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This part of the report will give an evaluation of our web-site,
it will be a critical review based upon our prototype. When writing the evaluation we will
be continuously referring back to our final proposal where the requirements of the client
are highlighted, so that we can determine whether or not we have fulfilled them. This is
the most critical factor of the evaluation.
Site name : DETR
URL :
http://campus.fortunecity.com/shakespeare/733/proto2/main.html
Over all we feel that the web-site has been constructed in
co-ordnance with the user requirements. We have tried to redesign it with the emphasis on
making it a more interesting and easier site to navigate through, starting with the
transport aspect. If this meets to clients needs and requirements, the same architecture
will be used for the rest of the web-site.
The layout of our site has been designed using frames, there is a
frame at the top of the page which lets you scroll forwards and backwards to other pages,
as well as displaying our company name INFOCITY 2000. The other frame has been implemented
at the bottom of the page, acting as a navigation bar from which the users can go directly
to other specific topics within transport. The frames have been designed to always sit on
the top of the page thus being always visible and enabling the user to keep tabs on what
part of the site they have already visited. This method of using frames is very useful and
is of great use to the user.
The one major problem with using frames is that some browsers do
not recognise frames and for this reason we should have incorporated an option that allows
you to load the web-site without frames (to be implemented in final product). The use of
frames can also be over utilised and the web-site could be covered with frames and have a
small segment where the information is displayed. This is not a very good idea, as you do
not want to inconvenience the user and make his/her life difficult by continuously having
to use the scroll bar.
We, I feel have used frames effectively. They prove to have a
purpose and function within the web-site. Even by implementing two frames we have still
managed to keep enough space between them so that information can be displayed in a good
fashion.
One draw back that we have confronted is in the selection of
Fortuncity as our ISP. They have gone into our web site and placed advertisement banners
at the top of each page. This slows down the loading of our web pages and can cause an
inconvenience to our potential users. So that when you open a page the first thing you see
is their banner. This could discourage the user and get them thinking that this page is
not the right one.
The colours used have been implemented to make the web-site look
more attractive and interesting to the eye, the background of the pages have been designed
with the DTER logo in the background with links or information siting on top of that. This
is the general layout through out the web-site, thus creating a standard for the web-site.
The colours used have no descriptive meaning or connections with
the site it�s self they are merely there to help keep the user interested. We have
tried to use colours that are able to stand out against each other i.e. compliment each
other, as this will make it easier for the user to read and reduce eye strain.
The frames are black with white writing for the links, once a
link has been used the colour changes to a light blue. Both these colour are really
effective and standout against the black background. Overall the use of colours has been
fully utilised and great thought has been taken when deciding what colour to use, always
taking into consideration what it is going to look like on the screen and to user eyes.
Gif, jpegs and animation can be used on web-site for one primary
reason, which is to make it more interesting and create a bit of movement of the screen.
These gifs, jpegs and animation images can be used as links so that rather than the user
clicking on words they would click on the images, some moving others not. This is visually
better for the user has he/she can spot an icon and know that it links to associated pages
i.e. a train gif to represent pages that go to information on that topic.
In our prototype we have tried to incorporate the use of gif's
jpeg�s and animation, we have used an animation within the railway page which comes
in and brings in a message saying welcome, this was done just to demonstrate how animation
could be used in creating a web site. Gifs and Jpegs have been used throughout the site,
which include our company name etc.
We have tried to use them effectively and place them where we
thought the user would best appreciate them, always taking into consideration not to
clutter the page with them.
Use of Different Programming Languages
Web pages can be designed using various different packages and
languages e.g., html, vrml, Java, Java script, macromedia flash and dhtml. We have tried
to use some of these various techniques when developing our web-site to show the different
capabilities each has. The main bulk of the web-site has been constructed using html the
reason for this being that html is the most widely used, it is easy to understand and
programme, but comes with it�s limitations. It is effective for creating a fairly
basic web-site.
When creating the web-site we decided that it would be
interesting to experiment with flash, so when creating the title page we designed it using
this program. From looking at the title page you can see that it is fairly basic and has
not used flash to its full potential. It is has been used at a very basic level which
displays what kind of things you can achieve from macromedia flash. The links are created
using flash but at present they do not work in the way they should. You should be able to
rollover the link that then should change into a sun shaped representation, which you
should be able to click on and enter the page described.
As well as this we have tried to incorporate the use of Java
script and this is displayed with the dialogue boxes that appear when entering the title
page. This is a good way to represent messages within our web-site i.e. Shock wave plug is
required.
When looking at the title page you can see that no real attention
has been paid to the placing of the links or to the size of the page. It has been put
together for the sole propose of displaying the skills we have learnt using flash.
Improvement could be made in the design issue of the title page and with more emphasises
on what the client would like the title page to show and do.
There is minimal use of other programs and languages the majority
of the web-site has been created using html. Overall we have bought in other languages and
programs but have not used then to their potential and have not implemented them through
out the site.
The functionality of the product aims to provide a review of how
the site functions as a whole, does it meet requirements of clients? Does it flow? How
easy is it to navigate through? etc. After analysing the web-site I have come to the
conclusion that we have managed to link the pages together effectively and the information
flows in a structured way, if this is implemented throughout the site it should meet the
user requirements and list only factual and concise information.
The site navigate is one of the best aspects of the web-site, the
frame at the bottom of the pages is in theory a navigational tool which helps when
navigating around the site. It is well used and works well. The arrows at the top of the
page help go forward and back to pages previously visited.
Overall the prototype we have created meets the requirements of
the client apart from one aspect, that is where we have stated the use of an image maps.
Although this has not been implemented we have given an example of an image map in the
index page, which shows how the general idea works.
The pages within the web-site are consistent and have the same
basic layout, I feel that the layout could have been improved and more thought should have
gone into the way in which it was structured, maybe using one frame instead of two. The
colours used are fairly generic and not over-whelming thus easy to the eye.
The use of animation and gifs/jegs has been utilised very well.
No sound has been used within the site, this could be of advantage as most machines do not
have sound players, but on the other hand sound could make the site a bit more interesting
for people who have the facilities on their machines.
This page was last updated Friday January 23rd 1999