In the digital landscape of tablets, smartphones, laptops, TVs and other devices, it is more difficult to predict the channel through which someone will visit your site. And to add further complications – devices have screens of different sizes and shapes, which can alter the aesthetic value of a page’s content.

In recent past, automatic tests for specific devices and individual sites were best practice for alleviating the problem. But innovation is quickly shifting to more efficient multi-device delivery.

The solution is responsive web design – one site, developed in multiple layouts, which adapts to the visitor’s technology of choice.

At its core, a responsive site seeks capabilities, not devices. Take the iPhone for example. When originally manufactured the screen was 480x320.  This lasted for four years and three models. In 2011 the iPhone 4 quadrupled the pixels at 960x640. Don’t be surprised when the next version provides HD size screens. The site’s responsive design constantly searches for distinct capabilities and enhanced functionality to customize content delivery – meaning users experience your site in a way that complements the device they are using.

To see a Responsive Web Design in action, shrink your browser from the bottom right corner, and watch how the page content adapts to the fluctuating size of the viewing window.

Outside of the “ahh” factor, this approach achieves tangible benefits. A responsive site leverages the same content across all devices, which eliminates the substantial costs associated with maintaining multiple versions of the same site. And because the site looks for capabilities rather than conforming to specific devices, it keeps pace with new technologies. If someone were to access the site on a movie theater screen, it would adapt.

Responsive design is neither a new, untested Internet frontier nor does it limit a site to proprietary technology. It is simply leveraging current technology to optimize one site for the numerous devices or channels through which visitors view it – now and in the future.

For more information, please visit www.coolbluei.com or call (404) 876-6989.