Ravi's Gadgets

The issue of website usability has garnered much attention today. In fact, there have been laws and legal moves against website developers who wouldn’t take into consideration the wide range of people who will be viewing their websites.

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 website development.

Frames and website usability

One of the ways which can increase the usability of a website 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 website development.

This article tries to give guidance on the use of frames in website development. The ultimate aim of website development is to make it easier for more people to use the website, 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 websites. 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 website development employs frames to be able to cut the downloading time of their websites. 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 websites. The basic structure of frames deviates from the normal structure of unification of the “website.” This can cause problems in bookmarking.

Search engines

Search engines encounter problems when indexing framed 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 website which uses frames. The provision of multiple scrollbars will definitely add to the problem. If a designer hides the scrollbars, the contents of the website 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 websites 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 websites 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 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 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.

The memory foam mattress that you may be using now to fall into a deep slumber had a very interesting origin. Would you like to know how come someone thought of that concept? Or you may not have the time to think about it because once your body lies on the bed, you instantly doze of because of the comfort that this type gives you.

Did you know that the memory foam was first used in a spacecraft? The reason for this was actually far from getting the spacecraft’s passengers to fall asleep. No, it didn’t aim for the astronauts to have a good night’s rest in space. They were not sent there in the first place only to find out if it’s possible to do so considering the environment.

It was used by NASA to protect the carrier and the astronauts inside from the vast buildup of the G force that it would endure during the liftoff process. The foam was specifically used by NASA because such foam softens and shapes accordingly to the human body when exposed to heat and the weight of people. It acts like a cocoon that protects everyone aboard from the tremors and everything else that may be experienced during the process.

This memory foam is visco-elastic. This means that when the astronauts disassociate themselves from the foam, this will return to its original shape. The name was actually derived from the foam’s viscosity. Just like a liquid, this material seems to remember what its shape was. It straightens out to its former appearance once everything has been taken cared of.

From the Space to Your Homes

What the NASA had in space was well crafted to suit people’s cravings for a good night’s rest. For sure, you have been subjected to beds that may be too soft or too hard for comfort. Instead of feeling well rested after you have slept, you will feel muscle pains and other aches in your body due to the fact that you were uncomfortable in the whole time of your slumber.

It is getting harder and harder to find a suitable bed that you can fit into. Some offer comfort. But you will soon find out that you have been fooled because you’ve experience far from what it had promised. For such reason and so much more, it is better to invest on a material that will endure your weight while giving you the kind of comfort that you are always looking forward to come nighttime and it’s time to go to bed.

This was the memory foam type of mattress tried to solve. After you have laid down on it and the mattress had adjusted to your weight and heat, it will automatically adjust to accommodate you better. It will continue doing so as you toss and turn during the night. This way, you will feel more relaxed and well rested when you wake up the next day.

You can also request the manufacturer to have your memory foam mattress custom made. This will be applicable if you have someone to share the bed with you and you don’t have same preferences with regards to the softness or hardness of your mattress.

For this purpose, you can ask to have different densities of foam placed on each side of the bed to give in to what both you and your partner like to be able to sleep tight at night.

Οι περισσότεροι το είχαμε ήδη χρησιμοποιήσει ως  web app για instant messaging, όμως από σήμερα μπορούμε να το έχουμε ως native application για το iPhone!

Ο λόγος για το  BeeJive [iTunes link] το οποίο όπως δείχνουν οι πρώτες εκτιμήσεις έχει όλα τα στοιχεία για να εδραιωθεί ως η κορυφαία IM (instant messaging) εφαρμογή για το iPhone!

BeeJive features:

- 24/7 connectivity! Get notifications via email even if the application is closed (you will need push email for this to work properly)
- Works with AIM, MSN, Yahoo, GoogleTalk, ICQ, Jabber, and MySpace IM

 - Unicode support for chatting in any language 
- Landscape typing supported 

- Saves chat history, which you can email
- Send SMS messages through AIM or Yahoo
- Complete management of buddy lists
- Configure alerts, sounds, vibration, etc.

Ο developer έχει δηλώσει πως στις επόμενες version θα προστεθούν emoticons, υποστήριξη group chat αλλά και υποστήριξη hyperlink text!

Το μόνο αρνητικό σημείο στο οποίο και θα σταθούμε είναι η τιμή της εφαρμογής: 12,99€ !!

Φυσικά, εφόσον έχετε Jailbroken iPhone, υπάρχουν και ενναλακτικές λύσεις: BeeJive IM for iPhone

LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Gordon Brown began a new work week Monday with the cushion of a positive poll as his Conservative Party rivals held their annual conference….
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