First Generation Sites,

according to David Siegel, were the first to evolve on the web. They were linear, running from top to bottom and looked much like a book or Ph.D. thesis. Developed by technical people, first generation sites were bare-bones and simple to accommodate slow modem transfer. They were hand coded in html reflecting the pre-editor era and lacked the many dimensions that animation and sound can offer a site.

 

  Some sites on the web today that still reflect first generation principles include:

 
Personal Home Pages

Most of these sites were built in 1995 and 1996 and reflect the limitations of html at the time. There are no tables to control format, no dynamic html to include action, and no music or video to enhance interest
Electronic Journal Articles

 

The dominance of information in the electronic journals represent DSeigel's thesis that these don't traditionally appeal to the aesthetic in the user. These are print-like electronically available documents.
K-12 School Sites

Some school sites, and particularly back pages, often exhibit the first generation look. Many of these are published by novice users whose main purpose is to relay information and only know the bare-bones of html coding. 

It's interesting that all these first generation sites are information based where content traditionally has dominated design. It is DSiegel's contention that these will not represent the future of the web. Entertainment and commerce, which relay heavily on attracting and holding customers , will need well designed sites that are enticing and easy to navigate and if information based sites are to survive, they too will have to provide clear thinking, writing and presentation.