Don't bury the message

An article called Writing for the Web can be found on the Dartmouth Web site and is a good reminder that we have very little time to capture a readers attention.

An item of interest:

"Visual distraction. Colored and underlined text within body text pulls the eye by disrupting the uniformity of the text block. If you place a link within a paragraph, the user's eye will be drawn to the link. Many users will click on that link directly without ever reading the text that forms its context."

In yet another dichotomy, it's clear that we want to provide links to more information but these links definitely distract. When I'm reading some of my own pages, I've been frustrated because the link is the first thing that catches my eye on the page and that's really not what I want. The link takes the reader to information that is ancillary to the main purpose of the page.

Boldface type can be used (and color too) to give those who are scanning a page something easy to grab. But boldface and or colored type appear to indicate that something is a link. Placing all the links in one location on the bottom of the page or in a side bar is a better strategy than putting links in the middle of a paragraph where they are distracting (or rather attracting).

The mysterious dimension

Every now and then, after putting a fairly decent amount of time into special content for a Web page, whether it's video, audio or photo galleries, I wonder if the information is getting to the right audience--if it's something interesting enough for visitors to read, view or listen to. Checking statistics on who is visiting and what they're doing doesn't seem to be something we have time to do regularly. Without this, however, we're working under the assumption that visitors to our site are getting what they want but the reality may be different.

These analytics (hmmm, hope this is the right word) are a mystery. Where are they? How do we get them? What help could they be in planning and preparing content for future pages?

Sometimes it takes awhile for content to get on a Web page. The Web page may be ready before all the special content is programmed and made available. Do we put the Web page up as is and add to it? Do people come back or once a person views the page is the opportunity lost for any special content that might come later to have an impact?

With YouTube I noticed is that it takes quite awhile to accumulate viewers. At first it seems like you're flying under the radar and then suddenly there are 3,000 viewers. Does the Web work the same? Do viewers multiply the longer information is available? What's the best method for directing people to the site?

It's as if we're operating in another dimension. There's a world on the other side of the computer screen that is buzzing with activity but on our side, we cannot see what's happening there very clearly. Maybe it's just a guessing game where you test an idea and if it doesn't work, you change it. But how much does a bad guess cost and how much is a good guess wasted if it's not marketed properly?

Content concerns: posting potentially offensive content

I was energized last night after attending some student presentations in a seminar class. (There is probably no better haven for those who love to learn and share knowledge than an institution of higher learning!) The topics covered were about religion and popular culture--and the students did a fantastic job. We were able to arrange for audio, video and photography of the class and plan to make this information (in some format) available on the Web.

So, here I sit with really interesting and thoughtful "intellectual property"--both the professor's in her idea for the seminar and how she covered the material, and the students in their own ideas for how to present their topics which include PowerPoint presentations and videos. Can't wait to get this information out on the Web! But wait, there are some aspects of these presentations that may make viewers/listeners cringe. (How exactly does one talk about religion and South Park without being repulsed by not only the extreme representation (or misrepresentation) of religious material, but also by the embarrassing fact that despite the offensive content, we laugh.

Although the content of the presentations is related to a learning experience in a course approved by the University, does that protect us from the possibility that someone may stumble on the material and find it offensive? Will a general outcry occur if a viewer sees the comparisons between Oprah and Jesus and is offended. Should the content of our Web site be restricted by the potential reactions of sensitive viewers/listeners or are we free to present information without fear of repercussions.

Second thought, there's no way to protect the information. Not that anyone actually cheats, but couldn't a less-than-honest student use the information on the Web to copy the ideas or even the actual presentations? Does it matter? Am I the first person to think of this...doubtful since I'm no genius.

The Web is a hazy, nebulous world that's hard to negotiate. I need to check for guidelines and to see how or if other universities deal with these issues.

Reaching out through podcasts

Podcasting peaks my interest. The multi-tasking mindset lends itself to them. I listen to the WSJ podcast while I'm working on something else. I hope the information is seeping into my subconscious, because I find I'm often not paying attention. Subliminal messages finding their way into my knowledge bank while I'm putting a Web page together. One day I may find that instead of handling the topic at hand, my Web page contains typewritten copy from the podcast I've been listening too.
"Faculty team discovers cure for cancer. And the online Wall Street Journal Web site is now subscription free!"

Yikes.

The university connection with the community fires my imagination. Shouldn't a university be a resource for the community. A place where we can go to find comments and thoughtful reflection on social, economic, and environmental issues. Where can you get details or explanations on the meaning of life? (which is 42--see Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy for more information.) Is it coincidental that universe is in the word "university?" Though getting bodies in the chairs is essential to the survival of the institution, can we also be a resource and refuge for people who are interested in learning, growing and chewing on more than just the "spoon-feed me now" pablum we're accustomed to?

Could the use of podcasts open the door to the local community who may not have the time to come to lectures and panel discussions but might want to have a brief synopsis or some points to reflect on regarding issues that affect everyone?

"We get it done!" Eventually."

There's something so fun about a work day when everyone is in a good mood--relaxed...usually on a Friday! I heard my colleague talking on the phone this afternoon about a web project someone requested. (I'm not eavesdropping. Really. My office is an outer room to my colleague's and so we will naturally overhear each others conversations.) As he was hanging up the phone, the last thing he said to the caller was to apologize for the delay in getting to the project and saying, "We get it done, eventually."

This struck me so funny. The web department motto. "We get it done! Eventually."

But slow and steady wins the race, right! And maybe it's better to focus on taking care of one thing at a time.

Hey nonny nonny!

"Then sigh not so, but let them go
and be you blithe and bonny,
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into hey nonny nonny!"

After a long hiatus, I watched once again Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing and suddenly I thought that Hey nonny nonny! might be an appropriate thing to say when work is frustrating. Somehow the Web lends itself to this response. Who knows how long a particular thing that is all the rage now will stay popular. What will be the newest Facebook or SecondLife to come along and replace all that we thought would be around for longer. Flexible, fun, flirtatious...one day it's one thing another day it's something else. There's no catching up or outrunning it. The capricious Web is as tumultuous and changing as life itself. It's rather funny really as we all race to keep up with and surpass each other's presence on the Web. A carefree and lighthearted approach might spark the imagination and help me realize that what's here today is gone tomorrow! Boy I love a good glass of wine! All is right with the world.

Juggling skills required

Much time is spent trying to juggle schedules and rooms and equipment for audio recordings I'm hoping to post online. The cart definitely is before the horse in this process, because I know what I want the end product to be but getting the pieces together has me running for the Nice 'n Easy box.

Several hours last week were spent coordinating a professor, a student, a room, a facilities work order and procuring a digital recorder from a neighboring department for a photo gallery/slide show project. The house of cards came tumbling down when my professor needed to reschedule. I've been able to get the student, the professor, the room and the facilities work order but I don't have a digital recorder because the one I was going to use is not available.

Our photographer is planning on ordering a digital recorder for our office but I don't know if it will be here by Friday. Borrowing a recorder from the communications department may be possible but I understand through the grapevine that this is similar to infiltrating Fort Knox.

Other universities must also be feeling this frustration as we scramble to pull together interesting things for the Web with limited resources.