Advanced Web User Interfaces

The interactive functionality of the World Wide Web is increasing. Design, trends and widget styles of modern Web sites is having effect on the user interface design of smart-phones. The user interface design of desktop applications is changing in the direction of Web look and feel rather than introducing innovations. The difference in design between desktop apps, Web sites, smart-phones and handheld computers is blurring.

Libraries and Frameworks

The increased interactivity of Web sites requires different design elements than a plain Web site design of headings, text, tables and static images. JavaScript and the Ajax programming techniques have brought us many JavaScript frameworks and libraries that are hard to live without when creating interactive Web sites. These libraries and frameworks make it is possible to generate visual effects on Web page elements that are difficult to produce with desktop applications.

Web User Interface and CSS Framework

The jQuery JavaScript library is without a doubt the most popular one. Recently the great minds at jQuery released a new version of the user interface library, jQuery UI. jQuery UI is a set of visual effects and theme-able widgets with animation and interaction in addition to the extraordinary CSS framework. For example, the new button widget makes it possible to convert many Html elements into nice looking buttons. The only part we feel is missing from the set of widgets is the datagrid, but applying the CSS framework and jQuery functionality on the good old Html table can do magic.

The jQuery UI CSS framework and the widgets make it possible to design a Web site that has a consistent look and feel across all Html parts and elements. If you are in the process of designing a modern Web site then it is time to look at the jQuery UI library and the CSS framework. If not then you might see jQuery UI like widgets and styles on the next new Web site or a smart-phone app near you.

Related links:

jQuery user interface jQuery UI Autocomplete Widget with ColdFusion 20 examples of jQuery UI Multiple jQuery UI Tabs

Related video:

A video on how to use the jQuery UI with Visual Studio 2010

Filed under: Rich Internet Applications , Web Development

Posted by: Webmaster on : April 2010