About This Site

To Flash or not to Flash

I've wanted a more dynamic web site for about a year, but I haven't had the chance to write new code until this summer. The decision to go with Macromedia Flash was not made lightly. Using Flash provides the aesthetics that I desire and allows me to avoid java script, a scripting language that I don't enjoy. Unfortunately, Flash is proprietary, difficult for low-band connections, almost impossible to index, and requires a plug-in that some browsers don't have. In addition, Flash circumvents some methods of accessibility; that is, it frustrates technologies like vocal readers. I've tried to overcome some of these issues through four principles.

  1. I maintain both a simple html and the flash site simultaneously. Although differences in information are bound to occur, I'll try to keep these differences to a minimum.
  2. The flash pages contain "hidden" html links that vocal and non-graphic browsers should detect.
  3. I've kept the size of the movies small by loading them only when specifically called by the user.
  4. The bulk of the information on this site will remain in html/text that the flash components will reference via menus.

I hope that these principles will create a pleasant viewing experience for as many people as possible. Your feeback is welcome.

The Background Picture

I took the picture that appears on the Flash version of this site while camping with my family. It is an image of Lake Superior from the North Shore of Minnesota. We had been camping for several days when a cold front moved in, bringing mist and a soft rain. The picture was taken with an Olympus Camedia (D-40 Zoom) digital camera.

Disclaimers

This web site is housed on a server owned by the Communication Studies Department at the University of Minnesota. It contains information related to the professional career of Kirt H. Wilson, Associate Professor. The University has not reviewed the content of this site; the views and opinions expressed here do not reflect the official policies of the University, and the University of Minnesota is not responsible for the site's content.

 

Please send any comments to Kirt H. Wilson <wilso092@umn.edu>

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer

This site was altered last on June 17, 2003.
site url: http://www.comm.umn.edu/~kwilson/
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