Presenting Mathematical Concepts on the World Wide Web
Think Visually: Screen vs. Page Design

Basic HTML Design Issues

• The author specifies content, not layout. This takes getting used to!

• Decide on an overall design, and stick with it inside a given context.

• Write so your reader can use any common browser.

• Keep it simple.

Some Practical Suggestions

• Use a <TITLE> tag with adequate description.

• Use a consistent placement and format for navigation links.

• Identify the page's maintainer, with appropriate email address.

• Identify the sponsoring organization, if appropriate.

• Include information on when the page was last updated.

• Decide whether to include the URL of the page on the page.

• Provide reasonable alternatives (for images, tables, printing, etc.).

• Remember that English-language readers scan from upper left to lower right.

• Remember that English-language readers will notice upper right before lower left.

• Balance consistency (boredom) with creativity (confusion).

• Remember that scrolling through two pages is easier than scrolling through three, and three is easier than anything over three.

• Remember that scrolling to the top or bottom of a page is easier than finding something buried in between.