About
Introducing Robert Parker
I have been involved with computers and data communications since the mid 1970s when I was serving in the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command. After my military service, I was introduced to programming, business information systems, and the predecessor of the Internet at California State University.
In
addition to working professionally in the corporate security and
investigative fields, I have designed and implemented computer
solutions at several of my previous corporate employers' sites. For
several years during the 1980s I owned and operated a microcomputer
systems consulting firm in Pasadena, California. Since that time I
have continued to provide computer related consulting and training
services to small businesses.
With the recent phenomenal growth of the World Wide Web and the proliferation of readily available, easily affordable hosting facilities, I became involved in helping small businesses establish presences on the Internet in 1997.
We are all entitled to our opinions, and web designers are probably more opinionated than most. A review of the current literature on the subject will quickly reveal that the "experts" often disagree on what is "good" and what is "bad" on the web. What I believe is important is that a site owner is happy with the site, and that a web designer or developer communicates the issues involved clearly and accurately during the design process. This avoids ending up with a "shoddy" site, or a "work of art" that does not meet the client's needs.
Having said that, and to provide a starting point for discussion, here are some of my opinions.
A "good" World Wide Web site:
Does not have to cost a fortune to produce
- Will be completed "on time" and "under budget"
- Will load fast on the intended users' computers
- Will be easy to navigate
- Will use color and graphics appropriately
- Will perform well for "state of the art" browsers
- Will "degrade gracefully" on older browsers
- Will balance " form" with "function"
- Will avoid any technology that limits the accessibility of the site to users, or unnecessarily slows the user down, wherever possible.
- Will place the needs of its owner before the ego of the designer
I like building "good" sites, and especially enjoy seeing a client's pride of ownership grow as the site is completed.
robert l. parker, jr.
12/04/98
