Ground rule 1: consider the user
make sure they can find sounds easily; give directions to plug-ins if necessary
file sizes--don’t compress files to the point you lose listenable quality; keep embedded sound files very small and warn users about downloads (like Exploratorium example )
the web is permission-based environment--give user control over the sound; because you’re giving control, realize you may need to duplicate some information in more than one media if it is essential
consider where users will access site --sound has different effects in different environments (and consider type of speakers they’ll have)
Notes:
The first rule in the book: consider the user, you knew that one, right?
Make sure they can find the sounds easily
(give directions to plug-ins if necessary)
Don’t compress your sound files to the point you lose listenable quality but do keep embedded sound files small and warn user about downloads (like Exploratrium)
Remember that the web is a permission-based environment--give users control over the sound, and that means providing a way to turn it off
Users may need to turn it off in environments like the office, for example...and of course, you should always consider where users will be accessing your site...sound has different effects in different environments
You should also consider the type of speakers they will likely have...