[IxDA Discuss] FW: Where has the music gone?

[Peter Bagnall]

Personally I have to agree with #6 too, and all those who hate the  
music. But stepping out of myself for a moment I know several people  
who find music on websites to be fun and engaging. I suspect (with  
nothing more than anecdotal evidence) that it has something to do  
with the amount of 'net usage.

I'm online all the time I'm not asleep (to a very close  
approximation), so my attitude towards the net is it's a place I work  
and find things I need. I want to be able to drive through sites at  
speed, and I'm often doing several things at once. Say listening to  
the radio, while surfing for information for something else I'm  
doing. For information workers I expect that's the norm (and  
therefore for most on this list).

But those who I've noticed like music often don't use the web so  
much, and still see it as a slightly exciting place where they go to  
have fun. When they're online they want to be entertained as much  
(maybe more) than anything else. They're also more likely to be  
surfing at home, so there's less chance of them suddenly disturbing  
other people. Their tolerance for interruption in this way is much  
higher.

So maybe that points to what kinds of sites would be wise to avoid  
and which might like to use music.

But that said, I still like #6, or maybe a mute button in the  
browsers toolbar.

Cheers
--Pete



On 24 Jan 2007, at 16:11, Tracy Boyington wrote:

> I'll add number 6... allow me to turn off background music in my
> internet settings, just as I might turn off graphics or Javascript.
> Because I, for one, don't want to listen to it. At all.
>
> ~~~~~
> Tracy Boyington     tracy_boyington at okcareertech.org
> Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education
> Stillwater, OK          http://www.okcareertech.org/cimc
>
>
>>>> "Dante Murphy" <dmurphy at mbcnet.com> 01/24/07 10:01 AM >>>
>
> So rather than ask why or why not, here's my vision of the ideal
> experience:
>
> 1. See if I'm already listening to something else, whether through
> iTunes or even if I'm watching TV through my video card.  If I am,
> don't
> interrupt.
>
> 2. If nothing else is playing, or if I stop playing other audio, then
> allow the music to swell up from silence to a MODERATE VOLUME.
>
> 3. Always display volume and mute controls.  Highlight them when music
> starts.
>
> 4. Consider offering multiple "channels".  Why do I have to hear
> hip-hop
> when I shop for pants?  Just because I wear pants doesn't mean this is
> my favorite music.
>
> 5. Co-market the music, and offer a deal if I want to buy it.
>
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----------------------------------------------------------
Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.
If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter
what fork you use.
      - Emily Post

Peter Bagnall - http://people.surfaceeffect.com/pete/