If you’ve used the internet, you’ve seen a banner ad. In fact, you’ve probably seen thousands of them. Some banner ads are unobtrusive and subtle, some are obnoxious and unbearable. All of them are there for the same reasons: first, to get someone’s product or service in front of your eyes and second, to help let you see the page you’re viewing for free or at a reduced cost. Banner ads are usually animated GIF images, although Macromedia Flash banners are becoming more popular.