4 Symptoms of Needing a New Web Developer

Today’s website content management systems can be used to craft high-quality, high-performance websites. They can also be used to pump out dozens of generic sites without much attention to quality, and the client suffers for it. If you’re experiencing many of these symptoms, it might be time to think about getting a new web developer.

1. The standard URLs and icons never changed

Common icons from CMS systems

If you still have “index.php” in your page URLs, or have the logo of your CMS showing on your browser tab, it suggests that whoever built your site was maybe trying to do it as quickly as possible or simply didn’t know how to correctly configure the site and server. It is a quick fix for those who know how, it will make a big difference to how users perceive your site, and might even improve your search ranking.

2. Maintenance requests take way too long

Did your web developer abandon you after completing your site? Good companies respond to emails and phone messages quickly, and will let you know how long it will take to finish a job if they can’t do it right away. If this is the normal pattern with your developer, demand more.

3. Your site looks just like every other site out there

Generic-looking website template
Pretty boring!

That site template looked pretty snazzy when you first saw it. Great big photo on the home page with text overlaying it. Maybe even a slideshow with a big button to click. Down the page were alternating content areas—first dark on light, then light on dark. Little background effects when you scroll. Three or four feature boxes with icons, placed side-by-side. Ever noticed that your competitor has the exact same thing?

It’s going to cost more, but doing a custom site template or scratch-built site will help you escape the monotony of today’s mobile-compatible, pre-built template websites.

Suggestion: take a look at the FWA site for inspiration. Make note of what is possible, then find a web developer that can go beyond convention, combining design skill and programming prowess. For good graphics, a good place to start is someone who is certified with the Graphic Designers of Canada or another design certification group. For the programming side, visit the portfolios of different interactive agencies to get an idea of their repertoire.

4. Not truly mobile

They might fit on your phone screen, but many sites nowadays will still send over five megabytes, sometimes even ten or more on the first page download. This might be suitable for a desktop experience, but why should mobile users receive this same amount of data, when their screens are smaller and their data is not unlimited? There are great solutions nowadays for giving mobile users only what they need, and fast. Ask your developer what can be done to maximize mobile performance. If they don’t know, it might be time to ask someone else.

Conclusion

You could add more points to this list but when it comes down to it a website design company needs to have technical expertise joined with quick expert service. Combine these with a good price and you will have satisfaction with your web presence for years to come.

Confidant Communications does web design in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan — serving clients from anywhere in the world. Browse our portfolio then give us a call to see what we can do for you!

Work Update – Building a 3-D Web Store

Lately I’ve been working on a couple projects which use 3-D technology to arrange and display merchandise. One project is tied to a Joomla web store which will handle organising the 3-D models, saving scenes and selling of the real merchandise. The other is done using Haxe and Away3D, and would be compatible with mobile devices potentially.

View of the 3-D scene builder Currently used controls on the 3-D shopping cart

Please  if this interests you for your business. I will likely post more about this later!

 

My concerns about artificial intelligence and virtual reality

Today I wrote the following letter to two members of Canadian Parliament:

Dear Ms Benson and Mr Bains,

I am a graphic designer and internet developer in the constituency of Ms Benson. As such, I tend to keep informed about technological advances. I am writing to you because I am becoming increasingly concerned that recent advances in virtual reality and artificial intelligence will soon become extremely invasive of our privacy unless we proactively create legislation to combat it.

Can you imagine if a company such as Facebook knew your every thought? This sounds alarmist, but hear me out. That company is already a heavy proponent of virtual reality:
https://venturebeat.com/2017/10/11/mark-zuckerberg-we-want-to-get-1-billion-people-in-virtual-reality/

What if they enhance their VR technology with eye tracking software, so that they can collect data on absolutely everything you look at with interest? When they find out that you like green socks better than blue ones, you can bet there will be custom advertising based on what caught your eye. People’s sexual preferences will certainly not be exempt from this data collection either.
https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/06/eye-tracking-is-virtual-realitys-next-frontier/

What if they began to analyze your body language to add to their data—tracking your every response as you watch a video? Facebook now owns a gesture-tracking technology, so they can do that too.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/oculus-facebook-virtual-reality-firm-buys-gesture-recognition-firm-pebbles-10394205.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4672508/New-AI-read-body-language-real-time.html

Last but not least, technology is now able to create virtual characters who look and sound like real people. Imagine how persuasive a real-time digital character could be if they knew all your interests, responded instantly to your body language, and even modified their own appearance to be more attractive to you?
https://twitter.com/verge/status/912403648356978688

Would not companies pay for such things in order that you would buy their products or submit to their agenda? Would not some politicians leverage such technology in order to sway your vote? These things are coming, and we need legislation to stop the abuse before it starts. Companies like Facebook already take heavy advantage of human psychology in crafting how their mobile applications work—using things such as eye tracking and body language will become just another tool in their toolbox.

I would recommend legislation against collection of eye tracking and body language data outright. This is something that people should not have to think about while using their computer. I would also recommend legislation disallowing advertising which is instantly customised in response to live user reaction. This would be especially inappropriate in politics. Savvy companies might allow virtual characters in games to be manipulated by digital advertisers—this also should be prevented.

Honourable Members, I know you keep busy with many things. I really hope you could also help out with this very important issue.
Thank you for your service to our country.

Sincerely,
Allan Dowdeswell

 

UPDATE:

I received a response from Ms. Benson; not sure yet whether my ideas will proceed further. I also recently found this video about research at Dolby, which validates my concerns: