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Cookies - What's All The Fuss About?
Cookies. Not the ones that drop crumbs on your keyboard as you read the latest news. No, this is about cookies that turn up on the browser that runs on your "device".
We say "device" nowadays, because the number of internet ready phones and ipad type beasties are growing rapidly and perhaps one day soon will outnumber desktops, laptops, notebooks and other assorted terms for the personal computer. (Will anyone still remember the word computer?)
Anyway, back to cookies.
It seems the clever B-eurocrats in foreign lands decided that cookies are "a big thing" and we should all jump up and down and tell everyone about them.
Actually they've been used by browsers for a long time to provide useful functions like remembering data for forms and even remembering what was going on if your browser fails, so it can restore things again when you next open it.
Shopping carts use them to function. In the real world your cornflakes and milk (and cookies) stay in the basket or trolley due to gravity. In the wonderful web world, there has to be a bit of code somewhere to track what's going in your basket to make sure it is still there by the time you go to the checkout and pay.
Years ago Google brought out a handy tool called Analytics which also uses cookies. When installed on a website it helps to track the website usage.
How is this usage tracking helpful? Well, think of it as lots of tiny virtual people in high viz jackets sat on chairs beside each webpage, counting visitors. If we discover that three out of four website visitors leave immediately this can mean there's a significant problem with the site. By discovering there's actually a problem, then fixing it, the website can become a better experience for the visitor.
With today's social sharing tools, to "like" something or "share" it with friends, you may also add a cookie to your device.
And as more of these useful browser tools develop, so there are more cookies.
Everyone assumed that as all the above are handy, we'll just carry on using them. (It is possible to set a browser not to allow cookies. However some of the above may not work quite so well).
Let's get back to those euro folk across the Channel.
It seems they made a regulation that website owners should inform visitors about cookies. This meant our Information Commissioner's Office (here in the UK) had to do the same. The ICO set a date for the end of May 2012 when website owners had to be following the rules, or at least working towards following the rules.
So here we all are, up and down the country, big companies and small, adding articles about cookies to our sites.
That's why you are seeing cookie policies popping up everywhere on the internet. (Bet the companies that make chocolate chip cookies had a bit of fun with this).
Want to read our policy about cookies? It's in the footer at the bottom of this page.
Time for a cup of tea and a cookie or two ... ok three (well, they are very more-ish aren't they?)
Filed under: General News Posted at 19:57
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