ANALYZING WEBSITE FEATURES

As you visit websites, identify some of these features and analyze them.  Some are used effectively; some not.  Some support the purpose of the website; some detract.

  • Links (text and graphic)
  • Layout:  one-column, two-column, three-column
  • Tables with visible/invisible borders; cell color; nested tables
  • Graphics (drawings, clip art, photographs, animation, transparent)
  • Audio (automatic and on-demand)
  • Frames
  • Backgrounds (plain/busy, vertical)
  • Menus with submenus (vertical/horizontal); color changes
  • "Lost" icons
  • Scrolling text (on page or status bar)
  • Identification of organization/individual:  name, address, city, state, phone, fax . . .
  • Error message (several different types)
  • Last update
  • Horizontal scroll bar necessary; customized scrollbars
  • Customized mouse pointers
  • Website awards
  • Email the webmaster
  • Notice of encryption
  • Notice of browser/plugin requirement
  • Banners
  • Marquees
  • Advertisements (popup/embedded)
  • Recommendation of browser and/or resolution
  • Repetition of top/left/bottom links or graphics (shared borders)
  • Consistent/varied use of colors and fonts
  • Use of Acrobat pdf files
  • Use of Word and Excel files
  • Use of PowerPoint shows
  • Entrance/splash page
  • Contents/Site map/Overview
  • Navigation aids: text and/or graphic

    • (to get from one section to another, to get back to homepage, to get to top/bottom of page)
  • Search website/web
  • Webforms
  • Drop down (or pop up) menus
  • Image map
  • Hover buttons
  • Text effects (color changes)
  • Secure server
  • Page transitions
  • Flash
  • Javascript
  • Java applets

Examples:

WEBPAGE

 COMPONENT(S) TO NOTE
1. www.mcsdga.net/inside/adm/charts/orgchart.html
www.gait-inc.org/		 Image map
2.   Shared borders (top, left, bottom)
3. www.uga.edu Horizontal menu, drop-down sub menus
4. www.lava.net/~colorcom/ Error 404
5. www.mcsdga.net Set homepage option
6. www.mcsdga.net/search.html Search website or Web with Google;  javascript: clock
7. hymnsite.com/ Automatic audio; midi file
8. www.mcsdtechcenter.org/links/ga.htm Audio on-demand; wave file
9. http://seale.starketech.com/ Sub-site; javascript: snowflakes
10. wandascountryhome.com/raindrops/index.html Javascripts: rain; marquee in status bar; customized scrollbar
11. colstate.edu/ Vertically scrolling text
12. wachovia.com Secure server (Note "s" in URL and padlock
13. www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/~druidhills/ Frames; horizontal scrolling text
14. www.savcds.org/ Javascript:  vertical menu with collapsible submenus
15. www.flintriveracademy.com/ Hover buttons
16. www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/SouthHS/ Re-direct
17. www.walkerschools.org/rhs/ Splash page, Flash banner
18. www.sealeumc.com Mouse trails
19. www.berkmar.com/ Centered table 768 pixels
20. www.northviewhigh.com/ Color
21. lafayettehigh.org/ Large image links
22. mulligan.mcsdga.net/request.htm Webform
23. www.mcsdga.net/news/splost/summary2_files/frame.htm PowerPoint show
24. www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/chapman-es/ Titlebar
25. www.eastsideelementary.com/ School slogan/motto
26. hteweb.rockdale.k12.ga.us/ Animated gifs; back button
27. www.bulloch.k12.ga.us/nes/ Movie
28. www.glynn.k12.ga.us/GDY/ Tables with lines
29. www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/CooperES/classes.html Class lists
30. www.theupatoiindians.com Large image

Page Changed 09/11/2006

Website Construction

StarkeTech