My Web 2.0 website

How did they differ?

My final project was pretty different then my storyboards only because of the layout the templates gave me. I still gave me a great idea and I still used a lot of the same content. It was very helpful and I am glad I had it to keep my pages organized. I used a lot more text and even added a side show to one of the pages.

Reflection

I really did learn a lot in this class from the beginning learning about CRAP to the end putting together a 2.0 web site. I wish we actually had more time to learn more. I really enjoyed the photo shop and learning how to use the different tools. I love to take pictures so I am excited to try out some of the techniques we learned. It was really cool putting in the html codes in notebook and then watching them transform onto the pages it was like Morris code. I realize there is so much more to learn and we just scraped the surface but it was a great learning experience and it gave me a whole new respect for wed design. I will forever be a critic now :-)

Compare and Contrast

I decided to use weebly after I tried webnodes first and it did not turn out well. I think I likes using the HTML better because it gave you so many more options then the free 2.0 sites. I had trouble changing back grounds and I was afraid to mess around with it to much and lose the work I had already done. The 2.0 site did not give you a lot of options to use it was very limited. I guess if you where to pay for it more things would become available. I had trouble getting my pictures in the right place and could not figure out how to get rid of something after I started it and did not like it. Well it was an experience and I guess I can only get batter as I tried and try again. My site address is http://jeslynnegrace.weebly.com/ please come visit me.

Story boards

We did the story boards this week for our class project.  The purpose is like a blue print or an outline for your web pages. It helps to get everything organized for when you are ready to start your page.
It helps to give you ideas and how to set everything on the pages so they are aligned and organized. I found them very helpful.

Reflection

Some of the tips and tricks that they show us how to use in photo shop where really neat. How to slice different frames and animate it. you always wonder how they do that when looking at different web pages so now we know. It still seems a little over whelming but if you do it a few times I assume it gets easier. I would like to try the rollovers but will have to see. I have learned there are so many steps that are needed to make a web site. from graphic to changing picture sizes to animation and cutting and letting to how to place items. I can see how it can get to be over whelming but I am glad I did take this class and I can do my own now. It's exciting.

Usability and Accessibility

Usability is how user friendly a web design is, is it easy to maneuver around the site. Are the prompts clear and defined. Is it error proof. Is the website easy to read and download quickly.

Accessibility has to do with how accessible the sit is to people with disabilities. Is it visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive and neurological adherent to people with disabilities. You also cannot forget the elderly users.

Week 5 blogging

Anyone can make a website is it a good thing? I believe it can be a good thing because it helps people with small business that do not have a lot of extra money to advertise reach customers they may not be able to otherwise. It also will help them to save money by doing it themselves instead of paying someone to do it. The software that is available is pretty user friendly. The only downfalls that may come into play is the professional sites maybe a little more inviting to the large availability on the web to users then one that an amateur may make. They armature also need to be aware of all the things that are needed to get your site up and running and make it available to a wide audience through keys words and search engines. Another downfall maybe working with graphics on your pages so that it does not take a long time for them to download and cause the audience to get frustrated and leave your page. So their are pros and cons but I do believe it is a good thing.

Will I be critical of websites now?

I already am taking the sites I look at apart. I guess I really never paid that much attention before. If I site was to busy or hard to move around in I just find another one.  I am worried about my own site now of others being critical but I have learned a lot about placement and color and font that will help me in designing it. I defiantly have the C.R.A.P. rules imbedded. I never knew how much went into designing a web page. There is a lot to think about before you even start to make it. Making sure you are staying in the 800 x600 and not going over so that people have to change there computers in order to view your page. Alignment is important so you do not lose the readers eye. Links are important so you do not frustrated your reader and they just leave your site and go somewhere else. The graphics are a big one, making sure they are not to big, that they do not become to pixilated and that they colors say in sync with the page. I am excited to try but I know its going to be a lot of work.

Website evaluations

The first website I chose is actually a friends site. I know they put a lot of work in it but some of it could use some tweaking, not that I am an expert but it does pull my eye in a lot of directions.
http://sunsetbarns.com/ . There is the blinking FYI that keeps pulling my eye away from the important information at the top of the page. The text in the center telling you about the Barns is all centered and running on. there is a lot of information on the first page and is all centered all the way down the page. the pictures changing on the side is distracting. The links at the top with the different style barns are clearly marked with descriptions and pictures which is nice for navigation. The links across the far top move you to the page quickly with no long wait. There are drop down arrows to let you know there are more links under the main one. So on this page the navigation is very user friendly but the interface is a little difficult with so much information and distractions on the main page.

The second site I chose http://www.cheryls.com I was looking for something that has to do with Mothers day. This was a very nice site to navigate. it was crisp and not over crowded. The interface was in the 800x600 and was horizontal format. The links were across the top and very clear with the colors and the drop down arrow and descriptions in the top link. The links took you to a separated page but the constancy of the pages let you know you were still on the same website because of the repetition of the colors and font. They had separate links that ran down the side that were for what was going on now. Quick links for mothers day, spring, specials and best sellers. These made it very easy to navigate if you were in a hurry and just wanted to look for something without hanging out on the page for an hour looking through everything that was available.  This made great business sense to me. If someone is a last minute gift person. You will probably get the sale on this site because you can come in find what you want and be out in a matter of minutes. The pictures of the product are all separated in different panels. under each category if you wanted to spend sometime on the website and browse. Very nice site.

Chapter 6 Quiz

This test was Easy at first to pick out the one that was visually challenged. Website A was not in the 800x600 containment, the link was half on the page and half off. The text was drawn across the whole page. The title was extremely large and took up most of the page. Maybe taking the title and the and the link boxes down a few size would help. Center type, and the link boxes huge and taking up a lot of space. The blinking animation in the corner. The huge Ratball is a link and so is the frame. Too many focal points are confusing on what direction you should be going.
Website B seems a little more user friendly. but still had issues. The text was very small and runs on and on. there are breaks in the text but not at the end of a sentence. The navigation buttons are easy to understand and use. the page is color coordinated. the links at the bottom of the page are underlined so you can tell they are links. nice left alignment without crowding the edge. white space to separate from the different areas.