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Look Ma, No Tables!!
Part Three: Redesign Results

BY ILENE SANDLER

We were thrilled the first time we viewed the gotomedia site on a phone. By choosing to build the site using XHTML and CSS, we had not only created a site with cleaner, more logical markup, but we also created a site that could be easily transferred to new technologies. More than anything else, it was fulfilling to know that we, as a team, had transitioned into a new development mode that would allow infinite new possibilities. To summarize the advantages of the new approach:

• Flexibility. Because the content of the site is separate from its layout and design, a new look and feel can be easily applied to the site by simply changing the style sheet. We will continue to experiment with design and formatting for display on new devices.
• Platform neutrality. There are virtually no problems viewing the site on a PDA, phone or different web browsers. The site in older versions of Netscape, while shockingly simple, is fully navigational and comprehensible. And no matter how small the device, the content of the site will resize to fit since there are no tables or images to break the layout.
• Minimizing QA costs. By using only CSS and no tables, we were forced from the beginning to apply styles consistently to all content. Because the pages were uniformly structured and the content consistently formatted, the time and expense of QA was greatly reduced.
• Accessibility. The new web pages are more accessible then traditional HTML pages and comply with all U.S. laws and accessibility guidelines.

Applying lessons learned on client projects
gotomedia's clients are not just asking us to develop their sites in the new way, they are requiring it. CSS, XHTML, and database driven sites are the present and future of the web. And while the web seems to be migrating in 2 opposite directions 1) high bandwidth for the entertainment and gaming worlds and 2) low bandwidth (less than 10 seconds and 200 pixels) for wireless devices -- we need to understand the differences and design appropriate solutions for all media delivery. As a consulting firm, we need to demonstrate to our clients all the cross delivery possibilities. We know this is the smartest way to create new business on the web -- with content that is fully accessible wherever and however people want it.

Recommendations for getting up to speed on cross platform design and development

• Read. Keep up-to-date with CSS developments by reviewing websites and books by Eric Meyers and Doug Bowman. Also, www.alistapart.com, www.adaptivepath.com and www.csszengarden.com have excellent CSS information and coding examples.
• Experiment. Study sites and do exercises using CSS and XHTML.
• Get involved. Join your local Web Development community and attend workshops, seminars, and monthly meetings.

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