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If you care about keeping the World in WWW, and ensuring the content you create is accessible to all, then it will be a reality for you as well. ... If you publ

If you care about keeping the World in WWW, and ensuring the content you create is accessible to all, then it will be a reality for you as well. ... If you publish information on the Web, I can’t encourage you enough to try design your site with these devices in mind. The idealist in me (especially circa 2004 when I had Wikipedia-mania) wants to agree. It depends on what the goals of a site are. Is it Wikipedia? Yes, it should absolutely look good on 128x160 screens. Is it a business? Well, then it depends on who your customers are. If your customers are worldwide and from a diversity of economic circumstances, yes, design for the small screen. But if you can reasonably assume that most of your customers use desktops, laptops, high-end smartphones, or tablets, then I don't think it needs to be high on your list of priorities.

buro9 14y ago
If you really want to make your content available in Africa, make it accessible via SMS.
- zachalexander 14y ago
  Yes, taking it even further! And I find that discussion totally exciting, for websites where it's relevant. I just think it's silly to make this kind of thing (postage stamp screens or SMS availability) a norm for every website in existence ever.
  - buro9 14y ago
    It doesn't work for everything sure, but content is content and a web site is merely one possible interface. As soon as that sinks in, if the format fits it isn't so weird to think of how other interfaces can be used for the same content. SMS could work really well for wikipedia... a paid interface to obtain an article for a given query for example.
- davycro 14y ago
  Nah, make it available through a browser. For pre-paid users, SMS costs far more then data which is why WhatsApp is so popular in the developing world.
soneill 14y ago
Agreed, it's really a Know Your Market situation. I think most business start-ups (that aren't mobile oriented) can reasonably assume that their customers won't be using those kind of devices, and don't need to design with that in mind. No reason to waste money designing for a market you're not planning on competing in.
davycro 14y ago
I agree with your points. However, I think that this market is underserved and ripe for some form of profitable innovation.

buro9 14y ago

If you really want to make your content available in Africa, make it accessible via SMS.

zachalexander 14y ago
Yes, taking it even further! And I find that discussion totally exciting, for websites where it's relevant. I just think it's silly to make this kind of thing (postage stamp screens or SMS availability) a norm for every website in existence ever.
- buro9 14y ago
  It doesn't work for everything sure, but content is content and a web site is merely one possible interface. As soon as that sinks in, if the format fits it isn't so weird to think of how other interfaces can be used for the same content. SMS could work really well for wikipedia... a paid interface to obtain an article for a given query for example.
davycro 14y ago
Nah, make it available through a browser. For pre-paid users, SMS costs far more then data which is why WhatsApp is so popular in the developing world.

soneill 14y ago

Agreed, it's really a Know Your Market situation. I think most business start-ups (that aren't mobile oriented) can reasonably assume that their customers won't be using those kind of devices, and don't need to design with that in mind. No reason to waste money designing for a market you're not planning on competing in.

davycro 14y ago

I agree with your points. However, I think that this market is underserved and ripe for some form of profitable innovation.