1. 1/28: The Internet & Website Design What is the Internet? –Parts of the Internet –Internet & WWW basics –Searching the WWW Website design considerations HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) Resources for website design on the WWW

2. The Internet Where did it come from? –History: ARPA networkARPA Largest computer network in the world: a network of networks –network: two things connected for communication Many parts: –WWW, gopher, telnet, ftp, Usenet, e-mail, chat roomsWWWgophertelnetftpe-mail Who owns it? No one.

3. Parts of the Internet: Capabilities WWW: World Wide Web GOPHERS: Use menus to locate text material TELNET: Log on one computer, work on another FTP: Transfer files from computer to computer USENET NEWSGROUPS: Electronic bulletin boards for discussion groups E -MAIL: Person -to-person messaging; document sharing CHAT ROOMS: Interactive conversations

4. The World Wide Web A part of the Internet –history: CERNCERN Getting access –Service providers: AOL, SLU, Primary Network, Southwestern Bell, Charter Communications, etc. Look at a browserbrowser “Browsing” vs. “surfing”

5. Internet & WWW basics Location bar: name of file viewed –URL: Uniform Resource Locator http://www.adbook.net/teach022/index.htm#classes protocol domain folder(directory) file fragment Hypertext Transfer Protocol (http): communication standard for sending web pages. Hypertext Markup Language (html): most common language for creating web pages. Website: file displayed in the browser

6. Internet & WWW basics Common browsers: Netscape Navigator, MS Internet Explorer Home page: Organization’s main page Portal: Point of entry for the WWW “Push” technology: Server automatically delivers content to browser; user does nothing to get it.

7. Searching the WWW search engines look through their own databases of web pages index: a list of web pages, either directory-style or searchabledirectory-stylesearchable keywords: important words in a web page spiders: programs that wander the web, collecting informationspiders

8. Common Search Engines Yahoo Excite Hotbot Ask Jeeves Altavista Lycos Google Your browser

9. Searching the WWW: Better results Use phrases in quotes –“Saint Louis restaurants”, not Saint Louis restaurants Use Boolean operatorsBoolean operators –AND, OR, NOT look at “Advanced Search” tips on search sites Don’t know what it’s called? –Yahoo – wander through categoriesYahoo

10. Why Learn About Webpage Design? It will increase your understanding of design concepts in general It will increase awareness of customer needs It will help you understand webpage navigation. images courtesy of http://www.dreamweaver.comhttp://www.dreamweaver.com

11. Website design considerations Ease of navigation –no dead links, no dead endsno dead links –logical layout Proper labeling –bottom of each page Page size: consider the default screen size of 640x480 Speedy downloading –“fat” page = unvisited page“fat” page –image considerations

12. Hypertext Markup Language just a wee little page This is a web page. This is italics, bold face, and underlined. Return from whence you came... Show it

13. HTML elements Header: page elements that are not in the body. Title: shown in the blue bar at the top of the window. Metatags: keywords, language settings, etc. Body: what appears in the main window of the browser. Tags: pairs of markers that surround elements for formatting. Hyperlink: reference to a different file or fragment: IMG: hyperlink reference to an image file.

14. Resources on the Web Webpagesthatsuck.com “learn good design from looking at bad design”Webpagesthatsuck.com NCSA’s tutorial on HTML Guide to Creating a Successful Website

15. Homework #1: Building a Website Homework details –web page on a subject of your choice –Should include (at least) 1 page, 4 pictures, and 4 links to other web pages. –Should follow guidelines for good design. –Should be posted on a web site that advertises “free website hosting,” such as GeoCities, Xoom.com, Angelfire, Tripod, Homestead,GeoCitiesXoom.com AngelfireTripodHomestead

16. How to use GeoCities With a browser, access http://www.geocities.com.http://www.geocities.com Click on “Free web site – Sign up now!” Set up an account with Yahoo! if you don't have one already. Record your name & password. Build your webpage using whatever program you choose. Use the GeoCities FTP manager to upload all your files. Record the URL for your convenience.

17. Tools for Making Webpages Microsoft Word Netscape Composer (part of Communicator) DreamWeaver (30-day trial downloadable from Macromedia.com) Microsoft FrontPage Lots and lots of other programs…

18. Homework #1: Building a Website Homework details –web page on a subject of your choice (don’t be crude) –Should include (at least) 1 page, 4 pictures, and 4 links to other web pages. –Should follow guidelines for good design. –See other details on the homework page.homework –Should be posted on a web site that advertises “free website hosting,” such as GeoCities, Xoom.com, Angelfire, Tripod, Homestead,GeoCitiesXoom.com AngelfireTripodHomestead