Innovative technology isn't just about providing your users with access to the information they need and want. It also involves providing your users with fast access to the content. From the moment the user opens the app, they expect to be able to navigate through the app with ease. Slow reaction times aren't just dissatisfying, but can also be enough to stop a user from using your application altogether. Knowing how to accelerate your application plays a critical role in its overall success.
The Facts
As previously stated, users want fast access when they are using technology. For the average Internet browser, a single second delay in loading a page can cause as much as an 11% drop in page views. While this statistic is based off a standard website, this same demand for faster loading time applies to application software. When users have to wait, they are more likely to delete your app and spend their time and money with some other developers.
File Compression
One helpful technique is file compression. Compression system functions are designed to compact files and data before the user accesses them. As a general rule of thumb, the smaller the file size, the faster it will load. For query searches and other application navigation tasks, this shorter loading period will serve as a major boost for users.
In addition to decreasing the length of time it takes to navigate the application, file compression systems can also decrease the bandwidth necessary to use the application, freeing up more network assets for the user.
Extend Keep-Alive Timeouts
In order to get the greatest level of performance from an application, it needs an uninterrupted connection to the network. Keep-alive timeouts help balance out any web server timeouts to ensure your application remains connected to the network. For applications that don't require frequent navigation or keystrokes, such as those used to watch videos or read books, this type of technology is especially important.
Keep-alive timeouts are set in addition to a web server timeout. Once the web server idle time maximum has been reached and the network connection is lost, the keep-alive timeout kicks in and keeps the application connected and moving quickly.
Don't let a slow moving application be the downfall of your application. There are a number of software enhancements that can be implanted to assist you with application acceleration and keep your application in the competition.
