Web development trends for 2011
Like just about everything related to technology and the internet, web development trends are constantly changing. The landscape today is vastly different from even just a few years ago – web development companies must contend with more savvy users and a much broader range of viewing devices.
Here are a few of the web development trends that will loom large in 2011:
Mobile-ready sites
Mobile-ready sites will continue to be a huge web development trend in 2011; as the popularity of smartphones and tablets continues to skyrocket, more and more users are accessing the internet from mobile devices.
Dedicated mobile sites – built specifically for the mobile platform – are becoming increasingly common. At the same time, technology has emerged that allows developers to build websites that are capable of adapting to the user’s viewing medium.
Touch screen-friendly designs
The popularity of mobile internet arrives hand-in-hand with the rise of touch-screen navigation.
In 2011, web developers will need to start designing for fingertips, rather than mice. With the ‘hover’ function off the table, designers will need to include alternatives for dropdown menus and indicating links.
Thumbnail Design
Google has recently introduced “thumbnail browsing” in their search results pages; when a user clicks on the magnifying glass next to a listing, they can view preview any of the webpages listed just by hovering over them – they don’t even need to click on the link to see what’s on the other side.
In 2011, users are expected to start using thumbnail previews as a means of navigation. Web developers will need to consider thumbnail browsing in their designs (for example, Flash elements won’t be displayed in the thumbnail preview).
Increased security
Ecommerce has been around for a while now, and the industry is getting better and better at identifying potential for fraud and eradicating it. Users are certainly becoming more comfortable with online financial transactions, but at the same time their expectations are rising as they learn more about internet security.
In 2011, expect to see increased security on many e-commerce sites, both for fraud prevention and as a means of build user confidence.
New security measures are likely to include EV SSL certification - already standard among most major financial institutions - which involves a comprehensive process of identity verification.
Friday Media is a web development company in Melbourne. Contact us to find out what we can do for you.