Weblinks
Link to my Blog
Link to my Webspace
Link to JavaScript
Bibliography:
I've listed below the main sites used online. I researched many more too numerous to list. Using the web sites helped to define the importance of IA, IR and many other such subjects this course has debated and discussed.
http://www.webmonkey.com/reference/Unix_Guide
For research into using Unix.
http://www.city.ac.uk/tsg/unix/
Research to unix basics.
http://www2.sims.berkeley.edu/research/projects/how-much-info-2003/
Mass production of information. The need for top class Information Architecuture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Used for further understanding of digital information definition and Information as a concept definition
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0596514433/ref=cm_rdp_product
Web 2.0 Architectures: What entrepreneurs and information architects need to know
http://www.w3schools.com/
Great all round tutorial guide and help
http://www.webmonkey.com/
Good tutorials, easy to use
http://www.siriusweb.com/tutorials/gifvsjpg/
Good source for background info on images. GIF v JPG
http://www.scantips.com/basics09.html
Comparison GIF, JPG and PNG
http://dublincore.org/documents/dcmes-xml/
General background for information retrieval, indexing and XML information
http://www.brighthub.com/internet/web-development/articles/25619.aspx?p=2
CSS - Pros and Cons
http://www.csszengarden.com/
Great site clearly demonstrating the impact of CSS and its capabilities
http://www.bing.com/
http://www.google.com/
http://searchenginewatch.com/
http://www.searchtools.com
Reference Sources
Belkin, N. J., R.N. Oddy, and H.M. Brooks (1982).
ASK for information retrieval: part 1. background and theory Journal of Documentation 38(2).
Wilson, T.D. (1999) Models in information behaviour research. Journal of Documentation 55 (3), 249-270.
Rosenfeld, L. and Morville, P. (2007), Information Architecture for the World Wide Web (3rd Edition), Sebastopol, CA.: O'Reilly, 504 pp.
The second edition of an excellent introduction to the design, development and delivery of large scale web sites.
Monday 21 December 2009
Monday 14 December 2009
Week 10 - Information Architecture
Information Architecture (IA) is about the art and science of organising content, ordering of information, and the categorizing and labeling of this data, content and information. Web site design and build is critical to the success of a site but it’s not IA itself. IA is centred around the findability and usability of information.
We constantly expand upon traditional methods used in libraries but the www reaches further and wider and this evolves with improved methods and techniques. Louis Rosenfeld and Peter Morville 2007 have much to say on the issue of IA one of their obvious suggestions being that web site producers are experienced web consumers.
We all know what we like and don’t like about particular websites. Information architecture plays a critical role in this.
Some key considerations for quality IA:
Organisation systems – Alphabetical, Chronological, Geographical.
Ambiguous – topical, task or audience specific. These can be good for browsing, personally I often defer to search in these instances.
Labelling, thesauri and synonyms – important to index the content, sometimes narrow specific terms at other times broad general terms.
Navigation – intuitive and scalable. Links provided throughout the site to hold and capture the user’s imagination.
Search – reaching from simple search to more advanced, tailoring user’s requirements.
Visual appearance – good design and aesthetics, clarity is key.
Writing Styles – tone and style for the audience, these can differ substantially.
Personalisation and Customisation can both offer some great features to the user - need to bespoke for the audience.
The DITA module provides a taster and background to a broad range of topics. The impact on the digital structure of content has undoubtedly had an impact on the way I work day to day, even the simple things such as accurate filing and folder systems, down to better understanding of the implications of changing business requirements and matching this to IT support and potential development of our online services.
We constantly expand upon traditional methods used in libraries but the www reaches further and wider and this evolves with improved methods and techniques. Louis Rosenfeld and Peter Morville 2007 have much to say on the issue of IA one of their obvious suggestions being that web site producers are experienced web consumers.
We all know what we like and don’t like about particular websites. Information architecture plays a critical role in this.
Some key considerations for quality IA:
Organisation systems – Alphabetical, Chronological, Geographical.
Ambiguous – topical, task or audience specific. These can be good for browsing, personally I often defer to search in these instances.
Labelling, thesauri and synonyms – important to index the content, sometimes narrow specific terms at other times broad general terms.
Navigation – intuitive and scalable. Links provided throughout the site to hold and capture the user’s imagination.
Search – reaching from simple search to more advanced, tailoring user’s requirements.
Visual appearance – good design and aesthetics, clarity is key.
Writing Styles – tone and style for the audience, these can differ substantially.
Personalisation and Customisation can both offer some great features to the user - need to bespoke for the audience.
The DITA module provides a taster and background to a broad range of topics. The impact on the digital structure of content has undoubtedly had an impact on the way I work day to day, even the simple things such as accurate filing and folder systems, down to better understanding of the implications of changing business requirements and matching this to IT support and potential development of our online services.
Week 9 - Client side programming
Client side processing is often used when a web page requires high levels of interaction, with frequent changes and updates. Server side processing would be used if interaction between the client and the server were needed for each query, think of Streetmap.co.uk Client side applications generally use less information, are quicker to respond and can therefore be interactive. Certain forms of data transfer such as streaming media use both server and client to ensure speed and accuracy. Plugin software can sometimes be downloaded to speed up the process.
Getting the computers to talk to each other can be achieved using a programming language. The languages have standard terms and contain instruction. In our session we reviewed JavaScript technology, very powerful but very unforgiving. Code must match syntax.
Almost all programming languages follow seven fundamental concepts:
Variables – the buckets that hold the data.
Input and Output – Javascript manipulates the structure and content of the HTML and CSS both ways.
Arrays – think of it as an ordered list of buckets (variables).
Sequence – as the word implies one things happens after another.
Selection – Making code action only when certain conditions are met, so if this, then that.
Iteration – repeating an action, often the While statement.
Procedures – (may also be called functions, methods, sub-routines) the ability to provide commands in your own language.
We started to build a simple JavaScript in the lab to answer the exercise laid out in this section. Time in the lab was limited but we had further discussion with colleagues, both face to face, via discussion boards on CitySpace and email. Resulting in a successful completion of the excerise. Take a look. File put in unix folder separately to display JavaScript. Interacivity lost in transferring.
Andy’s advise of taking it step by step is critical. How to eat an elephant - small size chunks.
Getting the computers to talk to each other can be achieved using a programming language. The languages have standard terms and contain instruction. In our session we reviewed JavaScript technology, very powerful but very unforgiving. Code must match syntax.
Almost all programming languages follow seven fundamental concepts:
Variables – the buckets that hold the data.
Input and Output – Javascript manipulates the structure and content of the HTML and CSS both ways.
Arrays – think of it as an ordered list of buckets (variables).
Sequence – as the word implies one things happens after another.
Selection – Making code action only when certain conditions are met, so if this, then that.
Iteration – repeating an action, often the While statement.
Procedures – (may also be called functions, methods, sub-routines) the ability to provide commands in your own language.
We started to build a simple JavaScript in the lab to answer the exercise laid out in this section. Time in the lab was limited but we had further discussion with colleagues, both face to face, via discussion boards on CitySpace and email. Resulting in a successful completion of the excerise. Take a look. File put in unix folder separately to display JavaScript. Interacivity lost in transferring.
Andy’s advise of taking it step by step is critical. How to eat an elephant - small size chunks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
