AWORC WEB INFORMATION SYSTEM - INTERFACE reDESIGN This presentation traces the activity and recommendations of AWORC’s Web Working Group. The recommendations have already been presented to AWORC members via mailing list discussion. During this AWORC Face-to-face meeting, we will have opportunity to discuss and refine these plans in the broader AWORC context. Thismorning, we present our activity and recommendations to a larger group, comprised of Korean information experts. With this presentation, and the presentations that follow, AWORC will communicate a lot of the context and background to its work. There is so much more to AWORC than what we see currently on the web site, or what some of you know of the network through contact with APWINC. aworc-web Involving WENT participants In planning for WENT’99, AWORC trainers and coordinators discussed how WENT participants could help enhance the AWORC web site – whether by adding their organisations’ information resources to the site, or by assisting in the hands-on development of the site. aworc-web – the initial mailing list An aworc-web mailing list was established as a forum for discussing the site development. Interested WENT’99 participants were invited to join, either as collaborators or onlookers. Other subscribers were those involved in day-to-day maintenance of the site. A survey was devised as a starting point for discussion, to evaluate the existing site, and to capture some information about Internet usage amongst the broad group of geographically dispersed participants. The survey framework was based on principles of (web site) information architecture, often used in designing or prioritizing a web development. Information architecture Answers to the following questions assist in developing web sites: ? Organisation’s mission ? Goals of the site: short-, medium- and long-term ? Stakeholders ? Intended audience ? Why people visit the site the first time, and why they come back ? Content inventory ? Functionality Good web sites combine: ? Content (quality of informational resources, editorial policies) ? Functionality (e.g., keyword search, web public can input information) ? Visual identity (branding, user orientation, recognition) ? Usability (Planned user scenarios, ease of use, user-focused, user-friendly design) A survey sent to the aworc-went99 mailing list had 2 respondents, and a more detailed survey sent to the aworc-web focus group had 5 respondents. The summary of results, and analysis of the web site usage statistics (automatically generated by the web server), form a basis for interface redesign or enhancement, and serve as a starting point for site usability analysis. Survey results Following is a summary of the results compiled in August 1999. aworc-went99 (broad group, various levels ICT experience) aworc-web (small group, generally more ICT experience) General web use 1-2 times/week almost every day Email use (almost) daily (almost) daily Favorite web sites and why B+5 sites (work-related) Search engines (useful) Specialised informational and tech/tutorial sites Goals: short-term (6 months) ? Preparatory conferences or workshops for B+5 review done by non-government and government organisations worldwide ? New URL - http://www.aworc.org ? New look ? More content (women and ICT) ? Multilingual core information: About AWORC, About AWORC Search ? Improved search interface ? Regional information re B+5 process, AWORC's role in this (key meetings, dates, documents, links to other sites) ? WENT'99 training kit (password access) ? Links and info about WENT'99 participants ? Site map ? Thanks to funding bodies Goals: med.-term (by June 2000) ? Preparatory conferences or workshops for B+5 review done by non-government and government organisations worldwide ? Working search mechanism and search index ? Up-to-date info on everything that's going on in the BPFA Review. What I've noticed is that the same information is seen in all the info sources on B+5. Hopefully, once the preparations are underway and governments and NGOs are actually doing the review, then we can get diverse information. Of course, AWORC has to do some really active information gathering for this. Although I think the WENT '99 network will be a good info source for national and NGO review processes ? Provide training resources (WENT Training Kit available with OpenContent Licence, WENT Training Kit - trainer notes) Possibly online training. ? All B+5 information and links ? News/announcements from AWORC members. ? Image bank - Asian women's artwork and photography. ? Facility for input/link organisations within region (automated). ? Mirror site internationally via APC networks. Goals: long-term (5 years) ? Women movement around the world ? Online training, like a virtual university for women using ICT to forward their goals. ? Another "special section". After Beijing+5, AWORC has to focus on another issue, another advocacy. My suggestion would be Women in ICT. Hopefully, after AWORC conducts its own five-year review of Women in ICT, we will have enough info and sources of info to turn that review into an on-going, up-dated and active section of AWORC. ? The best multilingual search mechanism! This includes developing a really good Thesaurus for AWORC and implementing indexing "standards" for all the "documents" in the AWORC site. ? More links to sites created by women who have attended WENT '99, 2000, 2001, 2002 . . . ? Key regional web site for (AWORC mission) ? Portal/directory of organisations in the region with shared news/announcement function Why people visit the site ? To seek information regarding women's issues and concerns ? View Information relevant to intended users ? Regular updates encourage return visits ? AWORC Search leads to relevant information ? For information on contemporary women's issues in Asia ? Contact details (who is doing what) First visit ? Active "off-line" promotion of the site (word of mouth, flyers, attendance in meetings, etc.) ? They know that there's relevant information there waiting for them ? Online promotion: URL mentioned in email and on other web sites Repeat visits ? If the site is credible on info re Asian women ? Yes, if the site is credible on info on Asian women ? Yes, if site remains distinct & unique regional resource ? If evidence that the site is active (regular updates, current information) ? For further research (Users will re-use search engine if first search worked well) Use of current web site ? Look at it twice a week and print out for filing ? show existence of AWORC network ? direct people to BPFA and WENT99 information ? to find out about AWORC ? to look for recent announcements / news / additions aworc-web-wg Web working group The AWORC web working group was established in October, at the tail end of the Global WENT’99. It was comprised of the AWORCers who had been involved in the Global WENT / WomenAction, inspired to action largely because of AWORC’s leading role in the regional women’s networking, and also because the AWORCers present all had hands-on expertise in web technologies, as expert users, web builders, or directly engaged in day-to-day AWORC site maintenance. More importantly, we were concerned to consolidate the presentation and organisation of the “web information service” – the public face of the network, that comprises information about and links to AWORC member organisations, the functionality of a multilingual search engine across the shared database records of women’s information resource centres, the onsite reports from various regional meetings, plans to release WENT training materials into the public domain, and the sum of Beijing review documentation. While a lot of the information is current reference material, as time passes, and after the Beijing review for example, all AWORC B+5 information will take on important historical significance. In making any plans for web development, we need to be sensitive to appropriate use of technology. We also propose to trial and recommend viable ways of working with open source tools, towards tools development that can provide a framework for sustainable web maintenance amongst low-resourced member groups. Scope of the design It is proposed that a design would encompass all front-end interface elements of the web information service. An overall visual identity that is agreed on by the network could be deployed across print materials, member websites, and a maintenance or style guide that would be the basis for future additions to the site – whether focus content areas or functional enhancements, third party databases, etc that form part of the overall web information system. Preliminary design ideas [home page, 3 design studies] We approach this redesign with sensitivity to the diverse membership of AWORC – in language, culture and issues focus. The design can only be successful if it is somehow representative of the work of all AWORC members. To satisfy this, we have proposed these preliminary design ideas. They are a starting point for feedback, to help synthesis a representative visual identity -- something that AWORC members find a pleasure to look at, can be proud of, and that the target audience groups can also identify with, and find pleasurable way of accessing the web information. Recommendations Consistent visual identity Scalable design: Separating the content from presentational aspects to: ? reduce the need to ‘re-massage’ formatted HTML when revising style elements ? move towards more databased content, and increased site search capabilities ? new sections of the site can be added easily, site navigation systems can easily accommodate new sections or features. As web technologies develop, we anticipate the possibilities for distributed publishing – where content contributors can add information to the web information system without the need to know HTML. The design should allow for developments in this area. The demo search already allows users to choose their search interface language. We hope this functionality can be deployed across other areas of the site. Again, a cohesive, representative and scalable design must accommodate such development. Usability studies: AWORC is fortunate to have representatives from all corners of Asia. The web-wg hopes to plan and facilitate remote usability testing – for the AWORC site, and to develop methodologies for cross-cultural design evaluation for similar regional or global web information services. Maintenance guide / style guide: Towards integration of databases, site mirroring, distributed/automated publishing mechanisms Where to from here Proposed timeline Oct 99 Planning Jan 00 Preliminary designs Feb 00 Face-to-face / Feedback Apr 00 Usability testing May 00 Implementation Jun 00 reLAUNCH (during Women2000) Jul 00 Evaluate process Discussion points ? Feedback on preliminary designs ? Possible collaborations that extend the whole ‘web information service’ ? Discuss content developments post-B+5 ? Network agrees to participate in usability studies, usability testing ? Role of AWORC members in web development ? AWORC’s overall expectation of the web site Summary With all this in mind, we look forward to feedback on our activities and plans that will inform how we proceed in the next 1-2 years. This is innovative work, and very important work. I’m sure everyone here wants the AWORC initiative to flourish, to bring about positive effects in resource exchange, and to present a unified diversity that truly represents the people who help to make it happen. Justina Curtis 14 February, 2000 With thanks to Cheekay Cinco, Pi Villanueva and Sangkyung Rhee