Module 3

Module 3 – Contributing to the Infosphere: e-writing?

(1) The Blogging Phenomenon: Who? How? Why?

Pruitt, C. (2005). The Blogging Phenomenon: Who? How? Why? The Digital Divide Network. Retrieved January 15, 2007 from http://www.digitaldivide.net/articles/view.php?ArticleID=86

This article, published in 2005, is a good introduction to the ever-growing blogging industry. It is clearly written, objective and puts blogging in its real-life socio-political context. After reading this article, most readers would have a much clearer idea of the whys and wherefores of blogging. The article’s layout comprises a central column on the page, the narrow width making it easy scan quickly. Paragraphs are broken up with white space between. It ‘looks’ easy to read size-wise and the text is black on white background. [This article was chosen over another similarly well-written article on another site, but which had a black background that was hard to look at.] A handful of hyperlinks take readers to external sites for further information. The whole page itself is low-key in style, with two side panels either side, again with white backgrounds, and heading bars in a subtle green colour – the overall effect is understated and substantial, which adds to the feeling of objectivity and accuracy.

Author Cedar Pruitt has a masters degree in technology in education, and has designed and built several websites. She is particularly interested in how new media affects child development, parenting and education. The article is published on a site called the Digital Divide Network and hosted by a US organization called the Center for Media & Community. It offers free blogging, discussion boards and news to anyone interested in using ICTs for community development and lifelong learning. The whole vibe of this site and article is helpful, solid and non-commercial.

Concepts – Does the uptake of new media by different societies around the globe reflect or challenge the status quo? E-publishing, particularly blogging, can be used by anyone who can read, write and who has computer access (these are other issues!), to get their message across, no matter how miss-spelt or unsavoury it is.

(2) Vincent Flanders’ Web Pages That Suck

Flanders, V. (1996 ) Vincent Flanders’ web pages that suck. Retrieved January 15, 2007 from http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/

This website is a breath of fresh air amongst a multitude of sites claiming to help users design good web pages. Using humour, example and reader input, author Vince Flanders helps web designers and companies see the error of their ways when it comes to poor design or non-user friendly websites. His main message is simple - create designs for the client’s audience, not the client. Rather than offering tutorials on good web design, he provides tools (checklists) so users can evaluate their own mistakes. There is a strong consumer advocacy element running through - readers nominate bad websites which are then published with comment in The Daily Sucker department. Flanders is not scared of big companies, examples include the Toyota site for its poor usability. In the interests of topicality and fairness, the site will also update if a website later improves itself.

Navigating this site is sometimes confusing; there is so much content it is easy to spend a lot of time going through it all. The site sometimes goes to different pages with same content, but a different template or colours. The temptingly named “Worst Web Page in the World” could not be found. A number of small hyperlinked adverts run through the pages, but it is not initially clear if they are sponsored links or examples chosen by Flanders.

The author is a long-timer in the computer industry, with a special interest in website design, accessibility and usability. He is a book author, speaker and teacher and advertises his services and products on the site. WPTS has been nominated many times for various industry awards.

Concepts – Using reader input (decentralized participation), in the form of site nominations and commentary, is a powerful example of contributing to the infosphere. This website wields some power as companies have changed their websites after being featured here – and the site itself gains integrity by then updating its comments accordingly, making Flanders a responsible website author.