Re: Community Info Web Page
David J. Rosenbaum (DRosenbaum@rcsinc.com)
Thu, 26 Oct 1995 03:35:10 -0700
>Last week I had an opportunity to browse the material on the Emlin, Peekskill
>and Teatown, and then, via Yahoo.com, to access other US and international
>arts groups and arts umbrella organizations. The difference is quite
>striking. One set of implementations reflects current practice on the World
>Wide Web, including a recognition that every site needs to generate
>significant interest in order to hope to meet the test of the marketplace.
> The other represents a basically pre-Web approach, which assumes that
>interested people will either 1) proactively seek and use information
>sources, regardless of layout, style, readability or content or 2) sign up
>for traditional 'listserve' information processes.
>
>In a rich and growing information world (as of 8/31/95 there are over 100,000
>commercial Web ID's, growing at 15,000 - 20,000 per month), the latter method
>is likely to have great difficulty in getting heard, much less generating
>significant attention or interest. The difference is much more than the
>inclusion of a few graphics (some of which are a real distraction from the
>site's message) or a variety of fonts or styles. The difference is also more
>than merely repackaging print-based text to fit a 15 inch computer screen.
>Even the academics, who have something to publicize or promote, have gotten
>this message.
>
>If WATPA hopes to be recognized for its interest and expertise in the
>emerging world of telecommunications, then it is essential that we lead by
>good example. One approach would be to form a 'digital information
>distribution' committee to help chart WATPA's activities (both our own
>electronic communications and those in support of our constituents) through
>this emerging world.
>
>
>
Agreed, this first stab at a Community Info Web Page is not up to the "state
of the art" in web pages, but is is a start!
I don't think that WATPA needs to compete with the rest of the Web to
attract attention per se, but rather to be a source of information in an
accessible fashion. Sure, a Web page that looks like an FTP site isn't
where we need to be and some level of organization to make the information
accessible is required, but kudos are still in order for our members who at
least worked to make what's there available.
Standards / plans / directions / design are _absolutely_ required, and
sooner rather than later! But, to paraphrase Woody Alan, half of winning is
just showing up ...
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David J. Rosenbaum DRosenbaum@rcsinc.com
Real-Time Computer Services, Inc. Phone : 914-693-7000
547 Saw Mill River Road Fax : 914-693-7005
Ardsley, New York 10502