Online
Culture
By
Tiffany Shlain
Overview of Lecture
Understanding how to create for the web, is to learn about online culture.
* How is online communication
different then previous forms of communications?
§
Not grounded in a physical space
§
Interactivity
§
Speed of dissemination
* What are the attributes
of online culture?
§
Communication: Email
Benefits
Reintroduces writing
Always on
Immediate
Extends our memory
Telecommuting, travel (these seem to be opposite of each other,
doesn’t give a full thought like the others)
Efficient dissemination of information
Multilevel communication
Challenges
Email box never announces it’s full
Expectation of response time
The “Accidental” cc or bcc
New etiquette slow on the uptake
Rumors quick to spread
Expression limited to emoticons
§
Community
Past
Close, physical proximity
Townhalls
Present
Email
Web sites
Chat rooms
Benefits
Not limited by physical distance
New ways of connecting
Challenges
Face time is lost
§
Space
Benefits:
Better understanding of the interconnectedness of the world.
Challenges:
All the variables and actions from other parts of the world that
ultimately will affect you.
§
Crisis
Benefits:
Cell Phones, Beepers
Email:I’m Okay
Alternative perspectives
Forums to share thoughts
Online Donations
Database of information to fight terrorism
Challenges:
Stress on the worker of the constant stream of news.-No Filters
Paranoia
Rumors
Network tool for terrorism
§
Trust
Space Offline
12 ft= Public Space
12 to 4 ft=Social Space
4 ft to 18 inches=Personal
Space
Space Online
12 Ft= Public Space=Web sites
12 to 4 ft=Social Space=Bulletin Boards and postings
4 ft to 18 inches=Personal Space=Email
§
Issues
Privacy
Building trust in cyberspace
Understand the pro’s and con’s of the anonymity
Encourage a sense of community off and online
x
* Criteria for Judging for
a Webby Award
Content
Structure & Navigation
Visual Design
Interactivity
Functionality
Overall Experience
§
Content
Engaging and appropriate for audience
Fresh & relevant
Links to related Sites
Clearly stated policies
(These last two seem passe – how about user created content –
reviews, etc.)Provide an online archive
Develop Top 10 Lists
§
Structure
& Navigation
Navigation is the ease of finding what the visitor seeks.
People rely on the quality of navigation more than other
components
Be consistent, persistent and easy to find.
Create prompts, guides, tutorials, instructions to aid a
visitor through a transaction/and or search task on a site
§
Why is
information design *so* important?
Creates a sense of space
Allows navigation or movement through that space
Promotes priorities & goals
Establishes trust
§
Visual
Design
Clarity of purpose- The visual layout
How effectively does the design convey the idea and purpose of the
site?
The visual design should convey craftsmanship
Clean and simple
§
Interactivity
Email Lists
Discussion Boards
Moderated Online Chats
Customer Service
Peer to Peer?
Tools (online trading, banking, etc.)
§
Functionality
The ways in which the site technically functions.
Does it work on all browsers?
Does it work on various modem speeds?
How quickly does each page, text and images appear?
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Overall
Experience
A good web site is more than the sum of its parts.
Case Study of the best of the Web
VolunteerMatch.org