Planning Your Web Site

Complete the following:

• Site purpose
• A storyboard for your site (your file structure)
• Proposed links within your site and three to outside sources
• Audience analysis (who are they, what technical support might they need)
• Technological issues related to access by your audience (typical access method)
• Content and cognitive issues you will need to address
• Accommodations you will need to make for a diverse audience
• Teaching issues to be addressed if you are developing an instructional site

At this point you can be relatively brief. You may be outlining issues you must answer. This exercise should be useful. It provides assistance in developing your initial plan for your World Wide Web Site Development assignment which states:

Develop a special education or rehabilitation home page and associated documents for the World Wide Web.

The due date will be in class announcements within WEST.

Be sure to follow external links in the Planning Your Web Site lesson to expand your learning.

This assignment is worth MORE (20 points).

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Purpose

What do you want to do with your Web site?

• Web information providers usually attempt to accomplish one or more of the following (Holden, 1995 & Lemay, 1995):
• Provide personal information (Who you are, what you do, why people might want to know about you).
• Provide information on a topic or special interest (e.g., hobby, collection or topic).
• Publish information in the form of newsletters, magazines, articles, poems or other documents.
• Provide company or institutional information as a public relations tool.
• Provide online documentation.
• Deliver a catalog via and Web and handle shopping or purchase requests.
• Poll or gather opinions as a part of a marketing or research function.
• Teach a skill or course.
• Recruit members or students for organizations or institutions. This might be considered a public relations function.
• Your Web site will probably fit within your organization's overall communication plan.
• Design within the image of your organization or to express your individuality if your site is of a personal nature.

What are the goals for your site?

• What information will users of your site need?
• What should users be able to accomplish at your site or on each page of your site?
• How can you organize your site and the information in it to meet the needs of the users?
• What will keep them coming back?
• What structure will facilitate access to the information on your site?

Specify the goals for your site before you begin the design process.

Content Considerations

How should content be organized?

• Content on the Web refers to text, graphics, media, interactive forms, or other forms of interactivity.
• Break up your content into main topics.
• Chunk related information together under a single topic. Your goals and topics will be closely related.
• What specifically will you be describing in the different sections of your Web site?
• Don't worry about order at this time. Remember you can hyperlink the information and use a structure that fits your information needs.
• Typical information organization structures include:
• Linear
• Linear with alternatives
• Hierarchical
• Linear and hierarchical
• Web like
• Develop your content before you develop your layout and design.

Developing a storyboard (Lemay, 1995)

Next, decide what information goes on which pages of your Web site. One effective way to do this is through the use of a storyboard. The storyboard will allow you to outline your pages and content and even indicate links from one piece of information or page to another. This allows you to develop each page without having to remember exactly where that page fits into your site.

The storyboard helps you organize your information. You can use index cards and string or a simple outline on paper or a computer program. If you use index cards, let each card represent a separate page. List the topic or topics for the page. Lay out your cards and use the string to indicate links between pages. You will have some links that will be to URLs outside your site. Add these to your cards. Determine if links flow in one direction or are bi-directional. Remember to not leave users at a deadend page.

Hints for storyboarding (Lemay, 1995, p 44)

Things to think about:

• Which topics will go on each page?
• What are the primary forms of navigation between pages?
• What alternative forms of navigation are you going to provide?
• What will you put on your home page or the entry page to your site?
• How do your goals fit within your organization and design?

A link to a PowerPoint presentation will provide examples of storyboards. You will need the PowerPoint viewer to use the file. It has been installed on the computers in the classroom in Taylor Ed. Building. A site for downloading and installing the viewer will provide you with the right stuff. The instructions for configuring Netscape will get you started.

Cognition

• The cognitive needs of novice users are different from expert Web surfers. Those with considerable experience will be able to navigate back even if they leave your site to explore other links. Tell novices how to return.
• Novices also have different needs in relation to mastering facts, concepts, procedures and principles. Morris and Hinrichs (1996) provide suggestions for meeting the needs of novice surfers.

Audience Factors

Who is your audience?

How do you design for their needs?

Consider the prior Internet experience of those using your site and their knowledge and experience with computers in general. These factors impact the amount of guidance and assistance your users will need.

• What basic skills will your users have?
• Basic computer skills
• Typing skills
• Navigational needs
• Mailto form experience and access (not all browsers have mailto: capability)
• Orientation needs
• email use/ knowledge and access
• What other skills define site users?
• Discovery skills (Are your users comfortable experimenting and finding out for themselves?)
• Organizational skills
• Priority skills (Do users only need top level information?)
• Prior subject/ content knowledge
• Prerequisite skills of the users
• What is your audience's surfing experience?
• What is the expected use of the site?
• How much guidance do you expect users to need? Experienced surfers will have certain expectations and know how to deal with multi-level information structures; novices will need assistance.

If your site provides instruction, what type of students will be using your site (e.g., traditional, nontraditional, on-site, off-site)? Will your site serve individuals with disabilities (e.g., low vision, color blindness, hearing or physical impairments)? If yes, what accommodations will you use to make your site accessible?

How can you accommodate differences?

The Apple Web Design Guide suggests that you:

• Provide alternate text for images
• Provide downloadable files in cross-platform format
• Let users select multiple versions of your pages

Design an accessible site. For more information see:

• Best Practices: Web Design for Everyone by Rick Cook
• Center for Information Technology Accommodation
• Office of Adaptive Educational Services at IUPUI
• Trace Research & Development Center
• Starling Access Services
• University of Toronto
• WebAble This link appears to be temporarily out of commission.
  COMMENT: It is a shame this site is last alphabetically because it contains a comprehensive index to disability information on the Web. The focus here is on accessibility for the disabled; this site claims to be a 'first-stop-shop' for disability information; updated weekly (or close to weekly, anyway). Related web sites are organized by category, and the online library includes articles on assistive technology and links to online journals. A listserv associated with this site discusses products for assistive technology: send e-mail to majordomo@webable.com with the message 'subscribe adapt-products-annc' in the text of the message. Highly recommended by Internet Resources for Non-profit Organizations.

Technical Factors

What technical factors impact the delivery of Web documents?

How do these factors impact your planning process?

• What platform and browser will most of your site users have? Browsers render HTML differently. Whenever possible view your pages in several different browsers on different platforms (e.g., Macintosh, Windows, Unix) with graphical and text only browsers.
• Connection and transfer speeds vary greatly. Users rarely wait for huge pages or images to load. As Internet traffic increases, connection and transfer rates slow down.
• Design for the "lowest common denominator" of the hardware/ software limitations of your target audience. This ensures the greatest access, but limits the bells and whistles you can include on your pages. Decide what is most appropriate for your target audience and your main purpose. If you must communicate the information to a diverse audience with minimal hardware, design for the minimum or offer users the option of selecting a no frills version that still provides the critical information.
• Will access be via modem or ethernet connection? If by modem, at what speed? Will some users connect via a commercial service and have to pay for access? Users with slower modems may not have much RAM.
• Bandwidth is a critical element. Consider the "weakest link," or lowest common denominator. Design for the slowest link on the path from client to server.
• Minimize file size.
• Use small images or thumbnails to link to larger graphics.
• Repeat images where possible. Once an image is loaded in memory you do not have to spend time downloading. Use the same bullet and/ or horizontal rule on the entire page.
• As a rule of thumb, allow 1 second per 1k of file size on a 14.4 modem. Try to keep total page size to under 30k for faster access. The following table from Morris and Hinrichs (1996) provides ideal transfer rates for a variety of connections (p 18). Remember these are ideal.

• Standard Macintosh monitors display at 72 dpi, PCs at 96 dpi, and Unix boxes at a higher dpi. You make images sizes, as measured in kilo bytes, smaller by reducing them to 72 dpi prior to loading on the Web. Use GIF or JPEG format for images. Interlaced images and including width and height specifications for every image enhances accessibility.
• Know the difference between GIF and JPEG images. JPEG images typically compress better, are smaller, and load faster and are best for photographic images. JPEG compression does cause loss of some information. GIFs do not loose any image data during compression and are generally better for displaying line drawings and solid colored graphics.
• What type of (b & w, color), size (14 inch, smaller, larger) color (number of colors in display) monitor will most users have for viewing your page? If the color in images on your page is critical to the information you are providing (or concept you are teaching), will the color be exact enough for the users to make the discriminations needed? Different platforms have different color palettes and can cause great difficulty if exact color matching is important. Will any users be accessing via laptop? Think about that screen size. Apple Macintosh computers usually come with 16 million color capability by default and monitors for this platform usually have a higher gamma value. This may cause light problems in images. If you know all or almost all users will be using the Netscape browser, you can standardize your images for the Netscape palette. This helps eliminate some cross-platform issues.
• Keep your pages to a maximum of 480 to 500 pixels and they will work well on 14" and 21" monitors. Design for 256 colors and the majority of users will be able to view your pages well.
• Will your site require the use of any special helper applications or plug-ins? Will you provide download from your site or link to other sites for the files? Will you provide installation instructions and technical support? Remember novice users will be reluctant to install software and configure Netscape for your site. You will need to provide sufficient support to enhance the probability that novices will access the full capacity of your site.
• Will you want to restrict access to your Web materials to a certain segment of users? You will need to work with the webmaster where your information resides to do this. It is possible to restrict by domain or password.

Teaching Issues

What special issues are related to delivering instruction via Web pages?

If you are using your site to teach distance learning courses, how will you handle the following issues?

• If you are going to require submission of assignments using HTML, will you provide templates, will you teach HTML, or will you expect students to be self taught? If the students are to learn on their own, what self-instructional resources will you provide, if any?
• Will you offer options for completing assignments (e.g., will you accept traditional paper submissions instead of HTML or email responses)?
• Is lack of computer access an excuse for late assignments? How will you account for this in your grading policy?
• If you are employing online quizzes or tests, how will you verify who did the work?
• What other considerations would you need to make?

Navigation

How can you help users find their way around your site?

The Apple Web Design Guide suggests that you:

• Take advantage of keywords.
• Provide a directory or map of your site.
• Show users where they are.
• Minimize the need to scroll and resize.
• Use descriptive titles.
• Choose the appropriate depth versus breadth for your site.
• Use appropriate navigation buttons.
• Avoid dead ends.
• Include internal links on long pages.
• Include links to key locations in your web sites.
• Duplicate navigational items at the bottom of your pages.
• Be consistent in the placement of navigation links.
• Use cross references.
• Provide a search mechanism.

How can you guide users and eliminate nasty surprises?

The Apple Web Design Guide suggests that you:

• Tell users what to expect.
• Provide an introduction.
• Help orient users.
• Links should indicate what they link to.
  If the link connects to a file that downloads, let the user know what type of file it is. If the file type or your site require special plug-ins or helper applications, provide links to these and instructions for use.
• Advise users of file size before downloading.

Layout

How does layout affect the utility of your site?

• Users tend not to scroll. Keep pages to a 2 screen length maximum as a rule of thumb.
• Remember that HTML was designed to convey the structure of your document, not the layout. Use "accurate" HTML and your pages will look clear and professional on any browser.
• The reader has ultimate control over how your page will display. The reader selects fonts, background and link colors, and the inclusion of images. Design for flexibility and your pages will work well under most circumstances.
• Don't bury information. As a rule of thumb, three clicks to information is about as deep as users want to go.
• Use white space liberally and to your advantage. Remember your text can be treated as a design element.
• Establish a layout grid for your site. This is a consistent design for the layout of major page elements. For example, you might have a banner across the top of each page and navigational buttons down the side or across the bottom.

Maintenance

Is your site completely functional?

• Do all features (e.g., links, frames, graphics) on your site actually work?
• If you do not have almost 100% functionality, you will frustrate users and drive them away.
• Functionality is related to maintenance. You must maintain active links and provide new information to keep users coming back to your site.
• As a part of your site plan, determine the degree of maintenance needed for each section and develop a plan for regularly scheduled maintenance tasks. Assign someone to do this. There are some server packages that help to automate checking and updating links. If you have a large and complex site, consider investing in this software.

File Management

How do you organize files for a large and complex Web site?

Typically you develop your Web files on your local computer and then up upload them to your Web account. To facilitate this process, it is best to organize your files locally in folders or directories with exactly the same structure you will have in your Web account. Set up a mirror image of your Web account structure on your local harddrive. Then when you upload files your relative links will all work properly.

Try to use filenames that convey meaning and are in all lower case. You can use your storyboard to determine file names for each page. This will help you if you happen to forget why you attached a certain name to a file. For complex sites it is best to keep track of file names and to use folders or directories for organization and management.

Breaking documents up into small parts has benefits and drawbacks. If you think users will want to print out the entire document, it is easier for the user if it is one long file. For long files you will need to provide a navigational structure that allows the user to quickly access the exact portion of the document with the information desired (e.g., a table of contents or index).

Copyright Issues

What do you need to know about copyright?

Information on the Internet is published and is therefore protected by copyright law. You must have permission from the author or creator to use copyrighted information and images. The work you publish on the Web will be protected by copyright law. If you plan to use any copyright protected information on your Web site, you will need to get written permission from the owner. It is best to deal with copyright permissions early in the development process.

Some information may be covered by the doctrine of "fair use" as when you use a brief quotation in a review or the use of a limited amount of information to illustrate a point in instructional material. The courts look at the purpose of the use and the potential economic effect on the owner of the work to determine the limits of "fair use" (Holden, 1995, p 448).

The Library of Congress and the Copyright Office Home Page provides information on copyright law discussions. You also may find more information at The Copyright Website.

Glossary

bandwidth

The capacity of a computer channel or data transmission cable, often expressed in bits or bytes per second (Holden, 1995, p 507).

Digital Signal Level 1 (DS1)

Designates the combination of 24 DS0 channels plus overhead bits into a 1.544 mbps T-1 data stream.

fair use

A legal doctrine by which courts can avoid rigid application of copyright law when a work is reproduced for purposes of comment, criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research (Holden, 1995, p 509).

gif

Graphics Interchange Format, a file format commonly used with graphics or photos displayed on Web documents (Holden, 1995, p 510).

interlaced gif

An extra step in the information process that allows you in three or more passes to display increasing amounts of information from a gif file instead of just one line or another. Displays a low-resolution version first, a better version next, and then a full-blown version (Holden, 1995, p 511).

ISDN

acronym for Integrated Services Digital Network; A telecommunication

system telephone companies can install that is 6 times faster than the fastest

modem; It also can transmit data and voice simultaneously

jpeg

Joint Photographic Experts Group, a graphic image compression format.

T-1

A term for a digital carrier facility used to transmit DS1 formatted digital signal at 1.544 mbps.

T-2

A term for a digital carrier facility used to transmit DS2 formatted digital carrier signal at 6.312 mbps.

References

Apple Computer, Inc. (1996)

"Apple Web Design Guide" (July 11, 1996). http://www.cybertech.apple.com/HI/web_design/intro.html (October 14, 1996).

Holden, G. (1995)

"Publishing on the World Wide Web for Macintosh" Hayden Books, Indianapolis, IN.

Lemay, L. (1995)

"Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML in a Week" SAMS Publishing, Indianapolis, IN.

Morris, E. S. & Hinrichs, R. J. (1996)

"Web Page Design: A Different Multimedia" SunSoft Press, Mountain View, CA.

Smith, P. (1996)

"Web Page Design" handout developed by Patricia Smith University of Kentucky FACTS Center.