Time for a little ftp action.
I successfully uploaded my personal web page to the my web host and now I'm going to try ftping the 'Metal Chicks Unite!' page that I put together for an earlier Module 3 to my personal web space.
http://pruedwyer.com/metal
Success!
The key questions to ask when uploading pages to the web are:
- is the page named correctly?
- are all relevant links or images in the appropriate folder?
FTPing documents is quite a simple process - as long as you have an FTP client that you are comfortable using and the ftp address of where you want to transfer the data, Bob's your uncle!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Module 3: FTP
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Module 3: WWW Standards - optional ‘standards’ task 2:
W3C VALIDATION
W3C hmmm?
I tested my Metal Chicks Unite! page on the W3C validation page and it had 35 errors so failed validation.
I went through the errors listed and they were all related to formatting - what was standard code for font colour etc raised red flags in the W3C validation. This would cause a display issue which in turn would affect usability of the page.
LEGAL ISSUES
The images I've used on my website are referenced back to the original source which was the owner's requirement for use. This usage does not contravene copyright laws.
The words I've used on my website are my own or referenced if appropriate. I've linked to appropriate Wikipedia pages within the document but have not referenced the links. This should be ok, but a reference stating that the links are to Wikipedia would ensure that this was ok.
Placing the Curtin logo on the page would not comply with the branding guidelines of the university. My site is not affiliated with the university and placement of their logo on this site would suggest that they accept and condone all information on the page.
If the Curtin logo were to be used, it would require agreement by the University's branding regulators and use of a disclaimer.
W3C hmmm?
I tested my Metal Chicks Unite! page on the W3C validation page and it had 35 errors so failed validation.
I went through the errors listed and they were all related to formatting - what was standard code for font colour etc raised red flags in the W3C validation. This would cause a display issue which in turn would affect usability of the page.
LEGAL ISSUES
The images I've used on my website are referenced back to the original source which was the owner's requirement for use. This usage does not contravene copyright laws.
The words I've used on my website are my own or referenced if appropriate. I've linked to appropriate Wikipedia pages within the document but have not referenced the links. This should be ok, but a reference stating that the links are to Wikipedia would ensure that this was ok.
Placing the Curtin logo on the page would not comply with the branding guidelines of the university. My site is not affiliated with the university and placement of their logo on this site would suggest that they accept and condone all information on the page.
If the Curtin logo were to be used, it would require agreement by the University's branding regulators and use of a disclaimer.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Module 3: WWW Standards - optional ‘standards’ task:
The second task in Module 3 looks directly at web writing and what some the accepted standards are. This was quite an interesting task as it covered some of the same sites that I had researched for the concepts assignment, and it is also interesting to look at web site design from different angles. Imagery and layout are important but the words that will appear on the page - and how they will appear - are an integral part of a viewable, accessible web page. There is no point having a page that could be a fantastic resource if it isn't designed in a way that makes it easy to access that information.
Prue's TOP 5 tips for writing for the web:
Tip 1: Start with the conclusion.
To entice the reader to continue perusing the material available to them on your page, you need to provide a summary straight up. It is important to grab the readers attention in their first scan of the page and give them enough data to establish whether or not this information is of use to them.
Tip 2: Get to and keep to the point.
As research has shown that the average web user scans text rather than reading word for word, it's highly likely that information will become lost if it doesn't stand alone.Don't create a page of marketing filler that promising to fufil your readers ever hope, wish and desire - but doesn't. Stay on track and write one paragraph per idea. Don't launch into a new idea halfway through, start a new paragraph for each new point or relevant tantilizing tidbit of information.
Tip 3: Don't waffle, itemize.
Make your copy easy to scan with keywords that stand out from the page. Keep your writing succinct by using short paragraphs, bullet points or lists. Do use headings, sub-headings etc to break the information into "bite-sized" pieces of data easily consumed in a quick scan of the page.
Tip 4: Be the strong link in the chain.
Add credibility to your information by supporting or emphasizing them through the use of hyperlinks. Whether you are linking to other pages on your site or to other sites, links stand out and make it easier for the user to quickly navigate to the where they need to go.
Tip 5: Keep your design simple.
Don't over-clutter the page or go overboard with glitzy animations that distract the reader from their reason for being on your website. Use imagery and graphics to enhance, not overwhelm. A simple, clean design will head users go directly to the point of interest on the site. If they have to hunt for it, it becomes time consuming and likely that they will just go somewhere else.
After reading the articles, much of the core content is similar - keep it short, simple and don't be afraid to let formatting emphasize your point through lists, bullets, pull-out quotes, highlight keywords and use of hyper-links. The more modern articles also focus on the design and the layout of the page which has become a more technical process since Neilsen's paper in 1997. The development of different techniques and software that supports them has certainly made the web more visual than it was a decade ago. It is much more common to have flash based websites that are interactive and to use images to replace large blocks of text.
It is interesting to note that while the visual aspect of the internet has changed dramatically in the past few years, the way we in which we interact with it as a informational tool is still very similar. Overall, Neilsen's paper still stands true. Many of the points he made in terms of how people read the web and interact with it are still relevant and supported in more current articles on this topic.
Prue's TOP 5 tips for writing for the web:
Tip 1: Start with the conclusion.
To entice the reader to continue perusing the material available to them on your page, you need to provide a summary straight up. It is important to grab the readers attention in their first scan of the page and give them enough data to establish whether or not this information is of use to them.
Tip 2: Get to and keep to the point.
As research has shown that the average web user scans text rather than reading word for word, it's highly likely that information will become lost if it doesn't stand alone.Don't create a page of marketing filler that promising to fufil your readers ever hope, wish and desire - but doesn't. Stay on track and write one paragraph per idea. Don't launch into a new idea halfway through, start a new paragraph for each new point or relevant tantilizing tidbit of information.
Tip 3: Don't waffle, itemize.
Make your copy easy to scan with keywords that stand out from the page. Keep your writing succinct by using short paragraphs, bullet points or lists. Do use headings, sub-headings etc to break the information into "bite-sized" pieces of data easily consumed in a quick scan of the page.
Tip 4: Be the strong link in the chain.
Add credibility to your information by supporting or emphasizing them through the use of hyperlinks. Whether you are linking to other pages on your site or to other sites, links stand out and make it easier for the user to quickly navigate to the where they need to go.
Tip 5: Keep your design simple.
Don't over-clutter the page or go overboard with glitzy animations that distract the reader from their reason for being on your website. Use imagery and graphics to enhance, not overwhelm. A simple, clean design will head users go directly to the point of interest on the site. If they have to hunt for it, it becomes time consuming and likely that they will just go somewhere else.
After reading the articles, much of the core content is similar - keep it short, simple and don't be afraid to let formatting emphasize your point through lists, bullets, pull-out quotes, highlight keywords and use of hyper-links. The more modern articles also focus on the design and the layout of the page which has become a more technical process since Neilsen's paper in 1997. The development of different techniques and software that supports them has certainly made the web more visual than it was a decade ago. It is much more common to have flash based websites that are interactive and to use images to replace large blocks of text.
It is interesting to note that while the visual aspect of the internet has changed dramatically in the past few years, the way we in which we interact with it as a informational tool is still very similar. Overall, Neilsen's paper still stands true. Many of the points he made in terms of how people read the web and interact with it are still relevant and supported in more current articles on this topic.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Module 3: HTML tags
HTML tagging ... it's something I haven't done for years and this ol' brain didn't just slide back into. I've become Dreamweaver lazy so the tutorials were a great refresher to get myself back into the rhythm of the code.
The tutorial was useful and I learnt things I hadn't previously know how to do - such as the horizontal lines. I enjoyed the tutorial and building my web page based on the basic code that had been covered. It was quite eye opening to see how much code is still quite relevant and taken for granted and how CSS makes things so much easier in some ways.
I found this to be an easy, enjoyable exercise. I kept the task very simple with basic coding, using a little CSS but 95% HTML on the page. I used little in the way of imagery as I really wanted to see what I could create with text and basic code. It was a pleasant surprise.
Being a Dreamweaver fan, I'd forgotten the simplicity of HTML tags - of the impact a page can have even when it isn't covered with images and animations, and doesn't have any savvy flash coding isn't turning it into a glossy brochure. Sure, it looked a lot like a web page straight out of the mid 90's ... ok, it looked like web pages I made in the mid 90's ... but it loaded quickly, was easy to us and didn't cause an epiletical fit for my audience (well not that I know of!). It was good to 'get back to basics'.
Differences between HTML and blogging? HTML can be a part of blogging. I usually write my blog in the Edit HTML window or set it up in Notepad and copy it into the Edit HTML window. I try to keep things simple and not have a lot of flashing stuff going on - after all, my blog is all about words, maybe an image or two but nothing I can't manage in HTML. For me, it's a great combination of something I enjoy - making words look pretty.
I see blogs and HTML pages as being very similar - it is about the layout and design of the information that you've herded together for others (and yourself) to use. Whether that is in the form of words, images, music etc.
The tutorial was useful and I learnt things I hadn't previously know how to do - such as the horizontal lines. I enjoyed the tutorial and building my web page based on the basic code that had been covered. It was quite eye opening to see how much code is still quite relevant and taken for granted and how CSS makes things so much easier in some ways.
I found this to be an easy, enjoyable exercise. I kept the task very simple with basic coding, using a little CSS but 95% HTML on the page. I used little in the way of imagery as I really wanted to see what I could create with text and basic code. It was a pleasant surprise.
Being a Dreamweaver fan, I'd forgotten the simplicity of HTML tags - of the impact a page can have even when it isn't covered with images and animations, and doesn't have any savvy flash coding isn't turning it into a glossy brochure. Sure, it looked a lot like a web page straight out of the mid 90's ... ok, it looked like web pages I made in the mid 90's ... but it loaded quickly, was easy to us and didn't cause an epiletical fit for my audience (well not that I know of!). It was good to 'get back to basics'.
Differences between HTML and blogging? HTML can be a part of blogging. I usually write my blog in the Edit HTML window or set it up in Notepad and copy it into the Edit HTML window. I try to keep things simple and not have a lot of flashing stuff going on - after all, my blog is all about words, maybe an image or two but nothing I can't manage in HTML. For me, it's a great combination of something I enjoy - making words look pretty.
I see blogs and HTML pages as being very similar - it is about the layout and design of the information that you've herded together for others (and yourself) to use. Whether that is in the form of words, images, music etc.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Module 2: Chat
It's time for a chat.
Along with a large percentage of the population, I've embraced chatting via the internet as a means of staying in regular contact with friends, meeting people with similar interests and communicating with some online businesses.
Initially it may seem that this is not unlike a phone call - synchronous, interactive conversation - but a number of factors stand out that make this forum more valuable for certain communicators.
As a part of the group task, I had a conversation via Windows Live with Peter Martin, Jai Galliott and Chris Clarke. The transcript of the conversation can be downloaded at the following link - Net 11 Chat Task Conversation.
I found this a little disjointed. Like all group chat situations, it was easy to lose track of the conversation and contributions can easily be out of sync. It's a bit like standing in a room where everyone is speaking at the same time but without the advantage of body language.
SecondLife was the option that I chose for the class experiment and met up with Peter Martin in the Second Life world. Unlike some other chat forums, we were able to experiment with different locations and 3D avatars to represent ourselves.
We spent some time exploring the Second Life world - investigating the different options of communication in that forum. What was interesting about this environment is being able to 'see' what is happening. My research has shown that a number of businesses and educational institutions use this environment for virtual classes, training and other communication purposes. It could be a very useful tool used for those purposes - particularly as a virtual classroom as location no longer becomes a factor and it can create the classroom vibe which is otherwise missing from external study.
I don't see Second Life replacing applications such as Yahoo Messenger or Windows Live - it is more a cross between a game and a chat application. For people inclined to want the game aspect they would look to World of Warcraft or other similar MMORPG and those looking for the standard chat application aspect may find one of the stand-alone applications available more easy to use.
I note though that with every release, standard chat applications offer more in the terms of tools for users. It was interesting to see how ICQ has developed since the mid 1990's in terms of interface and usability.
"The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate." Joseph Priestley
Along with a large percentage of the population, I've embraced chatting via the internet as a means of staying in regular contact with friends, meeting people with similar interests and communicating with some online businesses.
Initially it may seem that this is not unlike a phone call - synchronous, interactive conversation - but a number of factors stand out that make this forum more valuable for certain communicators.
- The cost of chat is inexpensive as you require the application - free to download - and an internet connection.
- Location and time zone become unimportant in this environment.
- Ability to share web links, files and photos (usually through click and drag).
- With webcam, this forum offers video conferencing.
- Can offer asynchronous communication through delivery of messages sent to off line users.
As a part of the group task, I had a conversation via Windows Live with Peter Martin, Jai Galliott and Chris Clarke. The transcript of the conversation can be downloaded at the following link - Net 11 Chat Task Conversation.
I found this a little disjointed. Like all group chat situations, it was easy to lose track of the conversation and contributions can easily be out of sync. It's a bit like standing in a room where everyone is speaking at the same time but without the advantage of body language.
SecondLife was the option that I chose for the class experiment and met up with Peter Martin in the Second Life world. Unlike some other chat forums, we were able to experiment with different locations and 3D avatars to represent ourselves.
We spent some time exploring the Second Life world - investigating the different options of communication in that forum. What was interesting about this environment is being able to 'see' what is happening. My research has shown that a number of businesses and educational institutions use this environment for virtual classes, training and other communication purposes. It could be a very useful tool used for those purposes - particularly as a virtual classroom as location no longer becomes a factor and it can create the classroom vibe which is otherwise missing from external study.
I don't see Second Life replacing applications such as Yahoo Messenger or Windows Live - it is more a cross between a game and a chat application. For people inclined to want the game aspect they would look to World of Warcraft or other similar MMORPG and those looking for the standard chat application aspect may find one of the stand-alone applications available more easy to use.
I note though that with every release, standard chat applications offer more in the terms of tools for users. It was interesting to see how ICQ has developed since the mid 1990's in terms of interface and usability.
"The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate." Joseph Priestley
Friday, March 28, 2008
Module 2: Newsgroups
This was a blast from the past for me. I used Newsgroups extensively in the early 1990's - back before Windows 3.1 and a WYSIWYG computing environment.
Overall Newsgroups haven't changed that much but the technology around them has.
I used the Newsgroup Reader through Microsoft Outlook 2007. Obviously Newsgroups are no longer popular with the masses as access to newsgroups was not immediately obvious and only available after reading help on how to add a short cut to your toolbar (however no help file was available to access the Newsgroups without adding the short cut).
Application issues aside, it was easy to search through the mass of newsgroups and subscribe to those of my choice. As this was a trip down memory lane, I subscribed to alt.music.kiss - a newsgroup I'd subscribed to in the past.
This isn't a heavily active newsgroups - 1 or 2 posts per week - I also subscribed to alt.games.the-sims-2 to experience more user interaction.
I found that newsgroups have become a home to spam and not heavily populated. With the infinite number of discussion boards available, this interactive format is definitely giving off the air of being out dated.
Below is a copy of the message I posted to the KISS newsgroup about a recent interview with the lead singer, Paul Stanley.
First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak. Epictetus
Overall Newsgroups haven't changed that much but the technology around them has.
I used the Newsgroup Reader through Microsoft Outlook 2007. Obviously Newsgroups are no longer popular with the masses as access to newsgroups was not immediately obvious and only available after reading help on how to add a short cut to your toolbar (however no help file was available to access the Newsgroups without adding the short cut).
Application issues aside, it was easy to search through the mass of newsgroups and subscribe to those of my choice. As this was a trip down memory lane, I subscribed to alt.music.kiss - a newsgroup I'd subscribed to in the past.
This isn't a heavily active newsgroups - 1 or 2 posts per week - I also subscribed to alt.games.the-sims-2 to experience more user interaction.
I found that newsgroups have become a home to spam and not heavily populated. With the infinite number of discussion boards available, this interactive format is definitely giving off the air of being out dated.
Below is a copy of the message I posted to the KISS newsgroup about a recent interview with the lead singer, Paul Stanley.
First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak. Epictetus
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Module 2: Lists
What are the pros and cons of email lists versus discussion boards?
The battle of the decade is taking place.
Email lists vs discussions boards - which one is better and will rule supreme?
Both offer:
Over to the blue team, what makes email lists better?
Are there certain kinds of communication or purposes more suited to one than the other?
In today's internet based society, a large number of communication options are available. Each option has advantages and disadvantages and what works best in one situation isn't guaranteed to have the same 'knight-in-shining-armor' approach in the next.
Email
Not suited when an immediate response is required but perfect for sharing attachments or extensive information to specific individuals or groups. Highly suitable for a business, education or home environment.
Instant Messenger
Suited when an immediate response in required as this allows the user to communicate in real time with specific individuals. Not suited for sharing attachments or extensive information. Best suited for home environments. Suitable for specific education and business environments for internal communications - particularly large organisations where individuals may be in different offices across the city, country or even the globe.
Chat Rooms
Suited when an immediate response in required as this allows the user to communicate in real time with multiple people. Information must be communicated in succinct messages. Great way to meet new people interested in the same specific topic. Not suited for sharing attachments or extensive information. Highly suitable for home environments. Suitable for a home environment but could work in an specific education environment. Unlikely to work for a business environment.
Newsgroups
Not suited when an immediate response is required but perfect for sharing extensive information with a group of people interested in the same topic. Unlikely to be useful for many environments - suitable for specific individuals interested in participating in ongoing discussions on topics. Potential to be completely replace by discussion boards/online forums. Due to lack of input from moderators, these can be an excellent forum for spam.
Discussion boards / Online Forums
Not suited when an immediate response is required but these are an ideal forum for sharing extensive information with a group of people interested in the same topic. Discussion boards can provide useful solutions to specific problems to individuals in a number of industries - the Information Technology (IT) industry definitely benefits from this forum. Useful for specific individuals in a business environment as well as students and home users. Forums are available for just about every topic from weight loss tips through to solutions for software issues or problems. Online forums do require registration and moderators can oversee to ensure there is minimal spamming.
The battle of the decade is taking place.
Email lists vs discussions boards - which one is better and will rule supreme?
Both offer:
- a community of people who share an interest in a specific topic
- are easy to participate by posting or responding to posted messages
- sharing of extensive information on a shared interest topic
- make it easy to target members to flame
- not able to provide immediate response to posts
Over to the blue team, what makes email lists better?
- offers convenience of information in a standard email format right to your inbox. Recipients can track, save and respond to posts through their email client
- limited to text based formatting to remain cross platform friendly
- messages can get lengthy when a topic receives a lot of discussion
- only able to be accessed from email client
- visual format allowing HTML formatting and imagery
- web based interface
- easy to view index
- flags new posts and topics
- not limited to operating system
- unable to provide immediate response to posts
- able to access from any internet browser
Are there certain kinds of communication or purposes more suited to one than the other?
In today's internet based society, a large number of communication options are available. Each option has advantages and disadvantages and what works best in one situation isn't guaranteed to have the same 'knight-in-shining-armor' approach in the next.
Not suited when an immediate response is required but perfect for sharing attachments or extensive information to specific individuals or groups. Highly suitable for a business, education or home environment.
Instant Messenger
Suited when an immediate response in required as this allows the user to communicate in real time with specific individuals. Not suited for sharing attachments or extensive information. Best suited for home environments. Suitable for specific education and business environments for internal communications - particularly large organisations where individuals may be in different offices across the city, country or even the globe.
Chat Rooms
Suited when an immediate response in required as this allows the user to communicate in real time with multiple people. Information must be communicated in succinct messages. Great way to meet new people interested in the same specific topic. Not suited for sharing attachments or extensive information. Highly suitable for home environments. Suitable for a home environment but could work in an specific education environment. Unlikely to work for a business environment.
Newsgroups
Not suited when an immediate response is required but perfect for sharing extensive information with a group of people interested in the same topic. Unlikely to be useful for many environments - suitable for specific individuals interested in participating in ongoing discussions on topics. Potential to be completely replace by discussion boards/online forums. Due to lack of input from moderators, these can be an excellent forum for spam.
Discussion boards / Online Forums
Not suited when an immediate response is required but these are an ideal forum for sharing extensive information with a group of people interested in the same topic. Discussion boards can provide useful solutions to specific problems to individuals in a number of industries - the Information Technology (IT) industry definitely benefits from this forum. Useful for specific individuals in a business environment as well as students and home users. Forums are available for just about every topic from weight loss tips through to solutions for software issues or problems. Online forums do require registration and moderators can oversee to ensure there is minimal spamming.
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