I got into the habit of browsing with the sound turned off when it became obvious that website designers wanted to control my Internet experience. I’m not alone. Control and choice are key computer user rights, aren’t they?
Maybe not. It’s educational to get a glimpse into computer user habits. The topic of website sound, and end user rights and wishes, came up this week at Cre8siteforums in Sound on Webpages.
It began with a simple question:
What’s the general consensus about embedding sound in a webpage?
By “sound” I mean:
- Flash-based sites that emit noises, especially when navigation/links are hovered (splash screens, and some web design and hosting firms)
- Flash adverts that emit sounds that you can’t turn off (netcraft.com is running such a campaign now)
- Auto-playing music (myspace sites)
- Auto-playing videos
All these are compounded by the fact that you can’t turn them off.
You may be thinking to yourself, ah. Just another place to rant. And you’d be sort of correct. However, someone thought to write,
Sound is both a reliable feedback mechanism as well at a spectacular tool for affecting ambiance and enhancing the memorability of brands.
Which swung the discussion into a thoughtful one.
No amount of good design, unobtrusive ambient brand building or anything else will change the fact that users expect full control of their surfing experience.
Come join in. What do you think?
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
the worst offender on the internet for this is MySpace.com. I really hate going on there anymore, because of all the instant movies or music playing. What’s even worse is the pages that prompt your windows media player to start.
Sad thing is, most of my “non-internet educated” friends are on myspace and love the site …. and put all that stuff on there.
I’m thankful though that 85% of the sites I read do not have this happening on their sites. It’s that random 15% that make me want to swear a blue streak!
I agree with the majority of the comments on your forum about this subject. I can’t think of any reason for sound to “appear” without input from the user. Maybe when I run across a site with “opt out” sound, I’ll send them a link to to the Cre8siteforums thread. Do you think they’ll thank me?
Well, if they don’t thank you, I will!