I dig it.
I do agree that it’s tough (read: not impossible, but challenging) to approximate that same sense of personality and user-friendliness by solely using text and images.
Right now, the general trend is to “design with less,” “provide less features,” “discard the non-essential stuff,” etc. However, I think that designers/developers, once they’re sufficiently weary of the prevailing Less philosophy, will start dipping into their box of goodies again. Only this time, they’ll build smarter, using the lessons learned in the post-dot-com era as a framework for creating richer New Media experiences.
By Vince on April 26, 2006 4:01 pm
What a great site, thanks for the link Vince. I do think we need to start a new trend towards providing more value to our sites and that may require the use of audio and visual. Hopefully, we don’t go out of control with things like a Myspace page though.
By Scrivs on April 27, 2006 12:59 pm
Scrivs - I think that the majority of people just aren’t there yet. I don’t mean in a technical manner but more of a just awareness. These types of communications are just in their infancy and really only somewhat used in the Blog area. I think it is a situation that people that are in the know like 9Rules and others in the industry need to evangelize it so it is pulled mainstream.
By Dennis Bullock on April 27, 2006 3:19 pm
While I agree that these tools are useful situationally, I think there’s still a bottom line reason why Flash and the other bastard children of the internet aren’t up to the task of conquering the greater portion of sites.
Flash is appropriately named because that’s what you get out of it. It makes your site flashy. I feel certain you understand me when I say that there’s a definite line between an attractive site and an excessively dolled up site.
Your website should be designed to accentuate your content. Flash is just slight of hand that attempts to convince the end user that your postcard sized blurbs actually amount to something.
Don’t think I just hate on Flash though. I think in subtle doses it can make a huge difference–think sIFR, video or audio streaming, complex effects in small doses.
Podcasting and vidcasting, the other bastard children of the internet, have real hope though, but only when they serve a purpose. I think it’s safe to say that most people would rather listen to a conversation than read a transcript… but at the same time, there’s no reason to provide users with an audiobook version of your blog.
It’s all situational. When these tools lose a little more of their fad status and designers better understand where these tools are effective, I think we’ll start to see them more.
By Jonathan Barket on April 28, 2006 7:15 pm
I don’t think it’s an issue of when - whether in the past, now or future.
We should always recommend to clients the most effective means of communication whether text, audio, video, Flash apps, etc. or some combination thereof. Each client will have their own unique set of constraints, parameters, etc. but almost all will listen to your recommendation if there’s rationale behind it…we should always be pushing ourselves and the client outside of the present comfort zone.
Greater proliferation of broadband and more media attention will certainly help us to convince / sell clients and validate any “crazy ideas”. It’s always easier to point to examples of something that’s close to what you’re trying to get them to imagine.
By Quasi on April 29, 2006 2:34 am
“What has stopped you from exploring those different channels?”
Today’s audience is much different than it was in the past. Instead of being a novelty to the world, the internet is now a normal part of life. Nowadays, the audience is much larger and has expecations for the manner in which information is communiced.
It was a lot easier to experiment with new media in the old days because there were no standards, no rules, no expectations. The internet was an uncivilized frontier, a wild west of sorts, where you were free to do as you please. That’s what made those times both exciting and frustrating…
By Isaac on May 3, 2006 6:14 pm
Is it easy to start a new media with so much of competition and set standards? One has to evaluate all the aspects before pursuing it. Today’s audience is much more smarter and its not easy to fool them. They would not take anything u offer them. So identify all the effects before indulging in.
By dave on May 11, 2006 1:53 am
Its not that easy as one would thought. Its not easy to cope up with the set standards. I m not saying that there is anything wrong with it but be careful.
By emma on May 15, 2006 6:55 am