the generational divide...

Jakob Nielsen did a study on the usability of websites for teenagers. He found that teenagers are easily bored online, and that the best way to capture their attention is with simplicity and interactivity.

I may no longer be a teenager, but as someone who grew up online I can appreciate his points. Television bores me and I no longer spend much time watching it, but I can waste hours online just searching and visiting different sites. The ones that pull me back offer me a wealth of information, are frequently updated,and include pictures or video but no overwhelming graphics.

My grandmothers have both purchased computers in the last five years and they use it strictly for e-mail or keeping up with friends' deaths in the obituary columns. They have no need for graphics and pop up ads just confuse them. Perhaps if more sites took their needs in mind, then they would explore the Internet a bit more.

If, as Nielsen found, teenagers need large text and simple layouts just like the older generation need, then who are those super fancy flash sites designed for? Hopefully web designers read Nielsen's columns and take note that wasting a companies money on bells and whistles just isn't necessary.