How to Spot a Turkey in Cyberspace: How to Spot a Turkey in Cyberspace Web Resource Evaluation Techniques 2005 NMC Summer Conference


OR, Conquering Data Smog, Information Overload, andInformation Fatigue Syndrome!!: OR, Conquering Data Smog, Information Overload, and Information Fatigue Syndrome!! Carole Robinson Jeanie Wells


Conquering Data Smog Information OverloadInformation Fatigue Syndrome : Conquering Data Smog Information Overload Information Fatigue Syndrome New information per year per person World population - 6.3 billion Almost 800 MB of recorded information is produced per person each year (about 30 feet of books to store the equivalent on paper). - How Much Information? 2003: University of California Regents


Conquering Data Smog Information OverloadInformation Fatigue Syndrome : Conquering Data Smog Information Overload Information Fatigue Syndrome 2002 - World Wide Web contained about 170 terabytes of information on its surface 17 times the size of the Library of Congress print collections - How Much Information? 2003: University of California Regents


Conquering Data Smog Information OverloadInformation Fatigue Syndrome : Conquering Data Smog Information Overload Information Fatigue Syndrome Sifting through masses of irrelevant online information to locate specific information is daunting. U.S. user spends a monthly average of 25 hours and 25 minutes at home and 74 hours and 26 minutes at work sifting through online information. - How Much Information? 2003: University of California Regents


Conquering Data Smog Information OverloadInformation Fatigue Syndrome : Conquering Data Smog Information Overload Information Fatigue Syndrome Google estimates that over 8 Billion Web sites exist. Search engines cover less than 25% of Web sites. How much of this information do you estimate is quality, useful information? - Search Engine Watch


An Information Literate Person: An Information Literate Person …can understand, locate, access, use, and evaluate information efficiently and effectively. - Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education, 2002


Information Technology Literacy: Information Technology Literacy …enables us to analyze and evaluate the information we find on the Internet, giving us confidence in using the selections to make a decision or create a product.


Increasing Reliance Upon Web-based Information: Increasing Reliance Upon Web-based Information Web resource quality varies tremendously. Information technology literacy helps separate quality information treasure from the massive collection of cyber trash inhabiting the Internet.


5 + 1 Evaluation Criteria: 5 + 1 Evaluation Criteria Accuracy Authority Objectivity Currency Coverage 5+1. Design /Navigation /ADA


1: Web Resources Accuracy: Remember: Almost anyone can publish on the Web. The Web can be a virtual soapbox for organizations or individuals. Web standards to ensure site information accuracy does not exist (like information accuracy for published books, magazines, and newspapers). 1: Web Resources Accuracy


1: Web Resources Accuracy: Does evidence exist to confirm the information on the site is true? Does a bibliography of citations on the page to show where the data is coming from? When in doubt, return to the home page to determine source of information. Can the information be verified elsewhere? Perhaps in a print source? 1: Web Resources Accuracy


1: Web Resources Accuracy: Watch groups and services scan the web for bad information, fraudulent, and fanatical web sites. The Virtual Chase maintains an updated list of these groups. 1: Web Resources Accuracy


2: Web Resources Authority: Remember: A reputable site author / publisher is important. Locate the author’s / producer’s qualifications for writing on the subject. 2: Web Resources Authority


2: Web Resources Authority: Is the author's / producer’s verifiable information readily available AND clearly visible? Name Qualifications Organization affiliations E-mail address Biography Curriculum vita Personal homepage 2: Web Resources Authority


2: Web Resources Authority: Is the source peer-reviewed or edited? If the source peer-reviewed or edited, is the source reputable? Has the author / producer written articles or books other than web pages? 2: Web Resources Authority


3: Web Resources Objectivity: Remember: Is the purpose of the site clearly stated? Why was the site authored? What are the goals / aims of persons /groups presenting material? 3: Web Resources Objectivity


3: Web Resources Objectivity: Is the intended audience clearly defined? Advocacy Business /marketing Informational News Personal 3: Web Resources Objectivity


3: Web Resources Objectivity: Is the information presented with a minimum of bias or viewpoint? Is the information trying to sway the opinion of the audience? Does the site use inflammatory or provocative language? 3: Web Resources Objectivity


3: Web Resources Objectivity: Remember: Distinctions between advertising and information can become extremely blurred on the Web. If advertising is on the site, can it be differentiated from informational content? 3: Web Resources Objectivity


4: Web Resources Currency: Is the content of the work up-to-date? Is the publication date clearly indicated? If so, a date may have various meanings: Date first created Date placed on Web Date last revised 4: Web Resources Currency


4: Web Resources Currency: Is information current? Are dead links non-existent the site? Do links supply enhanced information? Are links appropriate to the topic on the site? Are links evaluated in any way? 4: Web Resources Currency


5: Web Resources Coverage: Are topics explored in depth? Is the topic adequately covered? Is the site display complete documents or an abstract / summary? Is important information left out intentionally? 5: Web Resources Coverage


5+1: Design/Navigation: Is material presented in an orderly format? Is information provided within a reasonable number of links (preferably 3 or fewer clicks)? 5+1: Design/Navigation


5+1: Design/Navigation: Does the text follow basic rules of grammar, spelling, and literary composition? Are obvious errors present? 5+1: Design/Navigation


5+1: Design/Navigation: Does the site follow good graphic design principles? Do the graphics serve an informational (see below) NOT decorative function ? Clarify Instruct Inspire Elaborate Do icons clearly represent what is intended? 5+1: Design/Navigation


5+1: Design/Navigation: Usability Does a link on each supporting page to go back to the main page? Is a comment link provided at the bottom of the main page? 5+1: Design/Navigation


5+1: Design/Navigation: Usability Are options available for text only, non-frames, and non-tables views of this Web site? Is attention paid to the needs of the disabled (e.g., large print and graphics options; audio; alternative text for graphics)? 5+1: Design/Navigation


Confused?: With…Accuracy, Authority, Objectivity, Currency, Coverage,and Design Use…Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How?   Confused?


Disability Types: Major Categories : Disability Types: Major Categories Visual - blindness, low vision, color-blindness Hearing - deafness


Disability Types: Major Categories : Disability Types: Major Categories Mobility - inability to use a mouse, slow response time, limited fine motor control Cognitive - learning disabilities, distractibility, inability to remember or focus on large amounts of information


How Does Your Website Sound?: How Does Your Website Sound? Screenreaders JAWS WindowEyes HAL & Supernova Home Page Reader


Let’s Do The WAVE: Let’s Do The WAVE


Website Accessibility for FREE: Website Accessibility for FREE WAVE - external link Accessibility Toolbar - external link (NILS) Cynthia Says - external link (ICDRI) A-Prompt - external link (University of Toronto) Site Valet - external link (WebThing)


Website Accessibility for FREE: Website Accessibility for FREE AccMonitor Online - external link (HiSoft) Bobby online - external link (Watchfire) TAW - external link in Spanish (Sidar) Torquemada - external link in Italian (WebxTutti) AskAlice - external link (SSB Technologies)


Commercial Products & Services: Commercial Products & Services InFocus - external link (SSB Technologies) AccVerify, AccRepair, AccMonitor - external link (HiSoftware) LIFT (including LIFT for Dreamweaver & for FrontPage) - external link (UsableNet)


Commercial Products & Services: Commercial Products & Services RAMP - external link (Deque) Bobby - external link (Watchfire) COAST - external link (COAST Software)


How NOT To Be a Turkey: How NOT To Be a Turkey Images & Animations: always use Alt Tags for graphics. There is no ALTernative Image Maps: use client-side map elements and text for hotspots.


How NOT To Be a Turkey: How NOT To Be a Turkey Multimedia: Provide captioning and transcripts of audio, and descriptions of video. Hypertext Links: Use text that makes sense when read out of context. For example: “Click here.”


When in doubt…: When in doubt… Learn Webaim.org Change Promote


Presented at the New Media ConsortiumSummer Conference June 15-19, 2005 Honolulu, HI: Dr. Carole S. Robinson, Academic Support Pasadena City College csrobinson@pasadena.edu Jeanie Wells, Technology Support Services CSU, Monterey Bay Jeanie_Wells@csumb.edu Presented at the New Media Consortium Summer Conference June 15-19, 2005 Honolulu, HI