Tabbed browsing is the answer

Although I agree with much of Nielsen's comments about poor web design, I take issue with his comments about opening new browser windows. He argues that a link should be a simple hypertext reference that replaces the current page with new content.

Personally, I often find it quite annoying when the current pages IS replaced. Often, I want to be able to see both the new text, and the previous page. Using IE, I admit that this can be frustrating as you often do end up with several windows on the screen. But with Firefox (and IE 7 when it is released we are told) you can open up a new tab within the main browser, which is a much neater solution. I can then switch between the two pages and compare information etc.

So I think we need to be careful that design decisions are taken within the context of the current technology - as new browsers are released, design guidance needs to be updated accordingly.

Please America - don't hide in the shadows...

We often hear about how the Internet has created a 'world without borders', where hopefully people of all races, creeds and political opinions can meet free from censorship or political intererfence.

So as I read Thomas Friedman's column today I felt sad that America seems to be withdrawing from the world, having been instrumental in creating a system that can break down barriers.

For so many people, including myself, America is a symbol of hope, of freedom, of opportunity for all; yet for many people now, America feels more like the child who is sulking and has taken their ball home because they don't want to play anymore, so nor should anyone else.

It would be a sad irony indeed that as the Internet helps the stereotypes to get broken and freedom to ring out across the world, America chooses to stand back and hide in the shadows.