Use of Flash technology in website design
Flash technology background
A few years ago, website design typically included introductions based on Flash technology, i.e. with photos and animated graphics. Back then, Flash technology was still a relatively new advancement and visitors were impressed by the animated elements. That is why many web designers would incorporate Flash-based elements to design website introductions or even entire websites.
The current state of Flash technology and related issues
If we were to apply the above decade-old website design trend, we would be faced with the following consequences:
- Poor website results in search engine rankings, especially Google; robots used by this search provider are incompatible and cannot parse Greek text embedded in Flash elements.
- A poor performance by the advertising message included in the introductory movie of the website; the vast majority of website visitors choose to skip the introduction.
- An erroneous impression of website technical difficulties perceived by visitors who have not installed the proper version of Flash Player or have not installed any version at all.
- Slow web page download rates in case of large Flash files.
How Flash technology can be properly used in website design
Flash technology should definitely not be used unsparingly or improperly, but that does not mean it should not be used at all! It goes without saying that Flash technology can become a significant factor contributing to an impressive website, provided that it is used properly in the design: Partial use of Flash technology on the home page or in specific subpages; in web design jargon, this is called an "incorporated Flash" design strategy. This way, Flash technology is not eliminated from website design altogether, but it is used in a beneficial way that promotes quick and easy navigation. Besides, creating a high-impact functional website design does not depend solely on the use of Flash technology, but also on several other design components, e.g. layout, photos, choice of colors, logo design, visual effects.
