Week 4

Is this always a good thing?
I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this question.  On one hand the Internet provides an avenue for anyone to publish or post information.  Starting a home or small business using the Internet can be more cost effective.  Just think of all the businesses that are mail order and benefit from having a website.  On the other hand, if anyone can create a website how do you know it's creditable?  Anyone can create a site and fill it full of useless false information that is misleading to the viewers.  I thinks most people believe what they read and if the site is not creditable than people end up misinformed.  I would have to say that "always" is a strong word and I believe that it's not always a good thing.

Advantages and disadvantages
Like with anything you attempt yourself, there is a sense of accomplishment that one feels when the project is complete and only you can add that personal touch that makes it your own.  Expressing what you want your site to look like to someone else can be difficult, especially if you want something that's not popular or proper.  Then there's the subject of cost.  There are free web authoring sites available that would make creating you web site virtually free, unless you have to pay a hosting fee.

Drawbacks would include limited resources or knowledge available to you and the amount of time necessary to complete the website.  Lastly, creativity is not a side that everyone possesses, therefore, some people would benefit from having a professional create a site that is both inviting and usable.

Additional comments on the reading....
Chapter 3 was somewhat of a review of our class.  They explained what web pages are and the different software programs available to create and author your own website.   They explained how some of the different programs react or display different information.  Not every web authoring program reacts the same way and this information could be useful if I choose to use one of the programs that they use as an example.  Adding or modifying code by hand was also discussed briefly, I glad we did this in class.

Chapter 4 explained the various tools necessary for posting a website, including what a browser and server do, even how to find a server or host site.  They go on to explain what a domain name is and where you need to go in order to reserve one.  Just like with most projects planning and outling are keys to success.  Knowing what you what to accomplish ahead of time coupled with organizing, and naming your files are keys to creating a useful, usable, and informative website.

The Diigo readings focused on "How web pages work", "How to design your own web site", and the importance of "Universal design for websites".  The "How web pages work" article was very involved to the point of nausea.  TMI   The article on "How to design your own web site" was interesting and authored by a webmaster.  She talked about a a web site that specializes in "do it yourself" web site building.  The name of the site is SBI and she gave it a thumbs up rating for several reasons.  The site can be tailored to your ability whether your a novice or an experienced site designer.  The tools are available, easy to use, and they provide support and motivation to help you along the way.  Best of all there is a money back guarantee!!!  Who can beat that???  " Universal design for web sites" really focused on "accessibility" and the need for such.  Initially, when I thought of accessibility, I thought of people with disabilities, but it's much more than that.  Sure you need to consider people with disabilities, but you also need to consider language barriers, technology limitations, and software differences.  This article discussed the things web designers need to consider in order to remove the limitations and make a site that is "accessible" to anyone who is interested in viewing it.  They also stressed the need to plan for this in advance versus having to go back in later on and make the necessary changes.


Usability -vs Accessibility
Usability refers to how easy a site is to use or navigate through.  Does the site do what the user intended it to do without frustrating the user?
Accessibility refers to the web sites ability  to be used by anyone regardless of language, culture, location, and physical or mental ability.  It also refers to a sites ability to be accessed by various electronic devices and technologies.
Usability and accessibility are related and part of the ergonomics of a web site, you might say they compliment one another.  The world wide web has no limits, therefore, you need your site to have both usability and accessibility in order to accommodate everyone who wishes to access it.