[Phpwm] AJAX Training

[Keith Pope]

Hi all,

I would agree with sparkes you need to really think about accessibility
nothing should rely on the use of AJAX!

It seems strange to me that a few months ago everyone was saying you
should use as little javascript as possible and now everyone is using
AJAX.

I do think AJAX would be useful for added extra features like live
search boxes etc but would never use it for major functionality.

If you do use AJAX for major functionality remember to make sure you
have ways of it working without AJAX!!

Keith

-----Original Message-----
From: phpwm-bounces at mailman.lug.org.uk
[mailto:phpwm-bounces at mailman.lug.org.uk] On Behalf Of sparkes
Sent: 20 February 2006 12:31
To: phpwm at mailman.lug.org.uk
Subject: Re: [Phpwm] AJAX Training

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 11:29:10 -0000
"Peter Graham" <Peter.Graham at tcat.ac.uk> wrote:

> I am interesting in starting to use AJAX on future projects. I am also

> planning to arrange work to send me on some training soon.

I don't do much training because it generally bores the pants off me, in
fact I haven't done any training since I worked in further education
myself so perhaps it's catching ;-)

what I can offer is some more general advice.  If the project doesn't
need Ajax don't use it.  Many ajax apps are just ticking boxes in
bullshit bingo and the interface would be better without the crud.  

I can only see two reasons for using ajax, the interface needs it and
bandwidth requirements demand it.

The second isn't a real problem since it can be solved by throwing money
at it and any problem solvable by fiscal injection isn't a real problem
it's a management issue ;-)

The first is a kettle of fish.  The interface can only be impliemented
with ajax but ajax isn't usable at the accessibility level without lot's
of extra thought going into the process.  

Once you start using Ajax you have to do lot's of extra usability
testing because you are breaking the web metaphors which has the side
effect of breaking things like screen readers alienating all of your
users in one easy swoop.

99% of complex Ajax interfaces suck (and I include the biggies from
google et al in this, try and use google reader for a few days for
proof) it's the interfaces that don't look like ajax is involved that
are the really good ones.  They work like the web but quicker, that's
the real reason for using Ajax.

So unless you have the resources of google and have plans for google
maps 2 keep it subtule or don't bother ;-)

sparkes
--
Join the Autistic GNU/Linux User Group http://autisticlug.org Clones are
people two


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