In John Perry Barlow’s article, The Economy of Ideas, he points out that while the usage of Copyrights and Patents were once reasonable, they are no longer effective. He says that in this world we live in today with computers and internet we cannot really enforce the laws like we once could. Before the Digital Age it was the object created itself that was protected, but now, online, where information is increasingly accessible, convenient, and abundant, it is the idea of the creation that now must be protected. Barlow says, “Since it is now possible to convey ideas from one mind to another without ever making them physical, we are now claiming to own ideas themselves and not merely their expression.” Barlow talks about the ever increasing usage of the Internet as a way to convey ideas. I found this statement of his to be particularly frightening: “While the Internet may never include every CPU on the planet, it is more than doubling every year and can be expected to become the principal medium of information conveyance, and perhaps eventually, the only one.” Not only would this kind of transformation make it increasingly harder for everyone to keep his or her ideas separate, but it would also change human nature in general. We are already looking for more and more ways to avoid human interaction. All we want to do is go about our own lives not ever spend time with others. What a strange world it will be if Barlow’s idea of the role the Internet will play in the future comes true!
The author of the article in The New York Times called “A Great Idea Lives Forever, Shouldn’t It’s Copyright?” is Mark Helprin. He says that the reason Copyrights don’t last forever is because of a clause in the Constitution. In his article he includes this quotation: “Congress shall have the power ‘to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.’” He says the reason that the government has decided for Copyrights to be only temporary is because it says, “for limited Times.” However, he believes that this was included for a different reason—to “[allow] for infinite adjustment.”
I have to say that both of these writers make excellent points. Helprin is right when he says that it is unfair for the families of a writer to lose the rights to a book 70 years after the author has died. Helprin points out that it is not fair for a person’s family to lose the rights to their relative’s work because we would think it was crazy if there was this kind of restriction was put on “Bill Gate’s checkbook” or “Wal-Mart.” Even though I do not believe it is fair to take away a family’s rights to their grandmother of grandfather’s work and ideas, I do believe that at some point the rights to a particular work should not exist. Otherwise we would have people trying to trace their lineage to Plato. So I believe that we should extend the length of time a family can have rights but not indefinitely.
I agree with Barlow in that he believes that we are fighting a loosing battle when it comes to trying to enforce Copyright laws. He says that “dancing on the grave of copyright and patent will solve little, especially when so few are willing to admit that the occupant of this grave is even deceased, and so many are trying to uphold by force what can no longer be upheld by popular consent.” It is true that this digital age is different than what we were once accustomed to, but we should not give up on securing people’s ideas just like we should not stop having laws to secure someone’s property. We should only strive to come up with new and more effective ways to enforce our laws. If we do not try, then we will lose that special enthusiasm that people have to create something wonderful of their very own.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
So much to see, so hard to find
I decided to try this little exercise, too, and I discovered that it’s actually really hard! Like so many of you, I tend to use the same sites – MyBama, Facebook, YouTube, Blogspot, Shutterfly, and a few others – over and over and over again and don’t spend a whole lot of time exploring all there is out there on the web, even though I know there’s tons of cool stuff out there just waiting to be found. So I’m really pleased with all the stuff you guys found and I have to say that I struggled with this “assignment.” So kudos to you guys!
Since I’ve brought this site up in class a number of times, I’m sure it’s no surprise that it tops my list. I love this site’s general tone – intelligent, smart-ass, literate. It’s a very text-heavy site, so it would be easy for the design to be really poor, but I think they’ve done a good job in making it easy to read and use. While the recaps can be long, I like the fact that they are broken up into fairly small textual segments (makes me think hypertext) because reading on a computer can be hard for most people, myself included. The forum design is clean and easy to navigate. I especially like the design changes that have taken place over the last couple of months as the site has been incorporated into the Bravo channel’s family. I like the pictures that are now up and I like that they didn’t totally throw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak, and have kept a number of the distinctive pre-Bravo design elements.
This site makes me feel so bad about my own website. I’ve been looking at this site a lot as inspiration and trying to emulate some of what I see here, but it’s not working the way I’d like. I love this site and really love looking at Dave Werner’s work. This is what an online portfolio should be – a very intimate, very up-close look at his work. Very polished and professional. I’m so jealous I could spit every time I look at this site! But, in truth, it actually motivates me to do better in terms of my own web design.
I learned how to use Flash (though I would still consider myself a novice) in 2004. It’s very cool and it’s really not that hard to use once you get the hang of it. However, it’s very time-consuming to make even a short, simple piece. So it’s kind of nice to look at some of the little pieces here and realize that you don’t have to make something really big. Some of the littlest Flash pieces pack a big punch.
While this site is not much in terms of design, it does what it is designed to do and I like that it is a collaborative site that members add information to. The goal is to provide a central hub for news and information on the Whedonverses (the “universes” created by the television writer Joss Whedon, creator of the legendary Buffy the Vampire Slayer). The coolest thing about this site is that Whedon himself posts periodically and he’s very passionate and eloquent when posting about his work and his core concerns, particularly women’s rights issues. I love a man who’s such an unapologetic feminist!
I decided to check out Vh1’s website because I haven’t been there recently and I wanted to see what it was looking like these days. I love a lot of stuff on Vh1 – lots of trashtastic pleasures like Rock of Love and Best Week Ever and I Love the…(whichever decade, part whatever)! Plus, my best friend is an executive at Vh1 and we talk a good deal about her work and she’s always sending me the latest update about new shows and specials to check out. I was pleased with a lot of things I saw on this website in terms of design. While there’s a lot on this page, surprisingly, it doesn’t feel overly cluttered and I think that is because it’s got a coherent and cohesive look in terms of colors and design motifs/themes.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
5 Good Sites
http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com - This website allows you to view forums on just about any television show you can think of. It makes the forums very accessible by having scroll down boxes at the top of the page which give a listing of all the shows in alphabetical order. The home page is set up very well because it has pictures that immediately pop out at you and grab your attention.
http://www.mtv.com - This website has a whole lot of variety. For example, the home page is completely full with things like top video picks, top news stories, top artists, MTV shows, movies, fashion, games, and ways you can get on MTV. Some people may see this website as simply a place to listen to the latest pop and rap songs, but it actually provides much more.
http://www.al.com- This site is a site completely dedicated to the state of Alabama. It’s full of news all about Alabama. One cool thing is that the homepage is divided into subdivisions with the different kinds of news stories labeled on each one. The different subdivisions include damaging storms, real-time news, Alabama football, Auburn football, top headlines, communities, living, blogs, and many more. If you want to find out anything about Alabama, this is the sight to view.
http://www.mapsexoffenders.com/- This site allows you to locate sex offenders in your area. You simply type in the town you live in and sex offenders in your area will pop up. It doesn’t just show you the general area they’re in, but you can actually find the exact street that they live on. Everyone should take a look at this site so that they’re more aware of the people that live around them.
http://www.lyrics.com- There are many sites you can go to and look up song lyrics, but this one is the best. On a lot of song lyric sites, the lyrics are posted by random people, so you can never be sure if they are accurate. But this website is more professionally done, and you get the right version of the lyrics. Also, you can do much more than just search for the lyrics. You can also chat, find videos, play music trivia, and participate in polls. When looking for your favorite song lyrics, this website is the most accurate and fun.
http://www.mtv.com - This website has a whole lot of variety. For example, the home page is completely full with things like top video picks, top news stories, top artists, MTV shows, movies, fashion, games, and ways you can get on MTV. Some people may see this website as simply a place to listen to the latest pop and rap songs, but it actually provides much more.
http://www.al.com- This site is a site completely dedicated to the state of Alabama. It’s full of news all about Alabama. One cool thing is that the homepage is divided into subdivisions with the different kinds of news stories labeled on each one. The different subdivisions include damaging storms, real-time news, Alabama football, Auburn football, top headlines, communities, living, blogs, and many more. If you want to find out anything about Alabama, this is the sight to view.
http://www.mapsexoffenders.com/- This site allows you to locate sex offenders in your area. You simply type in the town you live in and sex offenders in your area will pop up. It doesn’t just show you the general area they’re in, but you can actually find the exact street that they live on. Everyone should take a look at this site so that they’re more aware of the people that live around them.
http://www.lyrics.com- There are many sites you can go to and look up song lyrics, but this one is the best. On a lot of song lyric sites, the lyrics are posted by random people, so you can never be sure if they are accurate. But this website is more professionally done, and you get the right version of the lyrics. Also, you can do much more than just search for the lyrics. You can also chat, find videos, play music trivia, and participate in polls. When looking for your favorite song lyrics, this website is the most accurate and fun.
Top 5 Websites
My gmail account keeps destroying itself so I had to post this during class because I could not access the blog.
www.youtube.com
This website is very functional in, first of all, its use of the color white to contrast with the rest of the site. It has very user friendly assistance tool bars on the home page and on the side of the screen to make finding related content much easier.
www.gamewinners.com
This website is most functional due to its use of white in the catalog. When trying to find the correct search page on a crowded screen, the white gives great contrast and almost makes the screen look less crowded.
www.facebook.com
Once again it is the contrast with white that makes the website so superior by seemingly increasing the size of the screen.
www.google.com
No only does google effectively use the color white effectively on the screen, but it uses different background colors to put the links in different categories.
www.mybama.ua.edu
It has effective contrast between the red and white to help with the division between the titles and the body of the page. it also uses the idea of thirds very effectively to organise the different aspects of the page.
www.youtube.com
This website is very functional in, first of all, its use of the color white to contrast with the rest of the site. It has very user friendly assistance tool bars on the home page and on the side of the screen to make finding related content much easier.
www.gamewinners.com
This website is most functional due to its use of white in the catalog. When trying to find the correct search page on a crowded screen, the white gives great contrast and almost makes the screen look less crowded.
www.facebook.com
Once again it is the contrast with white that makes the website so superior by seemingly increasing the size of the screen.
www.google.com
No only does google effectively use the color white effectively on the screen, but it uses different background colors to put the links in different categories.
www.mybama.ua.edu
It has effective contrast between the red and white to help with the division between the titles and the body of the page. it also uses the idea of thirds very effectively to organise the different aspects of the page.
5 Great Websites
Here are my top five websites (other than Facebook and MySpace):
1) espn.com - This website always jumps out at me whenever I log on. The website is designed well and organized exactly how I want it to be. Plus, I love sports and this page keeps me informed on all the currents events.
2) howstuffworks.com - This site is just a fun place to explore. Anything you have ever wondered about is answered here. I always get on this site when I'm completely bored.
3) rivals.com - This site is great for the college football fan. It has the best stats on all the top recruits in the nation. It even lists the recruits' top school choices, so you know where your school stands in their decision.
4) urbandictionary.com - This is another fun site to look through. Like wikipedia, anyone can post or alter definitions on this site, so some of the posts are hilarious. Any slang term is defined for you, so the next time you're rapping, you know what you're talking about.
5) wikipedia.com - I had to include this site because of the numerous times I have used it on papers, reports, etc. The only problem with this site is the fact that anyone can change pages. But wikipedia is working on this problem and should have a solution soon.
1) espn.com - This website always jumps out at me whenever I log on. The website is designed well and organized exactly how I want it to be. Plus, I love sports and this page keeps me informed on all the currents events.
2) howstuffworks.com - This site is just a fun place to explore. Anything you have ever wondered about is answered here. I always get on this site when I'm completely bored.
3) rivals.com - This site is great for the college football fan. It has the best stats on all the top recruits in the nation. It even lists the recruits' top school choices, so you know where your school stands in their decision.
4) urbandictionary.com - This is another fun site to look through. Like wikipedia, anyone can post or alter definitions on this site, so some of the posts are hilarious. Any slang term is defined for you, so the next time you're rapping, you know what you're talking about.
5) wikipedia.com - I had to include this site because of the numerous times I have used it on papers, reports, etc. The only problem with this site is the fact that anyone can change pages. But wikipedia is working on this problem and should have a solution soon.
5 websites
http://www.moma.org/
http://www.forever21.com
http://www.people.com
http://www.apple.com
http://www.jcrew.com
This clothing website has an interesting layout. The home page shows multiple pictures of models wearing clothing that the users of the website can buy. The top of the website has a toolbar that allows users to go to the various sections of the website. The sections include men and women’s clothing, as well as accessories and shoes.
5 Sites
When I first saw the email, I thought this was due Monday so I rushed it and didn't really fit the criteria of the assignment.
www.gamefaqs.com
A good site with extensive message boards. I hate the new layout but the classic layout is still accessible. It's blue and easy on the eyes. There's also a lot of white space.
www.newsgrounds.com
A collection of uploaded flash videos. A lot of great content can be found here. You may have heard the controversy about a guy who performed a school shooting posting a violent video beforehand. The site is fairly consistent and has a simple layout that uses orange and black as its choice colors. These may not be conventional, but they work well for the sites purpose from an emotional standpoint.
www.amazon.com
Everything you want to buy, except it's probably cheaper than other places. This is especially true for CDs or older items. The website is simple and there is a lot of white space used. It's easy on the eyes and user friendly.
www.ytmnd.com
A site based around a unique form of graphic file. These are often simple gif's with a repeating sound track. The common aspect is the repeating image trick they pull to fill the page. The front pages doesn't look nice, but when you enter the archives its a simple white-washed search.
www.howstuffworks.com
A great place to learn how stuff works. Anything from a septic system to a nuclear reactor. It's another very simple with an easy interface and is loaded with white space.
www.gamefaqs.com
A good site with extensive message boards. I hate the new layout but the classic layout is still accessible. It's blue and easy on the eyes. There's also a lot of white space.
www.newsgrounds.com
A collection of uploaded flash videos. A lot of great content can be found here. You may have heard the controversy about a guy who performed a school shooting posting a violent video beforehand. The site is fairly consistent and has a simple layout that uses orange and black as its choice colors. These may not be conventional, but they work well for the sites purpose from an emotional standpoint.
www.amazon.com
Everything you want to buy, except it's probably cheaper than other places. This is especially true for CDs or older items. The website is simple and there is a lot of white space used. It's easy on the eyes and user friendly.
www.ytmnd.com
A site based around a unique form of graphic file. These are often simple gif's with a repeating sound track. The common aspect is the repeating image trick they pull to fill the page. The front pages doesn't look nice, but when you enter the archives its a simple white-washed search.
www.howstuffworks.com
A great place to learn how stuff works. Anything from a septic system to a nuclear reactor. It's another very simple with an easy interface and is loaded with white space.
5 top web hangout places (other than facebook, myspace, and youtube)
1. apple.com: Steve Job's Apple prorbably has the most visullly appealing, sleek design out of any website I have ever seen. But what do you expect? Apple is always best at design and innovation
2. zefrank.com: His "how to dance" clips are hiliarious and he has plenty of interactive games and toys on his site to keep his viewers entertained
3. yahoo.com : I cn search for movie times, directions, and almost everything I need. And email tooo!!! very handy website
4. TV.com: pretty self-explanatory- a list to allthats on tv, reviews, ratings, gossip, and pretty musch everything you need to know about television
5. ESPN.com: I'm saving the best for last on this one. If you're a guy, this website must be your home page. If your a girl, it is insanely sexy if you have this as your home page. An all-important update to everything on sports: scores, ratings, rankings, reviews, forums, scouting reports, sports news, discussion panels, live tv coverage of ESPN ( the greatest chennel in the world), Fantasy football, trivia, and randomn tidbits that keep me coming back. I love this site.
2. zefrank.com: His "how to dance" clips are hiliarious and he has plenty of interactive games and toys on his site to keep his viewers entertained
3. yahoo.com : I cn search for movie times, directions, and almost everything I need. And email tooo!!! very handy website
4. TV.com: pretty self-explanatory- a list to allthats on tv, reviews, ratings, gossip, and pretty musch everything you need to know about television
5. ESPN.com: I'm saving the best for last on this one. If you're a guy, this website must be your home page. If your a girl, it is insanely sexy if you have this as your home page. An all-important update to everything on sports: scores, ratings, rankings, reviews, forums, scouting reports, sports news, discussion panels, live tv coverage of ESPN ( the greatest chennel in the world), Fantasy football, trivia, and randomn tidbits that keep me coming back. I love this site.
Cool Sites
Bungie.net- allows you to post screenshots and in game videos.
ESPN.com- has a nice look and a ton of information.
Marvel.com-retro kind of look.
Xbox.com- Professional look. Like the interactive slide.
UA.edu-like the colors, Roll Tide! Looks very professional and easy to navigate.
ESPN.com- has a nice look and a ton of information.
Marvel.com-retro kind of look.
Xbox.com- Professional look. Like the interactive slide.
UA.edu-like the colors, Roll Tide! Looks very professional and easy to navigate.
Top 5 Websites
1. www.apple.com - I love this website, mostly because I love all things Apple, but also because the website just LOOKS really cool. It’s very simple and sleek and visually appealing to the eyes.
2. www.wikipedia.com - This is just a cool website because it has SO much information available on it. It may not be completely accurate, but it’s a good way to just look up something real quick that you don’t know about. It’s an easy site to get lost on
3. www.scrubs-tv.com - I love this website because it’s completely centered around my favorite Television show, Scrubs. It’s got a lot of information about that show, as well as message boards to discuss the show.
4. www.espn.com - Also a visually appealing site, but I mostly like this site because I can keep up with college football all in one place.
5. www.notdoppler.com - This site is fun because it has lots of awesome and very challenging games. One game in particular is “The Impossible Quiz,” which, despite it’s name, is not impossible, but it’s about as close to impossible as a game can get. It has 110 questions, and even though I’ve played it a whole lot, I’ve only made it about 50 questions through.
2. www.wikipedia.com - This is just a cool website because it has SO much information available on it. It may not be completely accurate, but it’s a good way to just look up something real quick that you don’t know about. It’s an easy site to get lost on
3. www.scrubs-tv.com - I love this website because it’s completely centered around my favorite Television show, Scrubs. It’s got a lot of information about that show, as well as message boards to discuss the show.
4. www.espn.com - Also a visually appealing site, but I mostly like this site because I can keep up with college football all in one place.
5. www.notdoppler.com - This site is fun because it has lots of awesome and very challenging games. One game in particular is “The Impossible Quiz,” which, despite it’s name, is not impossible, but it’s about as close to impossible as a game can get. It has 110 questions, and even though I’ve played it a whole lot, I’ve only made it about 50 questions through.
My Top 5
1. RottenTomatoes.com - This web site follows a color scheme of dark greens and reds which are the first colors that come to mind while you picture a rotten tomato. The web site is also easily manueverable. Since it is a site based on rating movies and games there are all of the new releases on the left side of the screen for you to pick from and a search bar at the top of the page where you can look for any movie that might be rated on the site.
2. CobbTheatres.com - This web site specializes in showing a prosective movie goer which movies are playing, giving them a description of the movies, and offering the chance to pre-pay, which are all listed on the left side of the page. The background is 3-d blacks squares and the foreground is green. At the top of the screen there is an unrolled spool of film with the the web sites name across it. Overall the web site is very affective and attractive.
3. Monster.com - Monster follows a clean color pattern of purple green and white. This stays the same on all of the connecting pages. The web site allows you to search for new jobs in your area, gets tips on making a cover letter, and have a professional write your resume for you.
4. Abc.go.com - This site allows abc viewers to watch their favorite shows online that they missed in previous weeks. The bakground is black with the abc emblem at the top left corner. There are preview on the right hand side and vibrantly colored TV show ads on the top and left of the page. The overall affect is very bold and nicely done.
5. CaringBridge.org - This site is meant to set up profiles for young people affected by cancer. The openning page has soft green in the background with pictures of smiling children in the foreground. There is a place on the left where you can type in a persons name to go to their profile. Profiles allow for that persons story to be told, picture to be put up of them, a journal to be written in everyday with updates, a place for donations to be sent, and a guestbook where friends and family can write encouraging remarks. This web site is extremely touching and well laid out.
2. CobbTheatres.com - This web site specializes in showing a prosective movie goer which movies are playing, giving them a description of the movies, and offering the chance to pre-pay, which are all listed on the left side of the page. The background is 3-d blacks squares and the foreground is green. At the top of the screen there is an unrolled spool of film with the the web sites name across it. Overall the web site is very affective and attractive.
3. Monster.com - Monster follows a clean color pattern of purple green and white. This stays the same on all of the connecting pages. The web site allows you to search for new jobs in your area, gets tips on making a cover letter, and have a professional write your resume for you.
4. Abc.go.com - This site allows abc viewers to watch their favorite shows online that they missed in previous weeks. The bakground is black with the abc emblem at the top left corner. There are preview on the right hand side and vibrantly colored TV show ads on the top and left of the page. The overall affect is very bold and nicely done.
5. CaringBridge.org - This site is meant to set up profiles for young people affected by cancer. The openning page has soft green in the background with pictures of smiling children in the foreground. There is a place on the left where you can type in a persons name to go to their profile. Profiles allow for that persons story to be told, picture to be put up of them, a journal to be written in everyday with updates, a place for donations to be sent, and a guestbook where friends and family can write encouraging remarks. This web site is extremely touching and well laid out.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Top 5 Websites
Christina's Top 5:
These are not in a particular order, but I realized they are pretty much all search engine type sites, where I can get information. I only visit other sites if I'm looking for something certain.
1. www.google.com- I especially use Google when I'm planning trips. I love looking for pictures in the image section. It also gives me the chance to find hotels, restaurants, and shopping I would normally never hear about, all in one place. The language bar is also neat, I've used the French language tool for French projects in the past. It has a lot of white space so it keeps the information from getting jumbled.
2. www.ratemyprofessors.com- I have used this site a lot since coming to college. It gives an easy way to rate teachers, and it helps me decide which ones I want in the future. It has a good design with a flowing color scheme. The professors are organized alphabetically, by school, or by department. It is very easy to use, along with having a good look. By the way, Dr. Davis, you have a good rating!
3. www.sephora.com- Like the store, the website is modern with all of the trendiest makeup in one location. The opening page lists recommendations and new products, while keeping to the store's color scheme of black and red. The site has a lot of white space to showcase the products, which is good for marketing.
4. www.nikeplus.nike.com- This site is very colorful, with Nike's trademark color of orange as the backdrop for the pages. It is the most modern of the 5, with animation throughout. It tracks personal workout goals and challenges on the site. Every page matches in design and coloring, so it makes for a very organized, clean look. Although I don't go to this site every day, I think it showcases what a good website should look like.
5. www.pandora.com- This is an online radio, for free. The site itself has a calming color scheme of grays and blues, doesn't draw my attention too much, which is a good thing if I have Pandora open for a couple of hours. The advertisments are not in your face popups, rather they change the background every few minutes with eye-catching colors. I think this site shows a subtle way to advertise, and uses white space wisely.
These are not in a particular order, but I realized they are pretty much all search engine type sites, where I can get information. I only visit other sites if I'm looking for something certain.
1. www.google.com- I especially use Google when I'm planning trips. I love looking for pictures in the image section. It also gives me the chance to find hotels, restaurants, and shopping I would normally never hear about, all in one place. The language bar is also neat, I've used the French language tool for French projects in the past. It has a lot of white space so it keeps the information from getting jumbled.
2. www.ratemyprofessors.com- I have used this site a lot since coming to college. It gives an easy way to rate teachers, and it helps me decide which ones I want in the future. It has a good design with a flowing color scheme. The professors are organized alphabetically, by school, or by department. It is very easy to use, along with having a good look. By the way, Dr. Davis, you have a good rating!
3. www.sephora.com- Like the store, the website is modern with all of the trendiest makeup in one location. The opening page lists recommendations and new products, while keeping to the store's color scheme of black and red. The site has a lot of white space to showcase the products, which is good for marketing.
4. www.nikeplus.nike.com- This site is very colorful, with Nike's trademark color of orange as the backdrop for the pages. It is the most modern of the 5, with animation throughout. It tracks personal workout goals and challenges on the site. Every page matches in design and coloring, so it makes for a very organized, clean look. Although I don't go to this site every day, I think it showcases what a good website should look like.
5. www.pandora.com- This is an online radio, for free. The site itself has a calming color scheme of grays and blues, doesn't draw my attention too much, which is a good thing if I have Pandora open for a couple of hours. The advertisments are not in your face popups, rather they change the background every few minutes with eye-catching colors. I think this site shows a subtle way to advertise, and uses white space wisely.
5 Favorite Websites
1. www.IKEA.com
- professional design with organized sections so you can find anything you need
- it is a home improvement shopping website...which I love!
- when you click on "Living room" or "Dining room," it previews sample rooms filled with products they offer
2. www.abercrombieandfitch.com
- takes advantage of nuetral colors so other things pop out
- also takes advantage of white space
- not to busy so the important things stand out
3. www.hgtv.com
- whatever holiday is in season is featured on the main page with everything based around that
- has everything from recipes to home-improvement strategies
- similar to abercrombie and fitch website but has more colors and more options for clothing choices
- has fade in and fade out pictures which are appealing to the viewer
- What really needs to be said about Target? It's the best store in the world so of course it has the best website!
My Favorite Websites
I typically don't pay attention to the visual content of websites, but upon further review, I have found five that I particularly like:
1. EBay - Besides being one of my favorite sites because of its function, I really love it for its layout. Everything is clear; the item categories are easily displayed on the site, the search function is prominent, and the site is very clear and easy to navigate with good color contrast without being excessive. It's overall one of my favorites.
2. Yahoo! - Even though I'm partial to Google as a search engine, I use Yahoo! all the time. It's my homepage actually. I love all the features that Yahoo! has, with its email, music, and newsreel. All of its features are easy to access by using the menu on the left side of the screen.
3. Roll Tide.com - I mean seriously, how can you not love the website? The red background is amazing. The website is clear and simple, with the appropriate color contrast. And the elephant in the background owns.
4. Dictionary.com - You can't get more straightforward and simple. It's amazing. Every function you need is available right at the top. The rest you can pretty much ignore because it's not important. The color is good enough to complement the site but not bold enough to distract.
5. Despair.com - It's simple yet very functional. I like the blue on black color scheme; it fits the mood very well. The site sells posters with very funny and depressing phrases on them, so I think it all fits very well.
1. EBay - Besides being one of my favorite sites because of its function, I really love it for its layout. Everything is clear; the item categories are easily displayed on the site, the search function is prominent, and the site is very clear and easy to navigate with good color contrast without being excessive. It's overall one of my favorites.
2. Yahoo! - Even though I'm partial to Google as a search engine, I use Yahoo! all the time. It's my homepage actually. I love all the features that Yahoo! has, with its email, music, and newsreel. All of its features are easy to access by using the menu on the left side of the screen.
3. Roll Tide.com - I mean seriously, how can you not love the website? The red background is amazing. The website is clear and simple, with the appropriate color contrast. And the elephant in the background owns.
4. Dictionary.com - You can't get more straightforward and simple. It's amazing. Every function you need is available right at the top. The rest you can pretty much ignore because it's not important. The color is good enough to complement the site but not bold enough to distract.
5. Despair.com - It's simple yet very functional. I like the blue on black color scheme; it fits the mood very well. The site sells posters with very funny and depressing phrases on them, so I think it all fits very well.
Ellen's Top Websites
Ellen Leigh
Top Five Sites
1. www.thecobrasnake.com - this is my favorite website! Its features cool, artsy pictures from different parties and events from around the world. The site itself is also set up in an eye-catching, artsy way.
2. www.msn.com -this website is the most useful site I visit. It set up in a neat way that is easy to use. It also has information on everything I need to know about: from real world news to entertainment pictures.
3. tv-links.co.uk- I like this site a lot merely because of its content. This site has bootleg TV show and movie links that you can watch. They always have new episodes of my favorite TV show, Weeds, which helps a lot since I don’t get HBO. It also often has movie links to films that are still in theatres.
4. www.ryan-adams.com/RyanAdams.html -The musician, Ryan Adams’s site is a very interesting and eye-catching site. Although it is slightly hard to use, this site looks so cool that you stay on it for a long time. It also has a lot of cool features when you click on links.
5. abc.go.com – I like this site because of how it looks and because of content. The site is mostly black and is set up in a simple way so it is easy to use. I like the content because you can watch any primetime show that comes on ABC on this site at any time. This is convenient because it I am hardly ever at my dorm when some of my favorite TV shows air.
Top Five Sites
1. www.thecobrasnake.com - this is my favorite website! Its features cool, artsy pictures from different parties and events from around the world. The site itself is also set up in an eye-catching, artsy way.
2. www.msn.com -this website is the most useful site I visit. It set up in a neat way that is easy to use. It also has information on everything I need to know about: from real world news to entertainment pictures.
3. tv-links.co.uk- I like this site a lot merely because of its content. This site has bootleg TV show and movie links that you can watch. They always have new episodes of my favorite TV show, Weeds, which helps a lot since I don’t get HBO. It also often has movie links to films that are still in theatres.
4. www.ryan-adams.com/RyanAdams.html -The musician, Ryan Adams’s site is a very interesting and eye-catching site. Although it is slightly hard to use, this site looks so cool that you stay on it for a long time. It also has a lot of cool features when you click on links.
5. abc.go.com – I like this site because of how it looks and because of content. The site is mostly black and is set up in a simple way so it is easy to use. I like the content because you can watch any primetime show that comes on ABC on this site at any time. This is convenient because it I am hardly ever at my dorm when some of my favorite TV shows air.
5 Cool Websites
5 Cool Websites
· This website is visually appealing because of the vibrant colors used.
· It has tabs across the top that make for easy navigation.
· In addition, it includes a sidebar with a list of clickable items.
· The technology added to this sight such as animation, videos, and clickable extras give this site something special.
· There is just enough of everything to make it interesting without overwhelming the viewer.
· This site, ANIMALLOGIC, gives information about this company that specializes in creating special design for websites, television, and advertising.
· It’s no wonder that this site is really creative and unique.
· It features a special tab along the top for navigation that comes in and out of focus depending on which page you are looking at.
· There are special pictures that are the backgrounds of each sub-page.
· The different pages with their different pictures are all kind of tied together with a sepia or just natural-looking color scheme.
· The design of this site is very interesting and creative.
· The Fossil website really takes advantage of white space.
· By not allowing their backgrounds to be too busy, they are able to have a lot more different links without making the viewer feel too overwhelmed.
· This site is also fairly easy to navigate because of it is separated into categories.
· This viewer is able to search for something particular by filtering through different links starting by narrowing the search down to male or female, what kind of item is of interest, and so on.
· The designer of this page did a good job because this site has a unique design that can be distinguished from other similar companies.
· This unique vibe adds to the desirability of Fossil products by making them seem out of the ordinary because even the website is special.
· This website almost reminds me of a scrapbook the way the different pictures and texts are separated into different frames in collage-like array.
· It features a lot of really extraordinary landscape photos.
· Even the background adds to the whole nature/traveling feel of the site.
· It is a nature green color with a splotchy effect that includes a shadow-like grassy field at the bottom.
· The designer of the site did a good job organizing the information that is presented.
· Even though a lot of different text is put forward it is separated into different areas where it seems more manageable to a viewer.
· There are also links and sub-links that allow the viewer to more easily find what he or she is looking for.
· This site, BrettNyquist, is a web design portfolio.
· It features numerous examples of websites, but it does so in a unique way.
· The classy-black background, the vertical selection of websites really pops.
· Each example is separated by its rectangular divider.
· Because these websites are so neatly organized and separated, each example can be looked at separately.
· On the side of each divider there are uniform text boxes that provide the information in an organized way.
· I really like the symmetrical, uniform, and organized design of this site.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Good Website
www.gamefaqs.com
A good site with extensive message boards. I hate the new layout but the classic layout is still acessible. It's blue and easy on the eyes.
www.newsgrounds.com
A collection of uploaded flash vidoes. A lot of great content can be found here. You may have heard the controversy about a guy who performed a school shooting posting a violent video beforehand.
www.amazon.com
Everything you want to buy, except it's probably cheaper than other places. This is especially true for CDs or older items.
www.ytmnd.com
A site based around a unique form of graphic file. These are often simple gif's with a repeating sound track. The common aspect is the repeating image trick they pull to fill the page.
www.howstuffworks.com
A great place to learn how stuff works. Anything from a septic system to a nuclear reactor.
A good site with extensive message boards. I hate the new layout but the classic layout is still acessible. It's blue and easy on the eyes.
www.newsgrounds.com
A collection of uploaded flash vidoes. A lot of great content can be found here. You may have heard the controversy about a guy who performed a school shooting posting a violent video beforehand.
www.amazon.com
Everything you want to buy, except it's probably cheaper than other places. This is especially true for CDs or older items.
www.ytmnd.com
A site based around a unique form of graphic file. These are often simple gif's with a repeating sound track. The common aspect is the repeating image trick they pull to fill the page.
www.howstuffworks.com
A great place to learn how stuff works. Anything from a septic system to a nuclear reactor.
Monday, October 15, 2007
The Internet
http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue9_4/press/
This article and the related links on it discuss some of the more efficient ways for the poorer countries of the world to integrate themselves into the “information age” that the rest of us take for granted. It shows where the program needs to start as well as shows several of the places that this new program would have the best effect on the community and on the populace as a whole. Another of the things that is shows if how all of the efforts that have been made by the many programs by humanitarians and world organizations alike have really been in vain because they did not address the problem itself in the correct way.
Apparently, countries that have a technologically underdeveloped populace, such as India, have been subjected to hundreds of unsuccessful, though well meaning, invasions of national privacy for the sake of advancement; however, they were apparently getting the proverbial “shaft” from the organizations in this. It seem that recent studies show that the best way for an underdeveloped country to integrate new technology into its general populace is to simply dive into the newest technology head first and take on a “sink or swim” attitude with the average citizen. There can apparently be no coddling or reintroductions to older software or hardware, there must simply be a standard set and expectations laid.
Another of the assertions that is made in this essay is that there must be actual action finally taken if there will ever be any good to come of all of these hypothetical studies and hypotheses done by the “experts” of their respective ages. While a lot of valuable research has been done and many important things have been learned, there really haven’t been many advances in regards to getting the underdeveloped countries in an active place on the information super highway. This seems to be a reflection of the work ethic of today. Everyone is more than happy to give their opinion about the matter but whenever there is actual work that needs to be done in order for someone to help, they are either too busy, or they will simply find a reason not to. You can never be proven wrong if u never take your ideas to fruition.
One of the final topics that is addressed in this category is what it is what must be done. The word that is used is “audacious.” This word choice implies that whatever it is that will be done must be done drastically and to the fullest. There can be no half hearted attempt to solving this problem, whoever chooses to take it one must simply dive in and hope for the best.
In conclusion, I believe that this is a very effective essay in that it is both short and to the point. It is easy to understand, while at the same time, not lacking in any aspect of the information that it is presenting. Something must be done and t must be severe…its just that no one knows what that something is.
Facebook Issues
As far as social networks online, Facebook is the one that I, along with most other college students, use the most. I’ve spent hours on it at a time and actually procrastinated on this very assignment by deciding to check my Facebook first. It’s where I keep up with my high school friends, share pictures with my friends, and talk to people thousands of miles away. I always find it interesting to find out about the problems that this growing network causes. I found an article entitled “Facebook Can Cause Problems for Students” on http://www.pacertimes.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&uStory_id=89d244c6-e062-472a-be18-30740962c09c. This article starts out by discussing privacy issues on Facebook. I know that I personally used to feel much safer on Facebook rather than other networks such as MySpace because you had to be in high school or college to be a part of it. However, this is no longer the case because anyone can have a Facebook now. But at least you have to confirm them to be your friend before they can view your profile, right? Wrong! Anyone on the same network as you can view your profile regardless of rather or not you’re friends. I know many people who do not go to the University of Alabama, yet somehow they’ve managed to get onto the Alabama network. This article goes on to talk about pictures posted on Facebook. It talks about the trouble students at universities in northern Kentucky got in for having pictures of themselves drinking alcohol posted on Facebook. This is something that we all as college students should take seriously and be careful as to what we choose to share with people on Facebook about our personal lives. Not only can these pictures get us in trouble right now at our universities, but these pictures could prevent us from getting jobs in the future. Facebook has even gotten students in trouble with the Secret Service! This article tells the story of a guy who made a joke on Facebook about assassinating the president and the Secret Service came after him. So even when joking around with someone on their wall, we have to be aware that people are reading what we are saying and may choose to take it the wrong way. One girl in the article advises, “Don’t put anything you wouldn’t want your mama to see.” I thought this was very good advice and will most likely keep you out of trouble. Also, there’s a chance that your mom has made up a fake profile and has a Facebook herself. You never know! The end of this article talks a little about identity. It discusses how pictures you post on Facebook affect the way you are viewed by others. Not only do the pictures affect it, but also the things you write in your profile, the groups you’re part of, the people you’re friends with, and the thing s you write on people’s wall. These things give off a certain image of yourself. Rather that image is accurate or not, that is the impression people get of you and your character. When using Facebook, we should all be more aware of how we choose to interact and who we choose to interact with.
EA Games Take Another PO Hit
I apologize for waiting this late to post, but the only way to get this thing to cooperate with me was to wait till I could use my dorm room computer. I forgot the password and needed the cookie to bail me out again. We were supposed to talk about something relevant to the material we've discussed so far in class and I have the perfect example. In my evaluative essay, I talked briefly about EA Games which has a few lawsuits and controversies to its name already. One of the more recent issues with the company was when an ISP associated with them edited their article on wikipedia which was an interesting coincidence since we discussed this specific action in class. As I reminder, they now have this on their article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EA_Games#Editing_of_Wikipedia. I don't see how much more owned you can get than having that right in the users face. Personally, as you can probably guess from the essay, I don't like this company since they make horrible games and eat up and subsequently destroy other developers. This is completely off-topic but I truly miss Rareware back in its hay-day. Unfortunately, when Nintendo sold the company to Microsoft, most of the senior staff decided to retire in protest. I don't even understand why you would sell the top third-party in the business to begin with.
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