Homepage Characteristics

A Homepage is another name for web site;  both are used interchangeably. "Where's your homepage?" is the same question as "What URL address is your web site?".

It should be the first page of the web site, explaining the web site goals, basic navigation method, identifying the owner/webmaster, soliciting feedback, and providing links to continue to another document. A web site is made up of various files which can be text documents, graphic images, sound or video.

Web site defined: A collection of linked files (hyperlinked pages) on the World Wide Web (WWW) based around a specific theme.

Useful analogy: A File cabinet (web site - http://www.1079.com),
holding various folders (sub-directory branches - http://www.1079.com/kent/iamm)
and within those individual pieces of paper (web pages - html documents - http://www.1079.com/kent/iamm/webd.htm).

Characteristics of a homepage  include:

    FAQ's (Frequently Asked Question Section)

FAQ stands for "Frequently Asked Questions". Many web sites have FAQ's listed as one of their first sections. These list questions that have come up in the past regarding the web site content, and help to eliminate a lot of wasted time and effort.

If you go to a web site looking for product information or organization contacts, chances are other people have been there looking for the same things too, and the FAQ addresses those questions along with some you might not have thought of.
 

Example: Medline Plus:   http://www.medlineplus.gov

Stopping into this page first will save you time by seeing if the content is the type you're looking for, as well as if it is current or not. Was the last page updated in 1995?

Example: Webopedia @  http://webopedia.internet.com/ - New Terms and Links

    Hyperlinks

These are the "keys to the Internet". Hyperlinks are words that look different in color than normal text and are often underlined. When you click on them, they will transfer you to another screen, which can be either another file on your computer or another computer altogether. They are always underlined and usually are in a different color than the rest of the text on a page. Use the status bar to see where they'll take you!
 

Example: Medline Plus Tutorials: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorial.html

These are pictures that contain hidden hyperlinks. You may go to a web site that will open with a picture of a desk with a rolodex, book, and pen. If you move your mouse over the images you'll know that there is a hyperlink there because the pointer will change to a hand. The rolodex may link you to a company directory, the book to a product catalog, the pen to an e-mail link.
 

Example: CBS Corporation properties:  http://www.cbscorporation.com/

Often times this feature appears as an image map or a table containing links or search engine dialog boxes usually within that web site only. Navigation bars can be anywhere. They are located usually at the bottom, but are also found at the top or sides of the main window. They load quickly thanks to cache.
 

Example: Cleveland Indians homepage:  http://www.indians.com

Frames within a computer screen are a new feature of the Internet landscape. Not all of the browsers you use will be able to use them but most current ones do. Many web sites that use them ask the user if they want a framed or non-framed version of the site.

Frames add multi-dimensions to a users internet experience. Frames will partition a screen into however many parts the web designer wants. We'll use two parts as an example. When a user looks at the screen, they will see two different ones. Each will usually have an individual scroll bar, and each will probably have its own unique background color and graphics.

Usually, one of the screens is a Navigation Bar, that will stay the same no matter what the other screens has on it. Sometimes this screen can also be scrolled down to read more information.

When you pick one of the links on the navigation bar,  the other screen changes and produces the information you need.
 

Example:  http://www.webteacher.org

How to review a web site

Site Accuracy (any evidence of quality control/error-free facts)

Site Intent (advertising, evidence of bias, intended audience)

Site Currency (what type of date on page, a specific date, copyright, nothing? how current are links)

Site Usability (pages load quickly, do links work, organization is logical, good relationship to search topic)

Exercise:
Using the Criteria above, take 5 minutes and some paper, and review the following page:  http://147.129.226.1/library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm

On your paper answer these questions:
Is it credible? Accurate? Mistake free (how many mistakes can you spot)? What is the intent? Is it properly dated? How useful is it?

This page was last updated on 05/29/06

Is it Under Construction? Always.

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