Tools of trades...

This is the expansion of the previous post. In this entry I am going to discuss on the types of tools integrated in a website. These tools include chatting, forum, email, downloading and uploading files, search engine and guestbook. By and large these tools advocate interactive reciprocal activities between a user and a developer.

Chatting
The most common tool integrated in a website. This tool enables immediate response between two or more individuals done in a virtual chat room. Previously, this can only be done using text-based chat but now, it integrates web-cam chat as well as voice chat. The most popular host is Yahoo Messenger.


Forum
Forum or Internet forum basically is an online discussion site. It actually adapts the traditional bulletin board. Forum enables users to discuss regarding almost any subject matters. People participating in an Internet forum may cultivate social bonds and interest groups for a topic may form from the discussions.



Email
Email is abbreviated from Electronic Mail. This is a method of exchanging digital messages, designed primarily for human use. E-mail systems are based on a store-and-forward model in which e-mail computer server systems accept, forward, deliver and store messages on behalf of users, who only need to connect to the e-mail infrastructure, typically an e-mail server, with a network-enabled device (e.g., a personal computer) for the duration of message submission or retrieval. Rarely is e-mail transmitted directly from one user's device to another.


Downloading and uploading
Uploading and downloading are two terms used in computing to refer to data transfer. In brief, files are considered uploaded when they are transferred from a computer to a central server. Files are downloaded when they are transferred from a server to a smaller peripheral unit.

Search Engine
A web search engine is a tool designed to search for information on the World Wide Web. The search results are usually presented in a list and are commonly called hits. The information may consist of web pages, images, information and other types of files. Some search engines also mine data available in databases or open directories.


Guest book
A guest book is a paper or electronic means for a visitor to acknowledge their visitation to a site, physical or web-based, and leave their name, postal or electronic address (if desired), and a comment or note, if desired.


In final analysis, these webpage tools are developed in order to enhance the performance of a website. It is imperative that these tools are applied with the satisfaction of a user in mind.

Hear ye, hear ye...

In the world wide of web, there are two ways a user can access audio function in a web page. The first one is known as streaming and the next one (which is most popular) is known as downloading.

Streaming means the users can access the audio files on the spot (in real time) without downloading the files. In addition, it utilises playback function for the users. This service can be obtained in webpage like www.aimini.com and www.mix.fm.




On the other hand, downloading enables the users to download the files so that they can transferred the files into any hard drive. This can be seen in webpages like www.mp3int.com, www.mp3raid.com and so many more.


Furthermore, these two types of audio fuctions can be accessed based on factors like...

• the speed of the internet,
• the technology applied in distributing the audio files
• the compression techniques as well as th
• the format used which in way involved the size and quality.
  

The numerous formats in distributing audio files are, MP3, WAV, MIDI, Real Audio, OGG Vorbis, AIFF and the list goes on. However, MP3 is the most sought after since the size is relatively small and yet the quality of the sound is still preserved.

As a 'hardcore downloader' I am very particular with this audio distribution technology. Si, as a web-developer, it is a prime priority to determine the correct method and technology if this service is going to be integrated in a particular webpage. This is because it can determine the satisfaction of the users and hence the popularity of the webpage.