Rich Media Content for the Internet must be extremely data-compact and the UI design well optimized, for the sake of those internet viewers who are accessing your website using low-bandwidth wireless services or surfing the net via a phone line and a 56K modem. This includes viewers living in outlying areas, those who are traveling, wireless PDA and UMPC users, wireless or modem Notebook users, web surfers in other countries with no cable or DSL infrastructure, viewers using older computer systems and technologies, and viewers who cannot afford DSL service or digital cable service, just to name a few of the major groups of low-bandwidth users.
Streaming digital media optimally and correctly is equally important as the site UX design and programming, for much the same reasoning. Significant viewers around the world are still using modems at home or are using new low-bandwidth wireless technologies to surf the internet at the coffee shop. Creative programming and knowledge of how data streams over the internet allows us to provide our clients with the most X!Factor possible using 56K/sec connections that transfer 7KB per second! The 60 frame KDS animation shown above was optimized from their 324KB screensaver down to less than 48KB for demo on this website.
Of the other rich media elements on this page, the 3D painter's palette on the left is less than 8KB, the MindTaffy Logo animation at the top left is a mere 4KB, totalling 60KB with the 48KB screensaver animation. The initial load time for this particular webpage, at 64KB of code, text, work sample and graphics, is around 9 seconds on a 56KB modem. Each subsequent page loads via modem in 3-6 seconds, depending on the content, which makes this site very useable on a modem or wireless connection. Also note that on the server side of the equation that my server only has to serve XXX KB to serve out my entire 64 page printable website.