Instant access has completely revolutionized web design. A few years ago you could get on the Internet from a wireless access point at a coffee shop or a hotel. Now, Wi-Fi exists practically everywhere, from burger joints and libraries to Amtrak trains and they barely scratch the surface of Internet availability. Many users shop on their smart phone for easy Internet access to mobile broadband, particularly on social media sites and news outlets. Ultimately, though, the best way to get web access across the country is with wireless broadband. Using a cell phone to pull in signal which is then sent to a laptop, you can connect to the Internet anywhere you can maintain a strong enough cell phone signal.

Due to these changes in the way we access the Internet, web design is being forced to change the way it handles the Internet. Rather than putting up page after page of text, writers post information in small short bursts (from the miniaturized article, the blog post, to the incredibly short burst of words that can be fit into a tweet). Instead of developing a complicated logo, designers develop a smooth, clean image that is easy to recognize and translates well to the small screen of a cell phone. Contests and sales are more interactive and involve pulling others to view the same site, increasing both page views and final purchases.

Each of these seemingly minor changes is an initial reaction to the constant availability of the Internet, but they are certainly not the end results. Over the next several years we will continue to see significant changes in the way we do things on the Internet, and most of these will be driven by the consumer’s desire for information and the individuals desire to be connected with their network of friends and family.