Technical Development
Now that you're familiar with the various content and creative requirements of your web site, it's time to get technical. So, What is technical development? and What does it involve? Essentially, the technical side of things involves the 'nuts and bolts' of making your web site work the way you want it to and the way your users will expect it to.
Some web sites are technically quite simple, whereas others can be very elaborate and complicated. IML has built many sites of both extremes, and we are happy to be able to display various Examples of IML technical development.
Technical development can be expensive, particularly if you don't know what functionality you want. A very useful tool for helping you to decide this is the Electronic Proof of Concept (EPOC).
What is technical development? • What does it involve? • Examples of IML technical development • Electronic Proof of Concept (EPOC)
What is technical development?
Interactive web sites are created using a range of technologies. Web pages can be combined with dynamic, up-to-date information from a database. Complex games and simulations can be created to work in a web browser. Information can be gathered from users and processed in many different ways.
Technical development is the stage of web development when these interactive features and functions are programmed into your web site. Some examples of these functions are:
- web content management systems
- games and simulations
- forms for gathering information
- publishing information from databases
A collaborative process
Technical development doesn't happen in isolation. The technical development process overlaps with both content development and creative development.
Technical development usually begins when the project is first scoped, particularly if the web site required is complex. Programmers and other technical staff provide advice on the best tools and technologies available to meet web site and user needs. They may also create an Electronic Proof of Concept (EPOC).
What does it involve?
Technical development involves:
- programming interactivity
- designing databases
- integrating internet technologies (eg. email, directory services, etc.)
- considering hosting and security issues
- converting existing data for specific uses
IML's technical staff
Technical staff at IML work with many different programming languages and technologies, such as:
- web page mark up languages (eg. HTML, CSS, DHTML)
- web scripting languages (eg. JavaScript, Cold Fusion, Lasso)
- animation tools (eg. Macromedia Flash)
- databases (eg. Microsoft SQL Server and Access, Filemaker Pro)
Examples of IML technical development
UTS Courses Database is an example of a flexible product that has been adapted and integrated into many different UTS web sites (eg. UTS Web, Faculty of Education, Faculty of HSS). These sites publish data dynamically to the web, providing the public with the latest UTS courses information. For our clients, this approach reduces the expense and time required to build and maintain their sites, and ensures their site content is always up-to-date.
Interactive News for Kids is an example of a complex web-based system where users take on different newsroom roles and interact with the system to produce and publish an online newspaper edition.
Electronic Proof of Concept (EPOC)
Creating an EPOC is often the first stage in technical development.
An EPOC is a preliminary and partial development of a web site that illustrates the potential functionality of the site. It usually includes only the back-end functionality of the site, and not any real content or creative development. It is a useful tool for trying out the proposed web site's functionality on users to see if the idea works. If the EPOC is successful, then you can go ahead and build the real thing without risk of failure and wasted resources.
Some reasons to create an EPOC for a proposed web site:
- when the site is very complex, with major technical issues to be considered on
- when there's a lot of programming and/or interactive elements to be designed and implemented in the site
- when a demonstration of the site's functionality is needed to secure ongoing funding