Basics of the Internet

The Web has transformed and impacted so many aspects of everyday life. Millions of users log on hourly to check for sports score, look at their stocks, or become informed on a particular topic. What several users are unaware of are the “behind the scenes” actions and applications that make surfing the net fast and easy, but also at the same time being attractive, interactive and entertaining. In Whitakers article, he has examined and explained the foundations of the Web and has described changes that have taken place over time.

Whitaker keys on several broad and basic areas that have made the Web what it I today (Whitaker 2002). He first focuses hypertext and how it allows users to easily navigate from site to site easily and fluently. With the use of hypertext/ hyperlink, users save time by not having to go to one centralized source for the information they are searching for. Digital photography and audio/video have made websites more interactive for users by creating a picture or story through others forms mediums besides text of print.

Whitaker also summarizes the basics of Web designs and the important elements to include and avoid while designing a page. These main points include choosing appropriate font and colors, designing a fitting layout that is compatible for users, and the ability to hyperlink to useful and relevant sites.

Whitaker, Jason. (2002). The Internet: The basics (chapter 3). New York: Routledge.

In my own personal experience in surfing the web, I am the type of user who will leave the website if it is not easily viewable or you cannot navigate quickly without difficulty. For example, Whitaker talks about page layouts and the side to side scroll. Left/Right scrolling is inconvenient, time consuming, and problematic. Also, sites that are visibly attractive with color sequences, pictures, and audio/video will make that site more interactive and possibly informative to visitors. Several will argue that context is more important than the page make-up itself, which may be true, but sites that are attractive and interactive are the ones that I will choose as my source.