What is data communication? What does it have to do with web design and user experience?
What is the web filled with? Information. It is possible to answer this question in this way that the World Wide Web has provided an infinite space for the dissemination of data and information. If we look at the evolutionary history of website design in the world, we see that websites were created to help the free flow of information around the world.
Websites are a means of transferring data around the world. Free circulation of information means free and fast transfer of data. It does not matter what the data is and where in the world the sender or receiver lives, it is enough that both parties have access to the Internet.
In this context, the two questions that were raised at the beginning are answered. If you are a web designer or a UI/UX designer or interested in the field of web design, knowing the answers to those questions will help you design better and more efficient digital products (websites).
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Data communication in website design
When there was no Internet and Gmail, how did people convey their messages and words to others? Mail, fax, and phone. What about before faxes and telephones? How did people exchange data (information) with each other? Smoke signaling and the use of symbols and signs. But the smoke was not enough to satisfy human needs. We needed devices (devices) with which we could communicate any kind of data.
Mankind has come a long way to reach today’s methods and technologies for data transmission. It used to be a telegraph message transmission device. Then came the phone. Then it was time for sound and video. Sound and images were sent from one place to the whole world using radio and television, waves, and signals. Then computers were invented. The Internet came and connected computers all over the world. Now other data communication devices are computers and mobile phones. And of course, computers and mobile phones also make it possible to exchange data through various websites and applications, and software.
Any type of data (photo, text, image, sound, and video) is sent and received in the shortest time. Data transmission in today’s world means a digital economy, means cryptocurrencies, means holding online meetings with participants on multiple continents, and means a new way of working and living. In today’s world, there is a website for everything. People give information to store websites and register on them. They register an order there. Then, the website gives them information (data).
So, it is possible to look at websites in another way: websites are the most important data communication interfaces in our time. If for any reason, the user cannot get the data he wants from the website or enter the data he wants; Data transmission is interrupted.
Data transmission and computer networks
So, what exactly does this data communication mean? In very simple language and as defined by ecomputernotes.com,
Data communication refers to the exchange of data between a source and a receiver via a form of transmission media such as a wire cable.
After the data transmission from 2 sides (transmitter and receiver), a transmission medium (such as cable or radio waves) conveys the data from the transmitter to the receiver, and the data transmission protocol is formed.
Types and Modes of data communication
Data communication, as it is clear from the mentioned examples, has 2 types:
- Analog Data Communication: In this type of data, it is transmitted using analog signals and through communication channels (such as telephone, radio, and television).
- Digital Data Communication: In this type of data, it is converted into digital signals, i.e. zero and one, and transmitted through communication channels (such as computer networks, the internet, and mobile phones).
Also, data communication may occur in one of the following modes:
- One-way (Simplex Mode) is like a radio where only the transmitter can transmit information.
- Asynchronous two-way (Half-Duplex Mode) like wireless (walkie-talkie) in which the data exchange is two-way but not simultaneous.
- Synchronous two-way (Full-Duplex Mode) like WhatsApp or Skype video call where the data exchange is two-way and simultaneous.
Digital data transmission is the most complete and fastest type and mode. A large part of digital data transmission is made possible by computer networks. A computer network is created when several devices are connected to exchange data between them. That’s exactly what the Internet does: build a massive network of interconnected computers around the world that can send and receive all kinds of data to each other simultaneously and quickly.
Website design for data communication
Digital data transmission and computer networks have made it possible for businesses and individuals to share various resources and information. In today’s world, cooperation and interaction between people and businesses as well as trade is done through computer networks and the Internet. Cooperation and interaction and business happen in different websites, applications, and software. So, websites are one of the components of digital data transmission and computer networks.
When designing any type of website, the web designer should pay attention to the fact that he is designing a tool for data exchange between several parties (users and businesses/users with each other/users and businesses and banks). Therefore, the website designer must make sure that he has designed a site where users can easily find the information they want and enter the data they want. In addition, users’ data must be stored and transmitted securely.
What points should the web designer follow in the design and development of the website to make sure that the site is completely suitable for data exchange?
1. The website and data transmission must be secure
The website designer must use the necessary protocols and technologies to ensure the security of data communication and the website based on the type of website. If the website is a store, the data communication protocol must be HTTPS. Also, if it is a WordPress website, important points must be observed to ensure the security of WordPress websites.
2. The user should quickly find the data on the website
The website must be functionally designed. That is, if the user is going to fill out a form, he should quickly find it on the website. Also, the form should be designed in such a way that the user can easily understand it and fill it out quickly and effortlessly. This is the reason why website designers should present information to users by the principles of visual hierarchy on the website. In this case, the user can find important information quickly.
In addition, short help texts (or user experience texts/UX Writing) should be written in a basic, clear, and simple way so that users can understand at a glance what they need to do and what steps to go through to do a certain thing on the website. The user must interact with the website to be able to use it and send and receive the data he wants. Anything that makes that interaction difficult, time-consuming, or disruptive; has disrupted data exchange.
3. Receiving and transferring data from the website must be done quickly and completely
Imagine entering a store website. You will find the product you want very easily and quickly. But the image of the product does not open or it opens too late. The order registration and payment page is the same. It means that completing the purchase process happens slowly. Finally, you may not be able to complete the payment. The website (receiving and transferring data) must be fast. Slow site speed and interruptions in loading or receiving data hurt user interaction. For this reason, web designers and developers use various technologies (such as AJAX) to improve site speed.