The purpose of having this blog is to critic 2 websites. One good website and one bad website. I've chose leehwajewellery.com for my good website and nineplanets.org/earth.html for my bad website. For my blog, i will start with the bad website first followed by the good website. ENJOY!
Name of website: Earth
URL of website: http://www.nineplanets.org/earth.html
Evaluation:-
This website that i have found is very suitable for an example of a bad website. The picture at the top is the snapshot of the website. As you can see, the picture of the earth is not that interesting compared to any other website which includes borders to create a professional looking website. By just looking at the picture, it does not create any anxious feeling to read on further down the webpage. In addition, the black background of the picture does not really blend with the white background of the webpage. It makes the picture looks too outstanding and even out of place. CRAP does not apply in this website especially for contrast. The fonts are all the same, no interesting colour to create any interesting atmosphere.
It puts on all the information on the main webpage and makes it very horrible.
Moving on further down, with snapshot of the middle part of the webpage:-
The second picture is the snapshot of the middle part of the webpage. In my opinion, i find the background very plain. Supposedly, earth is an interesting topic to look upon, but the sight of this website just dampens the spirit of those who are looking for information about the earth. Information is hard to be extracted as i feel that the informations are all over the place. The reader does not know where to look at and this makes the website not user friendly. I think that tables could be use to store different in formation at one go. By having tables, it helps the reader to distinguish between information that is available. Also this website specifically does not have tables or div for the information.
QUOTED FROM THE SNAPSHOT OF THE PICTURE BELOW:-
"Space Shuttle view of the Strait of Gibraltar 71 Percent of the Earth's surface is covered with water. Earth is the only planet on which water can exist in liquid form on the surface (though there may be liquid ethane or methane on Titan's surface and liquid water beneath the surface of Europa). Liquid water is, of course, essential for life as we know it. The heat capacity of the oceans is also very important in keeping the Earth's temperature relatively stable. Liquid water is also responsible for most of the erosion and weathering of the Earth's continents, a process unique in the solar system today (though it may have occurred on Mars in the past).
Earth's atmosphere seen at the limb The Earth's atmosphere is 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, with traces of argon, carbon dioxide and water. There was probably a very much larger amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere when the Earth was first formed, but it has since been almost all incorporated into carbonate rocks and to a lesser extent dissolved into the oceans and consumed by living plants. Plate tectonics and biological processes now maintain a continual flow of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to these various "sinks" and back again. The tiny amount of carbon dioxide resident in the atmosphere at any time is extremely important to the maintenance of the Earth's surface temperature via the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect raises the average surface temperature about 35 degrees C above what it would otherwise be (from a frigid -21 C to a comfortable +14 C); without it the oceans would freeze and life as we know it would be impossible. (Water vapor is also an important greenhouse gas.) "
As you can see from the text above, the sentence structure from the website mostly have these kind of long sentences using very big vocabulary that some people may not know. This is a disadvantage as it targets to certain age of people. Another thing is that by referring to the 5 developement web process, concentrating on structure, there are no particular location for sub topics. In fact, it is spread all over the webpage. Thus this website has a poor navigation in supporting its sub topics. Poor navigation can lead to people who can't be bothered to find where's the information they needed and thus readers might just skip this website and focus on other websites that has good navigation.
The picture above is the source view of the earth website. I can see that tables and div were used. However, i feel that there is an urge to add more of these and be more systematic to get more users to use this website.
Introduction Page.(above)
Home Page(above)
This website that i have found is very suitable for a very good website. It has a very captivating introduction whereby the the necklace shown above will slowly appear on the black screen. Then comes the home page of the website. I practically love this plan made as i feel that it has a very good sense of the products even though i have not seen the content. By arriving at the home page of the website, i can see that this website has a high standard of value. It absolutely create a professional looking website in which users will have a pleasing look when entering this website. Personally, this website is very nice, elegant and eye-pleasing to look at.
In addition, by hovering at the links at the bottom page of the website different pictures will appear on the screen. This change is pictures makes the website thrilling and not boring. This is a good idea of catching the attention of the readers.
Name of website: Earth
URL of website: http://www.nineplanets.org/earth.html
Evaluation:-
This website that i have found is very suitable for an example of a bad website. The picture at the top is the snapshot of the website. As you can see, the picture of the earth is not that interesting compared to any other website which includes borders to create a professional looking website. By just looking at the picture, it does not create any anxious feeling to read on further down the webpage. In addition, the black background of the picture does not really blend with the white background of the webpage. It makes the picture looks too outstanding and even out of place. CRAP does not apply in this website especially for contrast. The fonts are all the same, no interesting colour to create any interesting atmosphere.
It puts on all the information on the main webpage and makes it very horrible.
Moving on further down, with snapshot of the middle part of the webpage:-
The second picture is the snapshot of the middle part of the webpage. In my opinion, i find the background very plain. Supposedly, earth is an interesting topic to look upon, but the sight of this website just dampens the spirit of those who are looking for information about the earth. Information is hard to be extracted as i feel that the informations are all over the place. The reader does not know where to look at and this makes the website not user friendly. I think that tables could be use to store different in formation at one go. By having tables, it helps the reader to distinguish between information that is available. Also this website specifically does not have tables or div for the information.
QUOTED FROM THE SNAPSHOT OF THE PICTURE BELOW:-
"Space Shuttle view of the Strait of Gibraltar 71 Percent of the Earth's surface is covered with water. Earth is the only planet on which water can exist in liquid form on the surface (though there may be liquid ethane or methane on Titan's surface and liquid water beneath the surface of Europa). Liquid water is, of course, essential for life as we know it. The heat capacity of the oceans is also very important in keeping the Earth's temperature relatively stable. Liquid water is also responsible for most of the erosion and weathering of the Earth's continents, a process unique in the solar system today (though it may have occurred on Mars in the past).
Earth's atmosphere seen at the limb The Earth's atmosphere is 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, with traces of argon, carbon dioxide and water. There was probably a very much larger amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere when the Earth was first formed, but it has since been almost all incorporated into carbonate rocks and to a lesser extent dissolved into the oceans and consumed by living plants. Plate tectonics and biological processes now maintain a continual flow of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to these various "sinks" and back again. The tiny amount of carbon dioxide resident in the atmosphere at any time is extremely important to the maintenance of the Earth's surface temperature via the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect raises the average surface temperature about 35 degrees C above what it would otherwise be (from a frigid -21 C to a comfortable +14 C); without it the oceans would freeze and life as we know it would be impossible. (Water vapor is also an important greenhouse gas.) "
As you can see from the text above, the sentence structure from the website mostly have these kind of long sentences using very big vocabulary that some people may not know. This is a disadvantage as it targets to certain age of people. Another thing is that by referring to the 5 developement web process, concentrating on structure, there are no particular location for sub topics. In fact, it is spread all over the webpage. Thus this website has a poor navigation in supporting its sub topics. Poor navigation can lead to people who can't be bothered to find where's the information they needed and thus readers might just skip this website and focus on other websites that has good navigation.
These two snapshots(above) are about the planet mars. I've clicked on the linked called 'mars' stated on the home page of the website, which is the earth. The readers might have thought that if the earth home page might be plain, they would click on the other links available. In sheer dissapointment, they will find almost all the web pages have the same look. No difference at all. The words used are very strong. Unattractive colours. Sentences used are quite long for some readers to keep up although alot of information is passed through. Too little pictures given for visualisation. These are the main things that will affect the readers.
The picture above is the source view of the earth website. I can see that tables and div were used. However, i feel that there is an urge to add more of these and be more systematic to get more users to use this website.
HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO MY WEBSITE?
By considering that this website is a bad website, it has shown me what to do in my future website. This website has practically warned me about certain things in designing a webpage. For example, when inserting a picture, i will have to make sure that the picture blends with the background of the webpage and will not make the website too full of colours or too even too plain like this earth website. I will also have to take note that the fonts used must not be too small or maintaining one colour and size throughout the whole website which makes the website look unattractive. Instead i will have to use several colours and different fonts for different sections. However i must also take note that my website must not be too full of colours and different sizes which makes the whole website looks so busy that information is hard to be read. This website also reminds me on the importance of having different sections or tables if alot of information needs to be given out. Thus, in my website i will have to make sure that i have seperate tables for information to avoid confusion.
Name of website: Lee Hwa Jewellery
URL of website: http://www.leehwajewellery.com/
Introduction Page.(above)
Home Page(above)
This website that i have found is very suitable for a very good website. It has a very captivating introduction whereby the the necklace shown above will slowly appear on the black screen. Then comes the home page of the website. I practically love this plan made as i feel that it has a very good sense of the products even though i have not seen the content. By arriving at the home page of the website, i can see that this website has a high standard of value. It absolutely create a professional looking website in which users will have a pleasing look when entering this website. Personally, this website is very nice, elegant and eye-pleasing to look at.
In addition, by hovering at the links at the bottom page of the website different pictures will appear on the screen. This change is pictures makes the website thrilling and not boring. This is a good idea of catching the attention of the readers.
The snapshots above are some of the pictures that appeared when the mouse is hovered onto the links. I practically love this idea as it produces good quality of photos and also the professional looking website. As i have mentioned above, the colours used really blend with each other and pictures taken really added on to their products online. Thus i feel that it is user friendly.
Unlike the bad website, this leehwa jewellery website even has a search box for users to find a specific item they wanted. This, thus create a very user-friendly website compared to the earth website. This search box allows the user to have a choice of their own which is showed by the yellow marking on the snapshot of the website. I find this search box very useful for users. The orange indicators on the picture tells the users who does not support flash to download the the free file that is available. This is a very strategic way to reach the users even to those who does not have a computer that support flash. It is also very systematic in their way of presenting their links not related to the jewellery.
The four snapshots above are some of the pictures in the website. As you can see, the information given is not too draggy or boring long sentences. The sentences are kept short for the users to read. Pictures were also used as this will cover the boredness of reading. Recent news are included by putting up the date. This makes the users feel that the website is updated. I can also include this in my website. Pictures of product were taken elegantly. I love their concept. In addition, all information are kept short and can be easily understood. Thus, most of all the downloading part is not that long for a flash website like this.
The picture above is the source view of the leehwa website. I've noticed that they have included javascript and also flash player. This adds on to the creativity of the website which makes the website looks more interesting. They also used CSS instead of the basic nested tables. This is what i can also take note of. Thus, overall this website is great.
HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO MY WEBSITE?
HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO MY WEBSITE?
This website has certainly passed me a great knowledge about web design. It tells me how much design is important to the readers. I will consider the different strategies made by the leehwa website and apply it to my own website so as to achieve alot of readers to use my website. I will also consider flash into my website as it has certainly captured my attention and also creates an exciting atmosphere to my own website. By having flash, users will change their attention to the particular website and i believe they will engage more to it. I also take not of their layout which is neat and simple yet attractive. Different pictures will also be added to my website to make it more lively rather than making it into a boring website. To make it more eye-catching i may also include an introduction page before the users are finally at the home page. Moreover, flash will be used for smooth changing of page. The different sections of the website will also be considered as it seperates different information and prevents it to be too wordy. Overall, this website is very satisfying and i hope to achieve the same satisfaction for my own website.
