Category: ARTM2220 Designing for New Media

1. What are the goals of Apple’s website? How does Apple’s website address the needs of a user who has just purchased their first MacBook?
   1. Apple’s goal is to attract those who are interested in the latest trends in technology and reflect the characteristics of their products on their website while making it simple to purchase and obtain them. The website addresses the needs of new users by setting up multiple ways to interact with employees and help services as well as allowing them to easily access manuals, forums, and information on their products. Their purchasing system is also simplified for easy maneuvering and a speedy, straightforward checkout.
2. What are the functional specifications of Facebook’s wall? If you are not on Facebook, what are the specs for the signup page?
   1. Facebook includes a multitude of functional specifications on the typical user’s wall, including a feed of “organic” material made up of text, video, and picture posts with a full menu that leads you to your groups, favorites, applications, and a number of other categories specified by the user, a chat box with a list of online friends, links that allow you to travel to your page and profile and multiple ways to connect to your friends’ pages.
3. What are four architectural approaches to information structure? Find one example of each.
   1. Hierarchical:
      1. Each node has a parent node that trace back to a single point in which they all connect.
      2. Most websites are structured as it is the most common form of structure in the list. Apple would be an example of this as it guides the user through its sight and tends to have a pre-determined path defined.
   2. Organic:
      1. All elements of the website are connected on a case-by-case basis, meaning that the site does not directly control where the user is likely to go as there are too many given paths to be able to foresee a set path.
      2. An example of this is Wikipedia. This site allows users to search for specific items and within teach item are numerous in-text links that take you to an entirely different article, free from the one before it.
   3. Matrix:
      1. A mean that allows you to narrow your search among a number of nodes.
      2. Many shopping sites, typically for clothing, have menus that allow you to narrow your search results by specifications like color, size and style, resulting in a matrix structure.
   4. Sequential
      1. This structure allows only one straight path for the user to navigate. This would include media like TV and video, as you can only proceed forward or background rather than hop from node to node.
      2. Many checkout scenarios offer this structure, so that the user can only travel the step-by-step process of purchasing a product, rather than giving them the option to be distracted or lose interest in buying.
4. What percentage of The Huffington Post index page is navigation, and what percentage in content? What about Google, Wikipedia, and Etsy?
   1. Most of The Huffington Post is navigation. The entirety of the home page is made up of two navigation/search bars and the rest is a wall of links and photos to the daily articles posted by the post, but this also leads me to believe that the number of links leads to a large amount of content made available by said links. Google, itself, is purely navigational as it is a search engine. While it provides us with an unlimited amount of content, it is not the source of the content, but simply a means of acquiring it. Wikipedia is almost the opposite of Google, though, in the sense that you can search practically anything, but it also provides information and content on what you search without redirecting you to an entirely different site. Then, there is Etsy, an online shopping site, that I would say has the least amount of navigation. It has its items sorted in to categories that you can browse and narrow, but that is typical of most sites.
5. How does http://www.landor.com guide the readers’ eyes and focus their attention on what is important?
   1. Landor has quite a unique layout that really moves the reader’s eyes over the entirety of the page. Unlike most sites that just lay out all of their information and navigation options, Landor forces the user to physically move through the site with the use of a fade in technique that doesn’t allow the user to clearly see what is next on the page unless the user moves over it. It gives a sense of motion to the page that immerses the user in to the site.

• The goals of Apple’s website are to sell their products, inform the user, and

provide technical support. Apple addresses the needs of a user who has just

purchased their first MacBook by displaying available accessories and

showing user support if they are having trouble.

•  Some functional specifications of a Facebook wall include the user’s post in

order to connect people, chat to talk to people, and a search bar. For the

signup page, it displays a security system to login and a signup form.

• Hierarchical shows what’s the most important first and an example would be

Apple’s website.

A matrix structure allows the user to navigate through everything in the site

because it’s all connected and an example would be Amazon.

Organic structures have paths that don’t completely connect and an example

is Wikipedia.

Sequential structures move only forward or backward in the order that the

content is presented like a video or book.

•  The Huffington Post has a lot of navigation to different articles so I would so

50% navigation and 50% content, Google 100% navigation, Wiki 50% nav.

and 50% content, and Esty 60% nav. 40% content.

•  Landor guides the readers’ eyes by using a visually appealing color palette,

showcasing very clear and striking images, and having big easy to read

headings with some content.

 

• The goals of Apples website is to be easily accessed and simple navigation to any part of the site. For new buyers or and questions Apple provides a support page so that users can trouble shoot their questions or they also have the option to speak with someone one on one.
• The function of the Facebook wall is to display a profile picture any posts the user may have made, a sample of some of their most recent photos and a friends list. The Content Inventory is needed for the set up of such a profile so that similar information such as name, birthday, photos, and posts are displayed on every profile page or Facebook wall.
• The first structure is the Hierarchical approach and the apple home page is an example of this structure. It has links that remain at the top of every page and hold parent links to other links that can be thought of as child links. The second is the Matrix approach and websites like Amazon follow the matrix to navigate the website by selecting a type of product and narrowing down the search by also selecting a color or style of product that they are searching for. The next structure is the organic, this approach does not follow any consistent pattern and websites like Wikipedia is connected case by case instead of by a category. Finally the final structure is sequential, this approach is mostly used when a user is making a purchase on a website so they must follow steps to achieve an outcome in a sequence and not any random order.
• On most of these sites content is fairly dominant and the actual navigation is at the bottom of the page with many links.
• The Landor website uses contrast and color as well as hierarchy to guide the reader and also uses an arrow on the homepage to make the readers see more of their content when it is clicked. The use of bright yellow really catches the users attention and making the text black when scrolled over also catches the eye and users can’t help but read.

1.) What are the goals of Apple’s website? How does Apple’s website address the needs of a user who has just purchased their first Macbook?

Apple’s goal is to reach the users goal, meaning that the website is easy and clear to read and also easy to navigate through to find what they are looking for. They sort it all out on the navigation bar. You can choose which “Mac” you purchased or want to purchase and if you do not know they also have the names and small icons to make it easy for the user. It is easy for all ages to use. It is quick and easy and a very user friendly website!

2.) What are the functional specifications of Facebook’s wall?

The functional specifications would be to share and communicate. How does Facebook allow you to do that? By having chats, posting pictures, by having albums to store your photos in, and also being able to post things. You can also search and add friends to stay in touch with them.

3.) What are the 4 architectural approaches to information structure?

Hierarchal: The most important stuff. It is the “navigation bar.” People find the most important factors of the website on this structure. Apple’s website would be an example of this.

Matrix Structure: How things relate. Allows the user to move from place to place and navigate. An example of this would be Library.rmu.edu

Organic Structure: Not organized by patterns. It is very unique because not everyone will have the same “movement” as you can say. Not everyone ends up in the same place. An example of this would be Wikipedia.

Sequential Structure: A sequence, something like a video, a movie or a book. Amazon would be an example of this.

 

4.)What percent of the Huffington Post index page is navigation and what percent is content? 

I would say that the Huffington Post would be about 80% navigation and 20% content

Google: 80% navigation, 20% content

Wikipedia: 90% navigation, 10% content

Etsy: 60% navigation, 40% content

5.)How does www.landor.com guide the reader’s eyes and focus their attention on whats important?

I believe that their color choice of the white, the blue’s and yellow’s work very well. They really catch the eye. They have nice big typography that is always eye catching. The overall layout works well for the website and also the parallax scroll that they have really makes you read as you scroll down the page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are the goals of Apple’s website? How does Apple’s website address the needs of a user who has just purchased their first MacBook? (pp. 41-56)

The goals of Apple’s website would be to provide their products but also to make money. Apple has many support systems on there site. They have troubleshooting, helpline number and store locations to help any of the issues that may occur.

What are the functional specifications of Facebook’s wall? If you are not on Facebook what are the specs for the signup page? (pp. 72-75)

For the sign up page you must enter either your email or phone number for conformation and security purposes. Also you must enter your age, however there isn’t anything checking and confirming your actual age.

What are four architectural approaches to information structure? Find one example of each. (pp. 94-106)

Hierarchy, organic, matrix and sequential. RMU.edu, Wikipedia.com, BestBuy.com, and check out section of Amazon.com. (in order)

What percentage of The Huffington Post index page is navigation, and what percentage is content? What about Google, Wikipedia, and Etsy? (pp. 116-134)

The majority of the Huffington Post is navigation. This helps you to find what you are looking for and articles that are similar. A small percent of the site is actual content. Google would have the most navigation because when you do get to the content it is no longer the Google site. Wikipedia is almost all content because it is organic and there isn’t really any navigation to certain pages but they use hyperlinks for navigation. Etsy is mainly navigation, using the matrix format you have to click through things to get to the content that you want.

How does http://www.landor.com guide the readers’ eyes and focus their attention on what is important? (pp. 144-155 )

Landor uses jQuery and flash to keep what is important in front of you. You must scroll to see new content and it uses visuals that will appear and disappear depending on the part you scroll to.

• What are the goals of Apple’s website? How does Apple’s website address the needs of a user who has just purchased their first MacBook? (pp. 41-56)

I think Apple’s entire site is made with simplicity in mind. It’s made to bring the specs of all of their products into one concise site. Apple highlights some of the best features of any product as you scroll through their pages, not just the MacBook. For someone who just purchased a Mac Book, it is easy to find what will be some of the most exciting things you can do with this machine. What to learn down to the very tee what its retina screen is doing for you? What about the inner design of the product? Just click the “learn more” button and you will probably find all the information you need. That is how Apple helps any new user to their products.

• What are the functional specifications of Facebook’s wall? If you are not on Facebook what are the specs for the signup page? (pp. 72-75)

Facebook’s main focus on its login page is ease of use. The login/register page is very easy to understand. You know where you are with the simple top banner that clearly states their name. If you’re just signing up, they give you a small blurb of what Facebook is all about, 4 short lines of text. Finally, they let you sign up right there on the home page. I believe this was done to let people think that it is so easy to sign up for Facebook, so you might as well do it right now.

• What are four architectural approaches to information structure? Find one example of each. (pp. 94-106)

The first structure is hierarchical. An example of this structure would be ESPN’s website. There is the main page, and then a banner with the various sports covered. When clicking on a specific sport, there is another page that will have an even more in-depth banner to make your search for stats or a specific team even easier. The second structure is a matrix structure. RMU’s library search engine, run by EBSCOhost, is an example of this type of web structure. You can search through the website in multiple ways, making it a matrix in nature. You can use key words to find an article, or only use dates for a certain time frame, possibly find only peer reviewed essays. You can do all of that on the libraries website. The third structure is organic. McGraw-Hill’s connect website seems organic in its nature. When navigating through e-books or learning a lesson, there is no trail of where you have been, meaning you have to start all the way from the beginning if you want to do something over. The final structure is the sequential structure. A YouTube channel with playlists is an example of sequential structure. A person’s channel is placed in order of time, and the individual playlists are also meant to be watched in sequential order.

• What percentage of The Huffington Post index page is navigation, and what percentage is content? What about Google, Wikipedia, and Etsy? (pp. 116-134)

Huffington Post: 30/70 nearly everything in the page is linkable to somewhere else, but they do have lots of headlines that give some content information. Google: 85/15 everything here is a link. The only information you get is the one word description of what you are clicking on. Wikipedia: 50/50 there’s a good mix of actual content versus just navigation, the most balanced of the three so far. Etsy: 25/75 you get information on what you’re clicking on from the pictures that are the links.

• How does http://www.landor.com guide the readers’ eyes and focus their attention on what is important? (pp. 144-155 )

Landor’s home page is stark white, and then the information shows up in the highlighter yellow that makes you stare right at the information. It effectively moves the eyes of the reader to each sequential piece of information.