Sussex launches mobile version of website
The University of Sussex has launched a new, mobile-friendly version of its website.
The new version of the University's website has a stripped back design that is faster to load and easier to navigate on phones and tablets.
Visitors to the site who are using a mobile device – eg a smartphone or tablet – will now automatically see content displayed in the new template.
The content is the same as that displayed on the standard version of the website and visitors can switch back to the standard display at any time. The idea behind the mobile site is to adapt how that content is displayed to make the site much faster and touch-friendly for users.
For example, the mobile site automatically strips out large images, which can take a long time to download on handheld devices.
Text displays bigger and the spaces between links increases, making it easier to use on a touchscreen device.
In addition, the content adapts to the size of the screen, removing the need to scroll sideways, and a simple menu system enables easy navigation between the various parts of the site.
It is also flexible. The University’s Web Team, who have developed the site, will frequently monitor usage and move popular content into more prominent positions.
Web Team Manager, Tony Hudson, said: “In the last year, twenty per cent of external visitors to the Sussex website – that’s around 862,000 visits – accessed the site via a mobile or tablet device and this is likely to increase in the future.
“We wanted to design a version of the site that is easy for those users to access and navigate and that is focused on their needs.
“We’ve done a lot of testing on various devices and have had a lot of positive feedback so far.
“Of course, we are always open to feedback or suggestions for how the site could be improved further, so please let us know what you think.”
For more information or if you have any comments, contact the Web Team at webteam@sussex.ac.uk.
The Web Team sit within IT Services and are responsible for the University’s core website, ensuring it complies with University branding, is comprehensive and user-friendly. They provide advice and training on web-related matters and support students and staff who manage web pages on the University website.