Before:  637kB After:  181kB

1998 Project Objective: to demonstrate reduced downloading-time for a business website, achieved by image compression. Times can be compared by fetching an original copy and a restructured copy of the same web-info from the same server.

Outcome: The original 637kB site (13 pages = 42kB + 595kB of images) was reduced to 181kB (14 pages = 38kB + 143kB of compressed images as per comparison chart) without visible loss of data, enabling a 70% cut in user download-time.

View before (May '98 copy)  and  after (quicker)

The reduced download-times were achieved by near-lossless file-compression, background alteration and some stripping of superfluous "Frontpage"-type HTML tags (often generated automatically by software editor packages without necessity). In the process I also re-jigged the frameset, moved the images to a subdirectory and added further entry-links for clarity, but otherwise retained the original design.

The business company ("Janus Security Systems d.o.o.") was in Slovenia and owned by an acquaintance who incidentally first introduced me to the magic of "the Net" in 1996. I recommend their electronic services although the company's original web-address (www.janus-kr.si) may have changed since 1998.

The original web designers were also Slovenian, and they created a good working web design structure: no criticism of their work was intended here. They simply did not compress images - indeed it's my impression that the advantages of file-compression get overlooked by half of the websites in every city around the globe...

Pvh: 1998 (text revised 2007)