The Death of Flash?

February 3, 20100 Comments Tagged: design, flash, interactive, iPad, plugin, web

As I am sure you will now know (it was almost impossible to avoid, after all) last week Apple announced a new product - the iPad. There has been lots of talk about how it is going to revolutionize computing and, on the flipside, how it is a lemon of a product. There is one thing in particular, however, which should be of particular interest to you - in the architecture and built environment industry.

Like the iPhone before it, the iPad has no support for the  web plugin Flash. This is a further sign of the fact that across the web in general, Flash is getting less and less use, and is in fact installed in a decreasing percentage of people's computers - whether due to lack of support or personal preference. But what does this mean to you?

It means that you may be turning a large audience away from your website. Let me say that again.

YOU MAY BE TURNING PEOPLE AWAY FROM YOUR WEBSITE. Throwing potential business out the door.

In architecture circles, a very large proportion of personal, and corporate websites are built entirely in flash. There are a number of reasons for this, foremost is the additional control over the design which is possible, and also the perceived higher level of interactivity that Flash entails. Generally, architecture firm websites are moving, impressive, convoluted pieces of work - and that is why they are developed in flash.

Here's the problem. If your site has no alternative content to the flash content, people browsing on their iPhone or new iPad can't see anything. And that's not to mention the people who are unable to have flash installed on their computers due to workplace restrictions or computing power. All your beautiful animations, all your stunning images. All of your address and contact information. And they see none of it.

Flash installation is trending down at the moment. Due in part to the proliferation of iPhones and the like, but also due to new advancement in web design techniques and technology that allow many of the benefits of Flash, without all the drawbacks.

Now, I confess, this may not be something you need to act ontomorrow. But it might be the day after.  Flash installation is only trending downwards, not yet non-existent. It IS, however,  something you should be keeping in mind when you think about your website, ESPECIALLY if you are thinking of getting a redesign sometime soon.

Read up on your options - Some of the work being done in standards compliant web development that can be seen in all browsers, iPhone and iPad included, is quite astounding. Don't encumber yourself with a technology that seems to be fast becoming obsolete.