Google reportedly ‘likes’ responsive design and promises to reward responsive websites with higher search rankings. While others may also like responsive design, but would wonder if Google will penalize a site for providing a superior mobile experience in some other method.

Take, for instance, mobile sites that provide benefits galore. Since it is essentially a copy of your regular website, where the server does the work to deliver an optimized page and as a result it is smaller and easier to navigate.  It is also a good choice when it comes to cost. Responsive design cost more. Additionally, page load time in mobile is lesser as compared to responsive sites. A mobile-specific site can also offer an experience that is ideal for the user intent at that time.

Indexable Apps

Since Google can now index and rank Apps, while providing excellent guidelines on how to do it, it is evident that app-based companies with mobile only clients may not even need a traditional website!

Nevertheless, many companies still intend to build and maintain websites, but are open to the idea that a responsive website may not be the right option for  minor mobile game developers. The best option, however, could be to add links to content and then underpin deep linking within the App.

However, even if app-only doesn’t prove to be best option, content within the Apps would be a more engaging medium for those who have since installed the App. For instance, a discussion board for players of Rummy perhaps will work better within the game App itself.

 

Foreseeable Future of RWD

You may raise one hundred and one issues that do not go in favor of RWD, but the fact remains that you can not do without it. However, as it had not yet reached adulthood, things are lacking in many areas.

Take the case of Apple Watch, the wearable device. Its input devices are its Achilles Heel However, we are soon to see in wearable such as Apple Watch a change of input methods. Sensors in a wrist-trap would detect the tightening of wrist tendons that could track the movement of 5 digits or detecting the clinch of the fist as a replacement for click or tap actions.

However, the most notable development will be a means of presenting long-form content on a wearable. Nevertheless, it is already there; the most obvious option for delivering massive data on a wearable device is audio.

 

Accessibility is a big issue

Another area of development will be regarding accessibility. Trying to provide an identical experience for each and every man or woman that attempts to access sites now ends up in a mess. There are too many factors to be considered for this. These include screen size, display density, sensor availability, feature availability, OS type, OS version, browser type, browser version, plug-ins installed, network latency, network speed, firewalls, proxies, routers, CPU speed, amount of RAM and many more.

Then there is the human factor. It involves literacy level, reading habits, level of domain knowledge, cognitive impairments, such as learning disabilities and dyslexia, environmental distractions, motor impairment, vision impairment, lack of knowledge in device usage, browser use as also familiarity with the web.

The same applies for accessibility of content. Once content is created, it should be accessible from any corner of the universe. Just as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said recently during his brief visit to India that very soon people living on our lonely planet would all be connected, RWD would wipe out all impediments mentioned above in the near future so that the application and use of this versatile web design will become most popular till something more advanced or more full of features takes over RWD for good.