This tip builds on the tip
from the last WWW page on WWW pages of the past.
Users like to see some reaction to their mouse movements.
Many users will move the mouse cursor around the screen, in
order to find the key menu options. A little trick that you
can use is to use a mouse roll-over event to swap a graphic
with the same graphic, but with a drop shadow. For example
try to roll your mouse over the following graphic:
Isn't that great! It actually looks as if it is jumping
out of the page (which, of course, it isn't as it's still
just a 2D image, but the shadow gives it depth).
Many ISP providers use this technique to make their WWW
pages look a bit more dynamic. AOL use this technique a lot.
July 2001 (Part II)
As I said in my previous essay, I've spent a good deal of
time over the past few weeks working on content. As I'm
moving campus in the next few months, I have decided to
mirror my WWW site, in case that students cannot get access
to WWW-based material. The easiest way that I could guide
users to the best site was to use a pull-down menu, such
as:
<script
language="JavaScript">
<!--
function MM_reloadPage(init)
{ //reloads the window if Nav4 resized
if (init==true) with (navigator)
{if ((appName=="Netscape")&&
(parseInt(appVersion)==4))
{
document.MM_pgW=innerWidth;
document.MM_pgH=innerHeight;
onresize=MM_reloadPage; }}
else if
(innerWidth!=document.MM_pgW
||
innerHeight!=document.MM_pgH) location.reload();
}
-->
Here's the other quick jump menu option:
Page footer
For a while I've not really been happy about
the bottom of my pages, as they look a little ragged. Thus
I've added a footer to some of my new pages. For this I've
added the page name, its structure, and the copyright link.
Here's a sample from the main page:
Copyright page
I've finally got round to properly defining my copyright
page. In this I've decided to add the basic aims of my WWW
site. For this I've defined:
To show the vibrance and academic research
undertaken within the School of Computing at Napier
University. How achieved:Main
page and Diary
page.
To provide support for modules taught within
the School of Computing, especially Computer Networks
and Distributed Systems and Network Operating Systems,
with the delivery of notes, tutorials, on-line tests,
timetables, e-mails, examinations and courseworks.
How achieved:CNDS
and NOS.
To support Beng/Beng(Hons) students by providing
a depository for previous projects and examinations,
and any associated material. How achieved:Projects
and Examinations.
To encourage student development in practical
areas by providing WWW-based examples, especially
in the areas of WWW development, multimedia development,
database integration with the WWW, and network programming.
How achieved:Code
snippets, WWW
pages of the past and My
studio.
To stimulate interest in the area of Computing
and Computer Science, with interesting articles which
show the importance of the subject area. How achieved:Essay
of the week and Fun
page.
To provide information to researchers in my
research active areas, especially in agent technology
and security. How achieved:Research
page.
I've also decided to create a different layout for it (see
the right-hand side). An important statement in it is:
These pages are intended to motivate and stimulate
development in Computing. In no way do any of the
pages reflect the views of the School of Computing
or Napier University. If anyone would like anything
on these pages deleted, or modified, in any way, they
should contact the author immediately.
and:
William
Buchanan has allowed the material
to be published in this form, but no additional rights
are granted for the further exploitation of this work,
without his consent, whether it be by paper-based
or electronic material. Most of the material on this
site has been designed to form a single identity.
Any material which is added to it by any another author,
must first be approved by William Buchanan, and then
clearly identified as additional material.
Design
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