Answers to Questions

QUIZ2 – ICS4L (group work, max of 3 members)

1. What is HTML?
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is a predominant markup language for the creation of web pages.
It provides a means to describe the structure of text-based information in a document
— by denoting certain text as headings, paragraphs, lists, and so on
— and to supplement that text with interactive forms, embedded images, and other objects.
HTML can also describe, to some degree, the appearance and semantics of a document, and can provide additional cues,
such as embedded scripting language code, that can affect the behavior of web browsers and other HTML processors.

2. Describe the current state and design limitations of HTML?
Limitations:
Stretched and squashed text -
The problem is caused by the fact that HTML doesn't support unusual spacing.
By default, Purepage will automatically turn stretched or squashed text into text with standard spacing.
It will also ensure that your text flows smoothly (one word after the other.
If the look of your original document is very important, you can choose to turn all your text into images or,
if your document only contains some unusual text, you can set a tolerance level (as a %) e.g.
if a particular piece of text is more than 10% different in HTML than in the original document
Purepage will turn it into an image.
Fonts - the font that your viewers see your documents in is heavily dependent upon the fonts
installed on their own computer.
This means that if you produce a document in a font that another computer does not recognize,
its browser will determine the substitute font.
The new font will be as close as possible but it is likely that the font is
slightly larger or smaller and this will have an affect on the resulting HTML.
Purepage handles your fonts behind the scenes.
When you convert your documents,
Purepage notes the original font as well as mapping every font with an appropriate substitute
instead of leaving it to chance.
Rotated text - HTML doesn't support rotated text at all. Any rotated text in your documents will be turned into images.
Does not:
• Recognize spaces, tabs or margins
• Translate easily from other types of documents
• Support all font styles.
• Recognize line breaks, or paragraph breaks (unless you code it in, of course).
Does:
Support multiple text sizes 
Support multiple fonts 
Support bold, underline, and italic version of text , , 
Have multiple Text colors 
Support Background Colors. <BODY BGCOLOR = "#XXXXXX"> </BODY>
Support tables, the only way you can "fake" tabs and margins. <TABLE> <TR><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>
Allow you to insert graphics, sound, videos. <IMG SRC = "#XXXXXX">

Have built-in graphics for line rules <HR>
Supports itemized lists with dots or numbers <UL><LI>...<LI>...<LI> </UL> like this bulleted list.

3. Describe how Web pages are delivered via the Internet and stored on a user’s computer.
HTML documents can be delivered by the same means as any other computer file;
however, HTML documents are most often delivered in one of the following two forms: Over HTTP servers and through email

4. Describe the 3 common mistakes that Web designers make when building a Web site.

1. (too much) Visual thinking
Treating the web as WYSIWYG –
starting off by focusing on how things look instead of thinking about structure first, and presentation later.
2. Lack of semantics.
Non-semantic markup.
Basing the choice of which HTML element to use on the way most graphical browsers render it by default,
instead of on which meaning the element has.
3. Character encoding mismatches .
Specifying one character encoding in the HTTP header sent by the server,
and using another in the document.
This may confuse browsers and make them display the document improperly.

5. State the principles of design for the computer medium

Balance
Rhythm
Proportion
Dominance
Unity

6. What is a common mistake web designers make when testing their site?

• Mistyped URL
• MAKING IT TOO COMPLEX
•

7. What is the prime reason users may leave a Web site?

The website is not updated.
Update your website!!
When visitors encounter problems with your site, they'll blame you, not their own equipment or browser settings.
The only way to be absolutely sure your site displays correctly every time is to check it yourself.

8. Name 3 ways to create a unified look for your site.

a. enrich the user experience;
b.Enable users to visualize, organize, and search;
c.Design for reliability and manageability

9. List 3 ways to create a smooth transition between pages of a Web site.

Smooth Page Transition HTML Code

Copy the html code and paste this anywhere between the <head> and </head> tags in your html.
To get the transition effect on all pages within your site you must paste the html code to every page.

10. List 3 ways to focus a user’s attention.

• Things or statements must be labeled clearly.
• It must have user-centered design. Design considerations must be catchy.
• It must be user-friendly

11. Select a web site, then write an essay critiquing the site’s design.
Describe the structural layout of the site and
determine whether information is presented clearly and is easily accessible.

SITE CRITIQUE ON the web page http://www.timothydahl.com/
Menu items are so small and low contrast to the
backgound that many users will simply not recognize them!
Because of the menu design and very low content on the level 1 & 2 pages,
the site seems to be empty. Sub menus simply don't work.
=> Write a short text to each sub page with the links within,
below or on the side of the text
* Legibility of all text is bad.
Too small text, too dark background, font
size too small and text too light for negative text
(which is more often
than not a bad idea)
* "Home button" (Timothy Dahl) should take the visitor to the main page of
the version they have chosen,
not to the routing page.
Now there is no
working back navigation system (except the browser's back button,
but people have gotten used to,
especially on sites with a horizontal top
navigation bar to the site providing all navigation controls)

12. Create a project proposal (web site design). Include the following items:

a. site title
b. developer – you and anyone else who will work on the site
c. rationale or focus
(ex, billboard, customer support, catalog/e-commerce, informational, resource, and so on..
-Explain the content and goals of the site.
d. Main elements outline –list the main features of the site
e. Content – number of individual web pages
f. target audience – describe the typical audience for the site
g. design considerations – list the design goals for the site
h. limiting factors – list the technical or audience factors that
could limit the design goals for the site
*if proposal is approved develop the site,
publish your web site to the web

• Name your file – ics4l-<groupleader>.doc ex. Ics4l-ong.doc
• Checking of answers/proposal –Sept. 20, 2006
• Checking of your web site – Sept. 27, 2006
• Playing computer games is not allowed –
violators will be given a grade of 0 for this quiz

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