Projects - clients who've gained from my experience
Last revision: 31st March 2008
Most of my work is in the education, special needs and local government sectors with a few choice private sector contracts.
Tesco
22 months of short-term contracts for 2008 / 2009, working on the retailing giants online presence. Creating unique hand-coded solutions for the Tesco branded sites and reviewing the accessibility of existing developments.
- Redesign of the homepage using modern methodologies.
- Full implementation of Google Analytics across Tesco direct.
- Coding and implementation of the new Store Locator using Microsoft's Virtual Earth. A heady mix of XML data served by XSLT & JSON called via Ajax. The usual ASP, XHTML, JavaScript and CSS with a splash of jQuery too. And yes there's an Accessible Store Locator too. That stretched my skills nicely.
- Accessible, progressive enhancement, JavaScript coding of Tesco homepage, Tesco direct homepage, Books navigation panel, Accessible T&C pop-ups, Ajax T&C pop-ups.
- Accessible web development in XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript to W3C Web Standards.
- Producing unique pages for the marketing department while maintaining existing areas to high standards and tight deadlines.
- Implementing online video and banners utilising Flash and JavaScript.
- XML and XSLT work via the Interwoven CMS.
- Improved the accessibility of existing pages.
Tesco.com optimisations
Optimised the existing homepage. It previously took 3.37 seconds to download. Now a very healthy 0.63 seconds (source: Pingdom Tools). Understandably click-through improved dramatically too.
| Date (link to full results) | Bytes In | Threads | Objects | Load Time | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/01/08 | 602 KB | 2 | 41 | 3.2s | Before any changes |
| 27/05/08 | 492 KB | 2 | 41 | 3.4s | Optimised existing images |
| 21/10/08 | 331 KB | 2 | 33 | 0.8s | Reduced number of images. |
| 20/12/08 | 192 KB | 2 | 14 | 0.5s | Redeveloped the homepage from scratch. Optimised images and graphics converted into CSS-Sprites. HTML, CSS and JavaScript combined. |
| 21/10/09 | 149 KB | 2 | 11 | 0.45s | Homepage slightly redesigned. Converted more images into CSS-Sprites. |
At this point Pingdom tools becomes too inaccurate. Switched to Patrick Meenan's page tester. An exemplary service.
Redeveloped the homepage from scratch, and without touching server settings, compression or caching got it down to 0.5 seconds for a 192KB page (source: Pingdom Tools). Reduced DNS look-ups using CSS-sprites and combining HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The total of 41 objects now reduced to 11.
| Date (link to full results) | Bytes In | Threads | Objects | Load Time | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20/08/08 | 406 KB | 2 | 40 | 5.1s | Optimised existing images |
| 15/10/08 | 299 KB | 2 | 32 | 4.6s | Reduced number of images. |
| 17/11/08 | 120 KB | 2 | 16 | 1.8s | Optimised images and reduced DNS look-ups: graphics converted into CSS-Sprites. HTML, CSS and JavaScript combined. |
| 20/12/08 | 145 KB | 2 | 16 | 2.1s |
| Date (link to full results) | Bytes In | Threads | Objects | Load Time | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21/10/09 | 149 KB | 6 | 10 | 97ms | Homepage slightly redesigned. Converted more images into CSS-Sprites. |
Further improvements would require:
- Separate server connections to deliver the graphics & images.
- Permissions to serve compressed data.
- Adjusting sever and proxy caching.
Becta
Becta is the Government's key partner in the strategic development and delivery of its information and communications technology (ICT) and e-learning strategy for the schools and the learning and skills sectors.
Until recently Becta was an acronym for "British Educational Communications and Technology Agency".
My role within this organisation is a mixture of web development and standards & accessibility testing. Here are a few example sites along with my involvement on each project:
- Becta portal
- Supporting UK education departments in their strategic ICT developments.
- Accessible web design in XHTML to W3C Web Standards alongside JavaScript, Ajax.
- Next Generation Learning
- Next generation learning: The Next Generation Learning campaign is about using technology well to make learning a more exciting, rewarding and successful experience for people of all ages and abilities.
- Accessibility testing and repair path formulation.
- CAP: Communication Aids Project
- Help and support for pupils who have a significant difficulty in communicating with others.
- Becta Schools
- Advice, services and tools for those who use, implement and manage ICT in schools.
- Accessibility and HTML coding.
Zorbas Dance restaurant
A local Greek restaurant run by an old friend. Here I practice skills that are under used in my daytime employment. The original under performing web site was transformed and dramatically improved the investment return. How much is actually quantifiable, but it's enough to say he did not enjoy a quiet January or February this year.
- Search engine optimisation techniques. The site now ranks in the top five Google results on any relevant variations.
- Usability development. Customer needs and expectations were investigated and the changes implemented quadrupled online bookings.
- Custom made content management system which employs optimisation techniques to deliver content & media fast.
- Flash video and gallery insets via JavaScript.
- Accessible (mostly) web development in XHTML to W3C Web Standards. Apologies for the audio which auto-starts, unfortunately not my call.
NGfL: National Grid for Learning
Demised 13th April 2006. The NGfL provided a network of selected links to websites that offer high quality content and information. Whether you were learning, supporting, teaching or managing, there were many resources available.
- Accessibility workshops
- Training for developers in the production of accessible online materials.
- Inclusion
- Advice and information on special educational needs and inclusion.
- Accessibility testing and repair path formulation.
- Online testing
- Help and support in accessibility and web standards for the NGfL registration process.
- Laptops for teachers
- A DfES programme providing teachers with laptop computers for use at home and school.
- Accessibility testing and repairs.
- Practical workshops
- Training given to developers producing materials for the NGfL and DfES projects.
Currier limited
A well established web site design company based in Shropshire. Developing sites for a diverse range of clients and organisations.
A mixture of testing, training, accessibility and programming
- Winchester City Council
- Accessibility and cross browser cross platform testing.
- NASEN: National Association for Special Educational Needs
- UK organisation which aims to promote the education, training, advancement and development of those with special educational needs.
- Accessibility and cross browser cross platform testing.
- Mendip District Council
- Accessibility and cross browser cross platform testing.
- Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council
- Accessibility and cross browser cross platform testing.
- LGDU: Local Government Data Unit - Wales
- Accessibility and cross browser cross platform testing.
