Why is this site so plain?
Chances are that you are using a browser that is more than a few years old (probably IE 5.0, Netscape 4, IE 4 or an older version).
This site has been designed so that any web browser or web device can access the content quickly and effectively. Older browsers can access the content on each page, but they will not be able to display the contemporary design of this site.
If you have a modern browser (see below) and the site still looks plain you may have style sheets turned off.
Why have we done this?
For a number of reasons:
- The site is more accessible to people using assistive technologies, Cellular Phones, and PDAs.
- Download speed. The pages have a lot of content and this allows faster download times.
- Cost. A large proportion (more than 50%) of the design costs of a site like this can be spent trying to make the site appear similar in older browsers which now make up a very small proportion of the market (and shrinking).
- Maintenance. The techniques that are used to create a consistent design in most browsers are a nightmare to maintain and require constant tweaking every time a new browser version is released.
How have we done this?
We have used the Internet coding standards recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium and promoted by the Web Standards Project. These are XHTML 1.0 and CSS 2.1.
What do I have to do?
If you are happy with you current browser then nothing. Many people use an older browser because of Operating System limitations or personal preference.
However, if you wish to upgrade your browser then you can download one. If you cannot download a new browser, many of the current computer magazines have CDs on the front cover containing the latest versions.
For best results (on any site as well as this one) we recommend the latest versions of Firefox, Opera or Internet Explorer 6.0. These have the best support for all modern sites and are much faster at displaying pages.
If you have any questions or comments please contact us