Web Tips for the Fast Crowd

Do you like Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, or MSN Maps? You can embed your own geographical data into these maps on your own Website, but be sure to read the fine print. Also, each provider has its strengths: Google has the best-looking maps and the biggest developer community. Yahoo! works well with vector data for adding complex graphics to your maps. MSN has a neat street-level fly-by feature that would be effective for certain real-estate applications. (Vector data is a method of representing spatial data in digital form. It consists of using coordinate pairs [x,y] to represent locations.)

Speaking of Google Maps, you know how it does that instant-panning feature? That's done with a group of technology tricks collectively known as "AJAX" in the trade. The basic idea is that you can reload parts of a Web page quickly, without having to reload the entire thing. Making it work isn't beyond reach for a skilled developer. Just don't pursue the technology at the expense of basic content and site functionality.

Unless you're following standard practices in Web design, it's difficult for screen-readers used by the vision-impaired to figure out what you're saying -- or selling. If you do want to make your site accessible, you'll most likely need user testing.

Here's the order for how to build an accessible and functional Web page: First, get the content across to the user. Second, add structure. Third, work on the presentation. Then, add behaviors, like the AJAX stuff I mentioned. Finally, make sure that for each added layer, if the user's browser can't handle the fancy stuff, the content can still get through.

Move over, LinkedIn. The new approach to social networking uses "microformats," a method of encoding your contact details directly into your own Web and blog pages and implementing easy-to-use HTML tags. Check out XFN (XHTML Friends Network) for more information, or microformats.org for more about the concept.

Skip site redesigns in favor of incremental improvements. This approach promotes easier testing, rollout, and user feedback.

In Vancouver, you spell "golf" like this: "s-k-i-i-n-g."