Every pricing page should have GIFs • Hacker News Board

Re: Every pricing page should have GIFs

#11

Post by actually_a_dog » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 2:10 PM UTC

ludamad wrote: post #6

ldoughty wrote: post #2

This is an interesting idea, and I can see the value... But how does this work for those with disabilities? Will screen readers describe the image in the mouse over as well? (I imagine so, if alt tagged, but I'm not sure and would love to know)

I imagine they can read the text parts with a screen reader. Doubt this is any different than adding an image anywhere else

Sure, but a screen reader picking up on alt text won't convey the same amount of information as the visual would. Neither would an embedded movie.

But, that's all just begging the question: what is the practical, accessible alternative that does serve the needs of the blind and visually impaired?

Re: Every pricing page should have GIFs

#12

Post by fijiaarone » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 2:16 PM UTC

actually_a_dog wrote: post #11

ludamad wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I imagine they can read the text parts with a screen reader. Doubt this is any different than adding an image anywhere else

Sure, but a screen reader picking up on alt text won't convey the same amount of information as the visual would. Neither would an embedded movie. But, that's all just begging the question: what is the practical, accessible alternative that does serve the needs of the blind and visually impaired?

Blind people can’t see. Alt tags don’t change that.

How do you sell paintings to blind people? Maybe the answer is — you don’t.

If you’re selling charts to visualize data, blind people aren’t your audience.

Just like if you’re selling shovels to dig ditches, you’re not marketing to people in wheelchairs.

Just because some people can’t use a product, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be allowed to sell it.

Re: Every pricing page should have GIFs

#13

Post by lol768 » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 2:17 PM UTC

spcebar wrote: post #10

aloisdg wrote: post #5

What about using video with control instead? Furthermore what about performance?

I think the point is that it autoplays and gives you a very quick rundown on the specifics of the feature/pricing. The way they're using gifs in the demo, it doesn't look like controls would make sense, but I think the message of this article is more about providing meaningful information about services and pricing than the gifs themselves.

Yeah, it's more of an implementation detail.

But indeed, if I implemented this myself I wouldn't use GIFs. It's a joke of a format which produces bloated files, very limited colours (slightly less limited if you employ some creative hacks), no proper alpha support. We should put it in the bin and move on. Whether that's elements with no controls using something like AV1 (neat but no alpha AFAIK), APNG or VP9, I don't really care.

Re: Every pricing page should have GIFs

#14

Post by fijiaarone » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 2:18 PM UTC

aloisdg wrote: post #5

What about using video with control instead? Furthermore what about performance?

Would performance with video be better than gifs?

Re: Every pricing page should have GIFs

#15

Post by franciscop » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 2:19 PM UTC

Don't use GIFs, use audioless mp4s instead. They can be made to work in the exact same way as GIFs (autoplay, loop or not, etc) but are a fraction of the bandwidth.

Re: Every pricing page should have GIFs

#16

Post by ichydkrsrnae » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 2:22 PM UTC

There's a UX problem on mobile. I have to click on something to make the GIF appear. What do I click? A link. Expected behavior of a link is to link me elsewhere, not to show a pop-up GIF, so I'm immediately confused when that happens. I also can't figure out how to make the link actually link. Does it link anywhere? Is it even a link or just Jscript onClick thingy? Do I have to click on the GIF to make it link, because that's 2 clicks when precisely one is accepted link practice. Clicking to engage and then clicking again to disappear is super aggravating, especially on mobile screen, especially on such a long list. Click, click, click, click, click click, click, click. Ahhhh!

This works well if I can hover over the links with a mouse to engage the pop-ups, which then disappear when I hover away. If I have to click on the links, like you do on mobile, then click again to dismiss, neither click actually linking to anything, it fails UX.

Also, too much info in too small a space on mobile. Too much being communicated. Too dense. What UX test calls engineeritis. You need drill down pages for these links. If I click one, I expect a page with detailed information, a drill down, not a pop-up summary GIF.

Mixed UX metaphors. Not lethal, but not quite there yet. Very cool, though, especially for the rapidity with which you were able to implement it, but it needs a bit more test on the UX side on mobile.

A button toggle that displays a responsive, inline GIF as a drop-down, not pop-up, is perhaps the better solution, even if it's not quite as neat as what your creativity created. That would work as expected without damaging your intent, but that still involves click click click.

Re: Every pricing page should have GIFs

#17

Post by capybara_2020 » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 2:23 PM UTC

franciscop wrote: post #15

Don't use GIFs, use audioless mp4s instead. They can be made to work in the exact same way as GIFs (autoplay, loop or not, etc) but are a fraction of the bandwidth.

Can they be used exactly like gifs? I have seen a few sites with mp4s but Firefox blocks them.

I do not think even sites like Dribbble have figured it out. I have a lot of issues there with videos.

Re: Every pricing page should have GIFs

#18

Post by InsomniacL » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 2:23 PM UTC

I like the demo of each feature, but hate the box of text and video hanging off my mouse cursor. There must be a better implementation then that.

Re: Every pricing page should have GIFs

#19

Post by tambourine_man » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 2:27 PM UTC

>It even works on mobile!

Recently I've been having trouble pinpointing sarcasm on the web. That can't be real, can it? Mobile traffic has been larger than desktop for over a decade. We've been hammering mobile-first for almost that long. If that was a joke, sorry it passed right over my head.

Also, GIFs… in 2021? We've had , , for what, 15 years?

Re: Every pricing page should have GIFs

#20

Post by BasilPH » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 2:28 PM UTC

fijiaarone wrote: post #14

aloisdg wrote: post #5

What about using video with control instead? Furthermore what about performance?

Would performance with video be better than gifs?

Yes, video codecs are way better at generating smaller file sizes. GIFs are literally like flip-books of images.

You can also autoplay videos without controls and loop them, but you have to mute them.

Most "GIF" hosting websites actually use videos. Especially when it's "GIFs with sound".