Current web-browsers have ignited a lot of debate amongst their users. These software applications which are normally used to navigate through various websites have received a lot of attention in an ever improving, competitive and advanced market. The excitement that comes with modern browsers is based on their capability to support CSS3 and HTML5. In addition, they have outstanding performance that supports intensive script processing and sophisticated graphic animation. All these have led to the sidelining of older versions of web-browsers such as IE6.
Despite the fact that the internet has a great market force, other web-browsers such as chrome and Firefox have been improved in terms of market superiority. Web designers are fond of taking advantage of these advanced browsers, while accomplishing their day-to-day activities. This in itself is exciting on the web designing community as it entirely influences their professional prospects. The question raised by this argument is if the modern state of drop down menus or buttons that have currently displaced JavaScript with CSS due to CSS3 transitions, can affect the ordinary user. The fact remains that the perception of the website users and owners on the site value is left unchanged. The website content matters a lot since the core reason for visiting websites is to get some particular information, to clear a particular task an even to share with other web users. To the users, what matters mainly is if the web-browser can assist in accomplishing these objectives.
Focus on user’s matter
The kind of browser that you use determines the outlook of your website as it is not acceptable for a website to restrict its users to modern standard web-browsers. To a web designer who is experienced in Firefox, chrome, IEE9 or even safari should not impose claims that their sites are better than others. The website task on the information it displays must be available on many platforms and scenarios. On the other hand, browser choice should never be hindered by when it comes to accessibility and user experience. In addition, the function of website features e.g. The navigation menu should be kept constant along all equal lines. There will be no impact of a web design with low functionality even if all the modern features are introduced in the system. For instance, a site with very low UI design is simply equal to a site that is not compatible with IE5.5
The new browser
The claim that modern features in JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS3 have increased the designers’ and developers’ power and have received no challenge or argument of any sort is yet to be proved. This can be attributed to the fact that it enables us to establish very efficient and effective design and user interfaces. The capability of designing a website based on a single environment seems to be a utopian incidence since it will simplify things to a greater extend. Unfortunately, it happens to be an unrealistic scenario for many web-browser users. This is in the sense that we will always be expected to design and get attached to the poorest browsers. At times it means solving the problems that are easily reached in favor of the ones that have massive support from the browsers themselves. Sometimes users go to the extent of forcing weaker browsers with overrides, scripts and hacks. All these acts are done so as to ensure that the main websites functionality and contents are not tampered with regardless of the selected browsers.
This brings out the perception that old systems users are hindering web evolution by holding us back. Such unavoidable situations hinder the pace of change. Fortunately it doesn’t have the ability of preventing us from enjoying even the little of offers of modern browsers.
What you don’t know can’t hurt you
There being no possibility of punishing users who are still attached to outdated browsers, the basic intellect will be to reward those who embrace the modern browsers. The greatest task for designers will be on how to use modern techniques to establish attractive sites that ensure massive interaction with modern browsers, with the objective of also establishing those that are still attached to the old browsers. A practical example is shown out by CSS3 property which renders itself in a position to achieve what was simply termed as CSS. Older internet explorer versions aren’t compatible with this feature but luckily tend to shift the rules and fit in the right-angled corners. It definitely poses no threat to users who have got limited support for the current CSS property. The IE users hardly notice the change in their corners if the use is consistent. This methodology can support various situations since there is a clash between the users of the old and the modern browsers.
The reality
The truth about web designers is that they always have to consider how their sites support the poorest browsers. Right now, it happens that the weakest browsers are popular in their own perspective. It doesn’t really matter if IE7-IE8 users still remain significant despite the momentum that is currently gained by opera, safari, Firefox, chrome and IE9. For instance, IE6 cannot be ignored even if it has been surpassed in the market by better browsers not unless its usage drops significantly. We need to be patient until older versions are phased out. Even if IE9 gets upgraded, the reality remains that HTML and CSS3 can’t receive complete adoption instantly but gradually.
The good news
Luckily, we have got the ability of matching into the future majestically by embracing new and modern technology through promotion of modern browsers which have proved to be very effective and efficient. This is due to courtesy of web designers who are ever in constant move to establish better web designs. But most of all, our achievements will be determined by web designers’ ability to use current and useful information and also experience in developing intuitive and user friendly web-browsers that are people oriented. It is the users who know what they want and so the development of web-browsers should be oriented with the sole purpose of fulfilling this objective.
