Web 1.0 --> Web 2.0
The literature surrounding the explanation of the difference between web 1 and web 2 varies considerably, with no appeared unified view. I did however, manage to find the below comparison which does seem to summarise a majority of the view points. The link at the bottom takes you to the source of this information
DoubleClick --> Google AdSens
Ofoto --> Flickr
Akamai --> BitTorrent
mp3.com --> Napster
Britannica Online--> Wikipedia
personal websites--> blogging
evite --> upcoming.org and EVDB
domain name speculation -->search engine optimization
page views --> cost per click
screen scraping --> web services
publishing --> participation
content management systems --> wikis
directories (taxonomy) --> tagging ("folksonomy")
stickiness --> syndication
http://www.oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html
Tuesday 26 February 2008
Tuesday 12 February 2008
Creating Accessible Forms
Useful Websites
There are many ways in which forms can be produced on the web. This can therefore prove quite tricky, particulalry when taking into account accessibility and validation.
The following websites provide a wide range of material useful for constructing a form on a website:
- http://www.webstandards.org/learn/tutorials/accessible-forms/beginner
- www.webaim.org/techniques/forms/
- www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_forvalidation.hcsp
- www.websemantics.co.uk/tutorials/accessible_forms/
- http://formassembly.com/form-builder.php
- www.htmldog.com/guides/htmlbeginner/forms/
- www.accessify.com/tools-and-wizards/accessibility-tools/form-builder/default.php?type=css
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGKM7kTH6hE
Considerations
- The best way to create a form is first to design it on paper, then to build the HTML, next add the CSS to stylise the form and then finally add the PHP to add functionality.
- Important to give confirmation to the user, that their form has been succesfully submitted (feedback)
Tuesday 5 February 2008
Zen Garden
The concept of this website is that a variety of differing web pages can be produceed using the same HTML but by simply varying the CSS. This is a very interesting site and has been useful in terms of inspiration of my design.
Off the back of this website review I hired the accompanying book out from my local library and this has proved invaluable. Particulalry when considering the design phase of my website. The book is littered with examples of good design with language to explain the fundamental aspects to take into account when producing a successful webpage.
Off the back of this website review I hired the accompanying book out from my local library and this has proved invaluable. Particulalry when considering the design phase of my website. The book is littered with examples of good design with language to explain the fundamental aspects to take into account when producing a successful webpage.
Monday 4 February 2008
Lessons Learned!
The first thing I want to consider before designing my website are the areas
Liquid Layout
Although I accounted for visitors with the lowest pixel resolution (800 x 600 pixels) with my liquid design and made my screen width 795 pixels, when I reduced my resolution the screen cut the edge off my web page. Therefore, on redesign I would reduce the width of my page slightly, to around 750 pixels. This point has been raised by Beaird (2007), who states “Given that we must account for sidebars and browser borders, this approach would see us design a content area that's approximately 750 pixels wide.”
Left Side Navigation
While I am happy with the navigation menus for my site, Beaird (2007) states that, “The downside to sites that use left-column navigation is that they can lack creativity. They've been done so many times, and in so many ways, that they tend to look the same.” Therefore, I would probably be more creative in terms of menu position in future, now my confidence and skill base has increased.
Red Colour Scheme
According to Thatcher et al (2006, p154), “People who are color-blind have difficulty finding the required field if they are coded in red.” As my banner and page titles are in a deep red I may consider using an alternative colour if designed again. However, as I mentioned in my testing strategy, the contrast is sufficient to still be accessible for the visually impaired.
Grey Text
I used dark grey text in the main content of my site and am very happy with the results, as I feel it provides sufficient contrast from the white background and when tested on users the results supported my viewpoint. However, in Eleniak’s (2003) “Don’ts” section of effective web design, she states, “Don’t use grey text.” Although the online article this quote was taken from was written completely in grey, as were the rest of the articles on the entire website.
Liquid Layout
Although I accounted for visitors with the lowest pixel resolution (800 x 600 pixels) with my liquid design and made my screen width 795 pixels, when I reduced my resolution the screen cut the edge off my web page. Therefore, on redesign I would reduce the width of my page slightly, to around 750 pixels. This point has been raised by Beaird (2007), who states “Given that we must account for sidebars and browser borders, this approach would see us design a content area that's approximately 750 pixels wide.”
Left Side Navigation
While I am happy with the navigation menus for my site, Beaird (2007) states that, “The downside to sites that use left-column navigation is that they can lack creativity. They've been done so many times, and in so many ways, that they tend to look the same.” Therefore, I would probably be more creative in terms of menu position in future, now my confidence and skill base has increased.
Red Colour Scheme
According to Thatcher et al (2006, p154), “People who are color-blind have difficulty finding the required field if they are coded in red.” As my banner and page titles are in a deep red I may consider using an alternative colour if designed again. However, as I mentioned in my testing strategy, the contrast is sufficient to still be accessible for the visually impaired.
Grey Text
I used dark grey text in the main content of my site and am very happy with the results, as I feel it provides sufficient contrast from the white background and when tested on users the results supported my viewpoint. However, in Eleniak’s (2003) “Don’ts” section of effective web design, she states, “Don’t use grey text.” Although the online article this quote was taken from was written completely in grey, as were the rest of the articles on the entire website.
Sunday 3 February 2008
Colour
When researching the use of colour in websites I was amazed at the impact it can have on the values and theme of a website. There is a vast amount of material on this subject on how it has an effect on psychological behaviour, cultural influence, and gender. Explained further below:-
- Cultural associations - The colour of currency, traditions, celebrations, geography, etc. (For example, green is associated with heaven (Muslims) and luck (U.S. and Ireland)
- Political and historical associations - The colour of flags, political parties, royalty, etc.
- Religious and mythical associations - The colours associated with spiritual or magical beliefs.
- Linguistic associations - Colour terminology within individual languages.
- Contemporary usage and fads - Current color applications to objects, sports, and associations generated by modern conventions and trends. (For example, green is used world wide for traffic lights signifying "go.")
- Brown - Neutral, reliable, comfort, endurance, earthy.
- White - Purity, clean, precision.
- Orange - Fun, happiness
- Silver - Intellect, futurism, elegance.
- Green - Nature, health, renewal.
Further reading on this aspect of web design can be found below:
Tuesday 22 January 2008
Welcome....
...one and all! My name is Richard Hamer and.... don't do it.... must resist the urge... "I am an alcoholic." Damn! I do apologise. In my defence they do say the old ones are the best. Plus the fact, I thought I'd better cushion the blow to what my true vice is.... I am actually a computer geek. Well, web geek to be precise.
So let me give you all a little insight into my life. I am currently undertaking an MSc in Multimedia Computing at UCLan which focuses, as you may have guessed, on all things multimedia. My main area of interest, however, is web design using XHTML and Flash. In fact, that is the very reason why I have set up this blog. I want to document my journey through my latest project, a C.V. website. But this is not just any old C.V. website, ladies and gentlemen. Oh no! This will be the greatest C.V. website in the history of websites!
So let me give you all a little insight into my life. I am currently undertaking an MSc in Multimedia Computing at UCLan which focuses, as you may have guessed, on all things multimedia. My main area of interest, however, is web design using XHTML and Flash. In fact, that is the very reason why I have set up this blog. I want to document my journey through my latest project, a C.V. website. But this is not just any old C.V. website, ladies and gentlemen. Oh no! This will be the greatest C.V. website in the history of websites!
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