Topic 10: Multimedia Integration and Interactivity

Multimedia is rather loosely defined as any combination of text, sound, and graphics. Websites that incorporate video, music, and/or Flash files would be considered multimedia sites. Of course, the Internet was first created to support text, and thus multimedia presents some challenges to website design especially in the areas of accessibility and security. Viruses and Trojans can be embedded in multimedia files or as email attachments, yet cannot be embedded in text. How does one describe a picture or video to a blind person or a piece of music to a deaf one?

Still, multimedia does have its place on the Internet and is becoming an important component of web design. The key question then becomes: when is it appropriate (or even necessary) to use an animation, a sound file, or Flash in a website? What kinds of information are best disseminated/consumed using these formats?

Internet TV broadcasting also has the potential to impact web design in a large way. Internet radio and "podcasting" are also becoming increasingly common. Is it likely that various media will converge? If so, how is this likely to change our world?

Finally, interactivity is perhaps what sets the Internet apart from other media. How has interactivity impacted web design and how can we design interactivity into a website? Should we?

Topic 9: Internet Marketing/Advertising

Making a buck online has been a relevant topic since the Internet commercialized in the mid-90's. What are the traditional ways that people advertise on the Internet? How successful have "push" and "pull" methods been? ScanOnline Marketing from Wikipedia.

The recent trend is to emphasize search engine prominence. If search engine links are indeed the best way to get consumers to one's site, then how does one improve one's search engine location?

The real goal is not to get someone to visit your website, but to get someone to keep coming back to your website time and time again. What methods are used to establish consumer loyalty online?

What do you think of the IAB? You may also be interested in reading the following article: Advertising Media.

Topic 8: Designing for Wireless/Mobile Devices

People are increasingly accessing the Internet via mobile devices such as PDA's and cell phones. What implications does the use of mobile devices have for website design and Internet publishing? Scan here. Is it necessary to develop a whole new set of HTML tags specifically for mobile devices? Consider:

• screen size
• availability of color and fonts
• dependence on batteries
• connection problems
• and how people use these devices to acquire information.

Designing for mobile devices is likely to big in the future as the number of users increases. Would this be something that you would be interested in? Why or why not?

Topic 7: Archiving Digital Documents

As with print publications, it is necessary to have some system for archiving digital materials as parts of our historical and cultural heritages. Archiving digital publications can be somewhat of a challenge. This is especially true of online newspapers since they frequently change content. What methods are currently in use for archiving digital materials? Why is it necessary to archive materials? What should be archived and for how long? Consider the rise of XML, Dublin Core, DOI's, metadata, and PURL's. Why do graphics and other multimedia files present such obstacles to archivists?

On an interesting sidenote, take a trip down memory lane on the Wayback Machine at the Internet Archives.

Topic 6: Information Graphics

Information graphics such as weather maps, knowledge maps, charts, and graphs are becoming increasingly common in print newspapers and magazines. Check out The National Weather Service, Google Earth, and An Atlas of Cyberspaces to get some examples.

Scan Blackwell & Engelhardt's article and Tufte's site to get a better idea of the state of the art.

What burdens do information graphics place on designers and users in terms of resources, cognitive load, cultural expectations, and the dissemination and consumption of information? Are these burdens compensated well enough through the use of information graphics to justify their inclusion in digital publications? Consider the need for data, updating, costs, and the variety of skills necessary for their creation.

Topic 5: RSS and News Aggregators

RSS is becoming an increasingly common way for people to disseminate and access news. However, RSS is still not very well supported by browsers and may require other software to be read. What are the pro's and con's of RSS, and how is RSS changing news consumption?

In similar vein, Google News and Yahoo News are news aggregators that could possibly be changing news consumption also. How do Google and Yahoo chose the news stories displayed? Is this a problem? How does this impact copyright? If you were an online news source, would you want to have your news articles displayed on one of these aggregators? Why or why not?

Topic 4: Critique of Online Newspapers/Magazines

Take a look at some of the newspapers listed here and/or some of the magazines listed here. Consider the design of these sites: navigation, organization of content, display, use of color, use of graphics and fonts, use of white space, use of interactive features such as blogs & hyperlinks & newsletters & promotionals & feedback, and layout. Is the use effective? Does it make you want to revisit the pages? Is it targetted for a specific audience?

Now, take a look at some newspaper websites in Kentucky by visiting the KPA member's list KPA Members. How do these local newspapers compare with their national/international cousins? How well do they match the needs and expectations of local users?

Be sure to provide the URL's for any sites cited. How could local newspapers better utilize existing technology to increase user engagement?

RJT