|
HistoryLink
1997 - present (Ongoing)
 |
|
Weekly History Publication Page
|
Project Aim:
Create an online History web site for Seattle King County. Content needs to be easy to read online and easy to access and find. Writers and editors need to work remotely. Content base will continue to grow so content maintenance is important.
Case Study:
 |
|
Eassy Content Page
|
Working with the writers and editors, we created a database to manage the content and provide a logical means of extracting the content. The resulting concept called for two interface designs: one interface for a web-based publishing system and another interface for audience access to the content.
 |
|
Search Results Page
|
The audience output interface was designed to include photos and to have key topics interrelate to other files. The user can click on a related topic listed in each file to generate a search on that topic to find other related pages. This "Related Topic" system is part of the database design. User may search by key word, timeline graphic bar or alphabetically. Essays can be "paged through" to the next in the listing by using next or last essay feature.
Obstacles:
Very wide target audience. Wide variety of content topics.
Solutions:
Created a concise online stylebook for writers. Used the first paragraph of each essay as the text output for the search results page to speed up finding the information needed.
Conclusion:
Good information architecture and consulting, with ample time for planning, led to the creation of an information management system for web-based publishing that has allowed the staff of HistoryLink to create a website that has no equal in this country. HistoryLink is a model for other local history web sites and has recently been granted funds to expand their operation to complete an online History of the State of Washington. Word-Ware continues to consult and work with HistoryLink as we move to the creation of a new statewide web site.
|
