HSC - Multimedia - Help Required

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28th October 2008, 01:29 PM
ss_11000

HSC - Multimedia - Help Required
Hi guys,

I am currently doing the "Research" section of my HSC Major Project Portfolio for Multimedia Industries. I intend to create a website which teaches viewers about the game of hockey. I will include video's, pictures and other hockey related content.

But...right now, I need to research different types of websites to find what I like and what I dont like. I will be looking at:
- How they were made (Flash or otherwise)
- Their layout
- Navigation
- Colour schemes
etc etc.

I would be very appreciative if you can post links to ANY website that you think has a good layout, navigation etc etc. They do not have to be hockey related because I am just trying to get an idea of what I like and dont like in a website.

Also, if you have any links to hockey websites that have:
- Video's showing specific skills. eg, dragging a ball, dribbling, hitting etc
- simple explanations of the rules
- etc, etc.
Can you please post the links to them.

Please note that this thread/topic will be going into my portfolio so please make sure of the links you post and also of the content of your post (no swearing etc).

Cheers:2tsup:
28th October 2008, 02:32 PM
Stuart

I might be able to think of one...

http://stusshed.files.wordpress.com/.../stus-shed.jpg
www.stusshed.com

Uses free online blogging software: www.wordpress.com
Videos hosted (again for free) through http://blip.tv These are then crossposted directly into the primary website (Stu's Shed)

The videos can be either inline, or a separate popup window based on options you choose. I then submit the RSS feed to www.feedburner.com, then submit the resulting iTunes-ready feed to iTunes to have the videos simultaneously available as a podcast.

For the Wordpress website, there are a number of different themes available, or if you know CSS, you can create your own. You can also have a chronological blog and/or static pages.

I know it isn't "bake-you-own", but these days there are more and more of these ready-to-cook forms of website creations out there, so it becomes time economical to go with one of these solutions.
28th October 2008, 02:37 PM
Waldo

G'day Stirlo,

Might be pricey for a lad in your circumstances, but Adobe CS4 now lets you make swf and Flash files directly from InDesign CS4, the result a full blown interactive website with no need to know any programming whatsoever, but :shrug: you may not know IDCS3.

http://tv.adobe.com/#pd+InDesign

(at last I can get my website going instead of waiting for my developer to do it :woot: )
28th October 2008, 04:29 PM
ss_11000

Thanks guys. Just to let you know, I do not have much skill in the way of programming but thats not to say I cant learn:)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

www.stusshed.com
........

:goodpost:Thanks Stu for explaining how you created your website:2tsup:I'll take it on board and have a think about how I will go about doing my project. I'm not 100% sure on this but I have a feeling that every thing I have on my webpage (except for outside links) should be able to be put onto an autorun CD so effectively, you do not need internet connection to view my site:? I will check this with my teacher though because I am not 100% sure.:)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waldo

..........

http://tv.adobe.com/#pd+InDesign

.....

:think:Waldo, If I can justify the costs of it and prove that the schools software isn't capable or only has indirect ways of doing something that I want - Then the school will most likely pay for the software because other students may want to use it and it will be handy for them to have it anyway. I'll check it out and see what it can do and see if it is the type of software that I want to use.

Cheers:thanx2:
28th October 2008, 05:22 PM
Skew ChiDAMN!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss_11000

I'm not 100% sure on this but I have a feeling that every thing I have on my webpage (except for outside links) should be able to be put onto an autorun CD so effectively, you do not need internet connection to view my site:? I will check this with my teacher though because I am not 100% sure.:)

That would surprise me... it's hard enough to generate a webpage that looks good under all browsers - as compared to "just IE" or "just Firefox" - let alone throw in expectations of an autorun CD.

Creating such a thing that autoboots & performs correctly under Linux, Windoze and MacOS should be considered extra-curricular activity and earn bonus points. :wink: (it is, after all, a different aspect of 'puting that's unrelated to the web per se)

Or would they be saying "the web page has to look good but the rest of the project can be of lower standards"? :innocent:

:D
28th October 2008, 05:30 PM
Waldo

There is also the option of saving a Flash based website and rather than being compatible with eg. Flash 10 that it's Adobe Air compatible also, this means that once downloaded the user can access it anywhere off-line and still retain all the functions of it as a website without having to have a web browser on your puter.

http://www.adobe.com/products/air/
28th October 2008, 05:37 PM
Sebastiaan56

Stirlo,

Waldo is right about CS4 for versatility. Student versions of CS4 are available and they are considerably cheaper than the full blown ones. A$3370 for Deign Premium :oo:....

A friend of mine is a developer, he links his work to his homepage. He does mostly commercial sites but he has a great layout artist who understands impact. There may be some ideas for you there. Here is his website www.web105.com

There are plenty of web developers out there, google them, Im sure you will get ideas, and the best ideas are always adapted by other designers.
28th October 2008, 05:48 PM
AlexS

Stirlo, I'll PM you a link from work on Friday. It's a USGS training site, but it's one of the best I've seen - text, video clips, audio and self-tests. No idea how it was made, though.
28th October 2008, 05:57 PM
ss_11000

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

That would surprise me... it's hard enough to generate a webpage that looks good under all browsers - as compared to "just IE" or "just Firefox" - let alone throw in expectations of an autorun CD.

Creating such a thing that autoboots & performs correctly under Linux, Windoze and MacOS should be considered extra-curricular activity and earn bonus points. :wink: (it is, after all, a different aspect of 'puting that's unrelated to the web per se)

Or would they be saying "the web page has to look good but the rest of the project can be of lower standards"? :innocent:

:D

I will ask the question because what you've said does make more sense:)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waldo

There is also the option of saving a Flash based website and rather than being compatible with eg. Flash 10 that it's Adobe Air compatible also, this means that once downloaded the user can access it anywhere off-line and still retain all the functions of it as a website without having to have a web browser on your puter.

http://www.adobe.com/products/air/

that looks interesting:cool: do you recommend Downloading the free Adobe AIR SDK › :?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebastiaan56

Stirlo,

Waldo is right about CS4 for versatility. Student versions of CS4 are available and they are considerably cheaper than the full blown ones. A$3370 for Deign Premium :oo:....

A friend of mine is a developer, he links his work to his homepage. He does mostly commercial sites but he has a great layout artist who understands impact. There may be some ideas for you there. Here is his website www.web105.com

There are plenty of web developers out there, google them, Im sure you will get ideas, and the best ideas are always adapted by other designers.

Thanx for the link. I will use that one and some of the sites the company has made (along with many others including stu's shed), in my 'analysis of websites'

Question: I have pretty good skills in Dreamweaver CS (I think thats the version the school has - I will check) and alright skills in FLASH and pinnacle studio.
Is CS3 or CS4 a whole lot better for creating webpages and flash animations/pages etc. Also, can you reccomend a better (relatively cheap) program than pinnacle studio to edit video footage with?
28th October 2008, 06:01 PM
ss_11000

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexS

Stirlo, I'll PM you a link from work on Friday. It's a USGS training site, but it's one of the best I've seen - text, video clips, audio and self-tests. No idea how it was made, though.

Thanx Alex:2tsup:
28th October 2008, 09:07 PM
Waldo

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss_11000

Question: I have pretty good skills in Dreamweaver CS (I think thats the version the school has - I will check) and alright skills in FLASH and pinnacle studio.
Is CS3 or CS4 a whole lot better for creating webpages and flash animations/pages etc. Also, can you reccomend a better (relatively cheap) program than pinnacle studio to edit video footage with?

:yes: Stirlo, a hell of a lot easier, they've made intergration across work flows very intuitive and sooo simple so that dummies like me don't have to worry about coding. :2tsup:

I might sound like a Adobe rep, but I've been watching some online seminars fro Adobe CS4 (currently running CS3) and I'm upgrading as soon as I can as my productivity will jump leaps and bounds as well as being able to do more in-house than farm out to external sources.
28th October 2008, 10:15 PM
chrisb691

Can't say if this is good, or bad, as I'm biassed. However, it does serve it's purpose. I got a basic free template set from the internet, and then modified it to suit. All coding was done using notepad.
28th October 2008, 11:03 PM
ss_11000

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waldo

:yes: Stirlo, a hell of a lot easier, they've made intergration across work flows very intuitive and sooo simple so that dummies like me don't have to worry about coding. :2tsup:

I might sound like a Adobe rep, but I've been watching some online seminars fro Adobe CS4 (currently running CS3) and I'm upgrading as soon as I can as my productivity will jump leaps and bounds as well as being able to do more in-house than farm out to external sources.

Hmmm, I will have to see what my teacher thinks about the school upgrading.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisb691

Can't say if this is good, or bad, as I'm biassed. However, it does serve it's purpose. I got a basic free template set from the internet, and then modified it to suit. All coding was done using notepad.

Overall, I think your site isnt too bad but like you said, it does serve its purpose:cool:.
From a multimedia point of view, I would have to say its basic. But I do think I should include a few sites like yours so I can show the markers that I know the difference between a complex and basic website.
28th October 2008, 11:08 PM
Waldo

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss_11000

From a multimedia point of view, I would have to say its basic. But I do think I should include a few sites like yours so I can show the markers that I know the difference between a complex and basic website.

G'day Stirlo,

If you have to show content rich sites, then sites like Adobe would have to be way up there.
28th October 2008, 11:32 PM
ian
Quote:
Originally Posted by ss_11000

Hi guys,

I am currently doing the "Research" section of my HSC Major Project Portfolio for Multimedia Industries. I intend to create a website which teaches viewers about the game of hockey. I will include video's, pictures and other hockey related content.

But...right now, I need to research different types of websites to find what I like and what I dont like. I will be looking at:

How they were made (Flash or otherwise)
Their layout
Navigation
Colour schemes
snip
Stirlo, don't take the following as a deliberate negative,

as a user of your proposed site, I couldn't care less what YOU like or don't like in a site

It's far more important how the site performs and appeals to ME and other potential users

In my opinion
• down load speed – you might design the front page for a dial-up connection (as the default) and then allow the user to select their connection – Dial-up, ADSL, Cable, etc (unless of course, the site software can automaticly determine the connection type) when it comes to watching videos or downloading content
• I hate sites that scroll across the page – select a default screen resolution (say 1280 x 1024) and then stick to it
I'm quite happy to scroll down a page
• colour schemes. A significant proportion of the population is colour blind — typically red-green — so you would want to avoid these colours
• site engine – don't be cutting edge, or too tricky, as anyone with an older computer wont be able to view the content
• I like PDF down loads, but size them for both A4 and US quarto(?)
• navigation — I like really really obvious click on links

ian
28th October 2008, 11:35 PM
ss_11000

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waldo

G'day Stirlo,

If you have to show content rich sites, then sites like Adobe would have to be way up there.

I dont have to show content rich sites but seeing as though the website I intend to create will have photoshop created and eddited images, FLASH animations, video's, interactive buttons etc etc, I would like to find sites that have similar features so I can get some Ideas and a general view of what I like and dont like in a webpage.

The Adobe site is one that I will use:cool:

ATM, I have analysed the following websites/pages: Hockey NSW,Hockey Aus, Hunter Hockey Forum, Gryphon hockey.
On my list to analyse are: Stu's Shed, Adobe, Nickolodeon, Disney Channel, Chris's site, web105, Woodwork Forums, and there may be more to follow.

Basically, I will just look at the websites and write down what I like about them and what I dont like about them. Then I will talk about what I may include or adapt from the website (wether it be an idea or a picture etc.). Then at the end of my 'Research' (after I have looked at all the pages etc), I will do a conclusion that will say what these sites have influenced me to do or not to do etc. I expect to be doing this for the next 3 - 4 weeks so I will keep updating this thread.

I will then move onto my 'Development of Ideas' where I will draw sketches of my webpages and the whole site. To do this, I constantly need to refer back to my 'Statement of Intent' and my 'Research'.

Cheers
28th October 2008, 11:46 PM
ss_11000

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian

Stirlo, don't take the following as a deliberate negative,

as a user of your proposed site, I couldn't care less what YOU like or don't like in a site

It's far more important how the site performs and appeals to ME and other potential users

Thats a fair call. And now that you mentioned it, I dont really know why I am doing it like that besides what my teacher told us: the markers like it, if in your research you tell them what you like and dont like about the sites you visited. I will ask tommorrow about WHY we do it this way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian

In my opinion
• down load speed – you might design the front page for a dial-up connection (as the default) and then allow the user to select their connection – Dial-up, ADSL, Cable, etc (unless of course, the site software can automaticly determine the connection type) when it comes to watching videos or downloading content
• I hate sites that scroll across the page –I Agree
I'm quite happy to scroll down a page Me too
• colour schemes. A significant proportion of the population is colour blind — typically red-green — so you would want to avoid these coloursThanx for the tip. This may be a bit difficult because a hockey field is typically green.
• site engine – don't be cutting edge, or too tricky, as anyone with an older computer wont be able to view the contentwhat do you mean by this? The server the sites on? If so, unless I plan on publishing the site, this wont be an issue.
• I like PDF down loads, but size them for both A4 and US quarto(?) I will have PDF's available for downloading.
• navigation — I like really really obvious click on links My site will be completely user interactive with next to nothing happening without the user wanting it to happen. Also, you will never have to click on the back button or forward button etc, everything will be linked.

ianstirlo
29th October 2008, 12:04 AM
ian

Quote:

• site engine – don't be cutting edge, or too tricky, as anyone with an older computer wont be able to view the content what do you mean by this? The server the sites on? If so, unless I plan on publishing the site, this wont be an issue.

Stirlo

It's not unusual for a site to "demand" that I download viewer version 9.2 to view the "all the content", presumably because the designer has used some wizzbangery in the latest version of their authoring package which then requires the latest viewer plug-in to see.

Ian
29th October 2008, 12:06 AM
ss_11000

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian

Stirlo

It's not unusual for a site to "demand" that I download viewer version 9.2 to view the "all the content", presumably because the designer has used some wizzbangery in the latest version of their authoring package which then requires the latest viewer plug-in to see.

Ian

ah, I see what you mean now:)
29th October 2008, 07:59 AM
AlexS

Stirlo, also remember that some of the people looking at your site may be blind, and their screen readers can't always handle it when you try tricky things. I'll PM you the name of a bloke who may be able to give you some advice. All this is good research.
29th October 2008, 02:02 PM
ss_11000

Thanx for the PM Alex:cool:

Currently - My school computers are running Macromedia MX 2004 dreamweaver and FLASH. We have Adobe Photoshop CS. BUT: one computer does have CS4 installed on it because a student required it this year:2tsup:. My teacher is hopeful that by the start of next year, the school will have the licence to run it on all the computers:2tsup:

Now, if I may direct you all to this website: www.ehlhockey.tv/ . After seeing this website today, I have decided I would like to make my webpage exactly like that (except for the content). I know this will require CS4 which is why I am going to do alot of my portfolio before the end of this year because I wont have access to the software untill next year. Also I will need to view tutorials and video's etc....My only concern is that I wont have the familiaraity of the software on my side that I would have had with MX 2004, But if I put the effort into doing some tutorials etc I should be fine (I hope)

thanx heaps for all your help so far guys:2tsup: keep it coming:cool: