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Responsive vs Reactive Web Design

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Have you ever sat down and checked out the latest app only to be disappointed that it’s not optimized for your screen, ruining the entire app for you? Or you’ve just downloaded the latest in mobile gaming, and again you are left wondering what the developers were thinking when they created this game. A lot of the issues we face with websites as consumers have to do with responsive and reactive web design. In simple terms, one automatically resizes to the screen size you are using, while the other displays a website that was made specifically for your device. Sound easy to understand? If not, let’s unpack responsive vs. reactive web design.

What is responsive web design?

In a nutshell, responsive web design follows the approach to web design that allows web pages to render well on a variety of screens and devices. So basically, a website that has been optimized to use on a mobile phone and a computer screen. But it dives deeper as it is optimized for most mobile devices and most computer screens.

And if you are wondering how it is even possible for a website to keep up with millions of devices out there, it’s simple with responsive web design. So, this modern web design approach allows websites and pages to display on all devices and screens by automatically adapting to the screen size – this can be on a desktop computer, tablet, laptop, and even your mobile device.

So how does it work? Responsive web design works through Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) that use several settings to service a range of style properties depending on the screen size, its orientation, resolution, color capability, and more. Common examples of CSS include viewpoint and media queries.

Many people are not sure how to check if a website is responsive or not; here is a quick guide:

  • Open Google Chrome
  • Open any website
  • Press CTRL + Shift + I to open Chrome’s Developer Tools
  • Press CTRL + Shift + M to toggle the device toolbar
  • You can now view your websites from different perspectives, including tablet, desktop, or mobile phone

There are also free tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test, which allows you to check if a website is mobile-friendly. Another point to note is that it is possible to achieve a mobile-friendly website using various other design methods, but responsive web design is most common because it comes with the most advantages.

And if you are wondering why responsive web design should be taken seriously, check out these points. There is not one single person in charge of creating an optimized website. A range of people, including web designers, user interface (UI) designers, and web developers, often work day and night to get those wonderful user-friendly websites up and running. Responsive web design quite literally makes everyone’s lives easier.

Some key benefits include:

  • One site can be used for every device: You access the same website on your mobile phone as you do on your MacBook, but both are optimized to work the same.
  • Optimal design for the device: You don’t have to configure your device for the website to be optimized. Responsive web design does the work for you, so all images, fonts, HTML, and other elements are scaled appropriately, as well as maximizing whatever screen the user has.
  • No redirects: Redirects can often lag, leaving the user frustrated. But with responsive web design, there is no need for this. Other options for designing for multiple devices need redirects so that the user is sent to the correct version of the web page that will work properly on the device they are using. But without redirects, the user will go directly to the web page without the wait.
  • It’s cost-effective: It’s much cheaper and easier to manage because you will only manage one site instead of two. Meaning there is no need to make changes twice.

Some of the well-known responsive websites include:

  • Shutterfly
  • Google Maps
  • Type form
  • Etsy
  • Adrian Zumbrunnen
  • Elf on the Shelf
  • BuzzFeed
  • Evernote
  • Pixelgrade
  • Huffington Post

What is reactive web design?

Now, as their names suggest, responsive and reactive web design are two completely different things. Reactive web design uses static layouts based on breakpoints that do not respond once they are initially loaded. Reactive web design first needs to detect your device’s screen size and then load an appropriate layout for it. There are six common screen widths for this web design:

  • 320
  • 480
  • 760
  • 960
  • 1200
  • 1600

It does appear that reactive web design takes more work than responsive web design because it requires a design for each layout; however, responsive web design can be more complex. So why would you choose reactive web design?

If you want to retrofit an already existing website, the reactive website will prove more useful to make the website more mobile-friendly. It gives you an edge and even more control that allows you to design for multiple viewpoints. While viewpoints are not set in stone, and it is something you or your company would have to decide on, it allows you the freedom to change content and layout that you won’t necessarily be able to do with responsive web design. A common rule here is also to start designing at the lowest resolution viewpoint first and work your way up. This ensures that your design is not constrained by content.

So why should you use it? Although the standard design is for six resolutions, reactive web design does allow you the freedom to ONLY design for the most common devices used to access your website. These insights can be found in your web analytics. So, while responsive web design is cost-effective and designed for all devices and screens, reactive web design gives you the freedom to only design for devices that are used to use your website most often.

Consider the following

While one isn’t necessarily better than the other, you must choose exactly what you want before you decide on your web design.

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Streamlining User Acceptance Testing with the Best Automation Tools Available

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User acceptance testing is a crucial phase in the development cycle that comes last. Testing is done to ensure that the software will meet the requirements of the end users. No business will want to release low-quality software products to the consumer, and testing ensures the software’s quality, functionality, and usability.

The manual process has been used for testing over the years, but it was time-consuming and prone to human errors. UAT automation tools come to solve this problem, and you can perform tests faster, more accurately, and with greater consistency. It doesn’t take much time like manual testing does and reduces the efforts and risk of human error. With automated testing, you can expect an improvement in overall quality.

What Is UAT and its Automation?

UAT (User Acceptance Testing) is a type of testing that is performed in the end by the client or end-user to verify the software quality, and it is done in the final phase of development. UAT becomes crucial to validate end-to-end business flow and works without focusing on system testing, cosmetic errors, and spelling mistakes. UAT testing becomes crucial after developing the product as developers have written the code for the software on their understanding and might require changes later. If a developer writes code that is not effectively communicated, the client will not accept the product. Testing helps to deal with it.

UAT automation means you don’t have to run the test as it runs automatically in a UAT automation tool. After performing the testing with the tool, you will get to know the actual performance of the software compared to your expectation. It will give you an answer of yes or no. The benefit of using a UAT automation tool is that it can mimic the task without any error.

Manual Vs. Automated Testing

Manual testing is the traditional way of testing, and automation is the recent testing practice using UAT automation tools. There are not any either-or options between them as both have their strengths.

In Automation testing, tests run quickly and repeatedly. Humans can’t do repetitive tasks as it leads to boredom or fatigue, and unavailability is another concern. You can use automation tools based on your comfort as it provides high availability and performs the task with accuracy. The automation tools allow you to perform stress, binary-based and script-based testing.

In manual testing, the tester gave the output beyond yes or no. For example, complex and subjective test scripts require an actual tester that requires more than a yes or no result. A tester provides the actual response to an issue and identifies the defects, problems, and solutions. On the other hand, automation testing results in yes or no. Numerous ways of testing can be done manually such as evaluations of fonts, reports, menu types, workflow logic, etc. Manual testers can identify how software can be used.

Automated and manual testing have the strength that can be used by users based on their requirements. When both mixes, it creates a bigger impact. Both tests complement each other as a simple and repetitive test can be performed automatically while a complex and specific test can run manually.

Top Automation Tools

Here is the list of a few UAT automation tools available for automation testing.

Selenium

It is a code-based tool that is free to use and widely used for automating web browsers. It supports multiple programming languages like Java, Ruby, Python, and C# and provides a rich set of APIs for testing web applications.

Test Complete

It is also a code-based tool that automates web, mobile, and desktop applications. It also supports multiple languages like selenium and provides a user-friendly interface for creating and executing tests. TestComplete is well-suited for automating UAT, especially for complex applications that require extensive testing.

Appium

Another open-source automation tool that supports multiple programming languages and automates mobile, web, and hybrid applications. Appium is a popular choice for automating mobile applications.

Ranorex

A commercial tool that automates desktop, web, and mobile applications. It provides a user-friendly interface for creating and executing tests and supports multiple programming languages, including C#, Java, and Python. Ranorex is well-suited for automating UAT, especially for applications with complex user interfaces.

Cucumber

Another open-source tool that is used for automation and supports Behavior Driven Development (BDD). It provides a clear and concise way to define test scenarios in plain language, making it easier for end-users to understand and validate the software’s functionality. Cucumber is a popular choice for automating UAT in agile development environments.

HP UFT/LeanFT

HP UFT (Unified Functional Testing) and LeanFT are commercial tools that are used for automation. They provide a comprehensive set of APIs for automating UAT and support multiple programming languages. It is well-suited for automating UAT in large organizations with complex testing requirements.

Opkey

Opkey is a no-code UAT test automation platform that allows business users to seamlessly participate in testing.

Conclusion

UAT testing is a crucial aspect of the development cycle, and the testing process comes last. It ensures the quality of software that will meet the requirements of the end user. There are two types of testing – manual, and automation. Manual testing is the traditional way of testing, and automation testing is a recent way of testing that is quick, reliable, and repetitive. UAT automation tools help you to automate the testing process, and Opkey is one of the great tools for automation.

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What is Metaverse? Everything You Need to Know!

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As Facebook has changed its name to “Meta”, you may have heard a lot about Metaverse.

There is a discussion that Metaverse is the future of technology as a lot of tech giants are investing in it.

Microsoft, Google, Qualcomm, and Nvidia are investing billions of dollars in the metaverse.

But, what is it? How to get access to Metaverse?

You must have these questions in your mind so let’s discuss them in detail.

What is Metaverse?

Suppose that there is a virtual land where different people or their avatars are moving, interacting with each other, selling or buying new things, and playing or learning new concepts, all from the comfort of their physical homes.

This virtual world is Metaverse. In it, our computer screens will turn into a 3D virtual realm that will be like real life.

At this moment, the metaverse is still in its growing stage, and evolving this technology may take time.

Today, you can see a glimpse of Metaverse in form of virtual workspaces such as Meta’s Horizon Workrooms, online video games like Fortnite, or virtual operating rooms.

These only resemble the idea of Metaverse as they have limited facilities while the concept of Metaverse is one virtual world that has every facility and technology in it.

This is a brief introduction to Metaverse. But, what is its history?

Let’s see it.

History of Metaverse

The term “Metaverse” was first used in 1992 by author Neal Stephenson in his novel “Snow Crash“. This fact shows that this concept is not new, and in past, people have tried to work on this concept.

Sainsbury, the UK grocery chain, introduced a VR shopping demo in the 90s.

Second Life, a popular game launched in 2003, depicted the concept of Metaverse. This game is most near to the real concept of the metaverse that futurists have thought about.

Some technologies which gave access to this virtual world are augmented reality (AR) glasses and virtual reality (VR) headsets. These technologies are slowly evolving now.

This is the brief history that told us that the metaverse concept is an old one, and to some extent, it is present in today’s world. But, how to get access to it?

How to Get Access to Metaverse?

As we have discussed, there is no single portal at this moment. Various platforms are offering Metaverse technology which you can access.

Fortnite, Roblox, Horizons World, and Sandbox are giving a variety of virtual life experiences such as gaming, shopping, or virtual workspace.

You can access these platforms through a Virtual Reality (VR) headset.

But, a lot of experts are claiming that you can access Metaverse through smartphones too. This is vague information and people are still unsure how to access Metaverse through this method.

How to Buy Land in Metaverse?

Just like you have to buy a product or land in the physical world, the same you have to do it in the virtual world.

This land can be used to give services, host events, publish educational activities and create mini-games in the virtual world.

A lot of celebrities and businesses such as Snoop Dog, JP Morgan, and Samsung have virtual lands in metaverse platforms. The businesses are using this land to interact with staff and give access to services to their clients.

But, how to buy land in Metaverse?

There are four steps to buying it.

1. Have a Digital Wallet

You should have a digital currency to buy virtual land and to hold that currency, you need a digital wallet.

There are various digital wallets in the market such as MetaMask and Binance Chain Wallet. Make sure that you choose a wallet that supports the digital currency you need.

The metaverse platform will tell you which wallet should you have and how to link it with the platform.

2. Buy Cryptocurrency

You need to buy cryptocurrency to have a virtual land. The cryptocurrencies are $MANA, $ETH, and $SAND.

3. Select a Metaverse Platform

You have to select the metaverse platform from where you want to buy the land. Some popular platforms such as Sandbox and Decentraland sell virtual lands. You can also buy land from third-party sellers such as OpenSea.

4. Purchase it

After completing all the above steps, you just have to click buy. Once your transaction will be confirmed, you can see your NFT in your digital wallet and will become the owner of the land.

Wrapping Up

In the end, we can say that the metaverse is a future technology, and you can feel or understand it through different metaverse platforms present at this moment.

In this article, we have discussed some essential questions which people may have in their minds about the metaverse. It contains some basic and essential information about this new technology which is going to change the face of technology in the future.

Can’t wait to see its further growth and experience the power of technology!

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Top Automated Technologies to Improve Life

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Do you want to modernize your dwelling and bring it into the twenty-first century in a way that improves your quality of life and increases the energy efficiency of your home? You may want to consider installing a smart home. It’s a great way to stay in touch with your family members and has all your utilities in one place that’s easy to keep track of. But there is another option for movies in home automation application – the purchase of individual automation components, products, or systems.

This second option involves versatile smart desks, motorized windows, TV lifts, and, of course, adjustable bed frames to make your sleep healthier. All of these products can be easily adjusted to your home environment and let you enjoy more free time and absolute comfort. No one likes cluttered surfaces and spaces in the kitchen,  bedroom, or any other room. For this case, we have upgraded furniture by linear actuators integration and control panel. Learn further to get more details about them.

Smart Home Ideas to Reach the Level of Comfort You Need

Smart homes focus on convenience, safety, and efficiency. Instead of sci-fi robots or devices that tune into our deepest desires before we have a chance to voice them, updating your abode controls is an effective way to check all your utilities.

Simply put, smart homes were created with the consumer in mind and aimed at making life easier and more convenient. Let’s forget about any stigma you might have and focus on how much time you could save by installing a smart home.

Some of the benefits of smart homes are long-term. This means that it takes a certain level of investment to start saving money, making your home more efficient, and spending less time organizing your utilities. Because of this, the reasons why someone might not consider installing a smart home are usually related to finances.

Smart Lighting and Its Benefits

This is usually the entry point for those looking to update their home systems. It’s also a great place to start playing with the mood of certain rooms and change colors or dimming settings throughout the day.

The advantage of smart lighting is that you don’t need a central hub to control it, you can just use an app on your phone or even program it with a smart home speaker.

For this reason, smart lighting is used by many modern Americans, and simple features like turning on the living room lights while you’re on vacation are an effective way to scare away unwanted guests and intruders. Smart lights can interact with other smart home devices, which is another big reason why so many people focus on lighting as a stepping stone into the world of smart home devices.

Thermostats and Smart Heating in Your Home

Another key part of smart homes is the ease of controlling your home’s heating, which can start saving you money in the long run. While this is usually the most expensive installation cost, integrating a smart thermostat will add value to your home by bringing it up to date.

Smart thermostats are effective for programming the rooms you occupy the most and adjusting your HVAC systems accordingly. Another great feature of this system is that you can connect speakers and program them so that your home doesn’t use energy when you’re away to heat a room you don’t intend to be in.

Home Security Cameras

An effective way to establish Security in your home is through the installation of home security cameras. Most often, this is used to keep an eye on your home or even pets when you are not at home. Street models are effective at catching burglars on the spot before they get inside.

Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Another way to keep your home safe is to upgrade your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Smart detectors will generate local alarms, and send notifications to your phone and anyone you authorize as a contact when a hazard is detected.

This is another great feature for all elderly or vulnerable people because you will have peace of mind knowing that they are insured and that you will be contacted in an emergency.

Automated Desks and Bed Frames

These products are a must-have for any abode. Their key function and features are to bring ergonomics to your home. You will feel better with them in terms of physical and correspondingly mental state.

If you study or work from home, an adjustable desk will allow you to change your body positioning while sitting and standing. It is able to adjust its height according to your particular physique and general preferences. Do not sit the whole day, discover a new ergonomic way of working while standing for some time.

Speaking about motorized bed frames, here you get a perfect sleeping place with proper body positioning. All systems of your body will start to work better: no pain in the legs, no strain in the back and head. Moreover, you will get rid of noisy snoring and feel more power in the morning.

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