Go to Post Continue? You mean we can quit? Why didn't someone say so! - tsaksa [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > Technical > IT / Communications > Website Design/Showcase
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
Closed Thread
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 02:38
Michael Hill's Avatar
Michael Hill Michael Hill is online now
Registered User
FRC #3138 (Innovators Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 1,576
Michael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond repute
Need some help in creating a team website.

I've been asked by Andy Baker to head up the TechnoKats website for next year. I've just got a question or two about making team websites and how they are judged. Does Flash usually go over well with judges? Like having a Flash intro screen? Does it have to be only HTML? Some help would be awesome.
  #2   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 02:48
Bharat Nain's Avatar
Bharat Nain Bharat Nain is offline
Registered User
no team
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: New York
Posts: 2,000
Bharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond repute
Send a message via AIM to Bharat Nain Send a message via MSN to Bharat Nain
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Hill
I've been asked by Andy Baker to head up the TechnoKats website for next year. I've just got a question or two about making team websites and how they are judged. Does Flash usually go over well with judges? Like having a Flash intro screen? Does it have to be only HTML? Some help would be awesome.
Go take a look at the awards documents. That will answer all your questions. You have to balance the use of Flash and videos in such a way that people with a slow internet connection can browse through your site considerably fast. I personally like to put an intro to such websites(robotics) as long as they're decent. Team 25s website as of now is not that great of an example. Another thing I would suggest is taking a look at websites of regional winners and national winners for the past 2 years. That should give you a good answer - stay creative though.
__________________
-= Bharat Nain =-

Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
  #3   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 02:52
sanddrag sanddrag is offline
On to my 16th year in FRC
FRC #0696 (Circuit Breakers)
Team Role: Teacher
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Glendale, CA
Posts: 8,515
sanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

I'd say small flash elements can enhance a site but don't make it essential to navigation or appearance. Make the site still visually and functionally appealing even if the viewer does not have flash. Whatever you do, do not use frames.
__________________
Teacher/Engineer/Machinist - Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2011 - Present
Mentor/Engineer/Machinist, Team 968 RAWC, 2007-2010
Technical Mentor, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2005-2007
Student Mechanical Leader and Driver, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2002-2004
  #4   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 03:24
Michael Hill's Avatar
Michael Hill Michael Hill is online now
Registered User
FRC #3138 (Innovators Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 1,576
Michael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Hill has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

What's wrong with frames?
  #5   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 03:30
Bharat Nain's Avatar
Bharat Nain Bharat Nain is offline
Registered User
no team
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: New York
Posts: 2,000
Bharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond reputeBharat Nain has a reputation beyond repute
Send a message via AIM to Bharat Nain Send a message via MSN to Bharat Nain
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Hill
What's wrong with frames?
Nothing when they are used correctly, which means they don't make the page look obviously odd or make one portion stick out more than the other.
__________________
-= Bharat Nain =-

Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
  #6   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 03:40
sanddrag sanddrag is offline
On to my 16th year in FRC
FRC #0696 (Circuit Breakers)
Team Role: Teacher
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Glendale, CA
Posts: 8,515
sanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Hill
What's wrong with frames?
Search engines like the widely popular Google don't approve of them, and many people like myself don't either. For me the biggest issue is that you are not actually on the page that your address bar says, which can lead to confusion and navigation difficulties for people who pay attention to URLs.

Also, if you have to scroll any frames other than the main one, that is especially bad. Finally, they don't work well with low resolution viewers (or with small window sizes)
__________________
Teacher/Engineer/Machinist - Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2011 - Present
Mentor/Engineer/Machinist, Team 968 RAWC, 2007-2010
Technical Mentor, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2005-2007
Student Mechanical Leader and Driver, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2002-2004
  #7   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 06:47
Ryan M. Ryan M. is offline
Programming User
FRC #1317 (Digital Fusion)
Team Role: Programmer
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,508
Ryan M. has much to be proud ofRyan M. has much to be proud ofRyan M. has much to be proud ofRyan M. has much to be proud ofRyan M. has much to be proud ofRyan M. has much to be proud ofRyan M. has much to be proud ofRyan M. has much to be proud ofRyan M. has much to be proud of
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

And frames aren't valid XHTML 1.1.

I avoid flash for anything except an intro. If you want to use it to add some animated object to your site, such as your team's logo, export it to an animated gif. GIFs are more universal and much smaller.
__________________


Last edited by Ryan M. : 29-07-2005 at 06:51.
  #8   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 07:05
JohnBoucher JohnBoucher is offline
Blue Shirt
FRC #0237
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Watertown, CT
Posts: 2,927
JohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

The number one rule (or at least close to the number one rule) is to design for your users. If you read the criteria as was suggested here already, it's all about usability. Here are some things to keep in mind...
  • Is it easy to navigate?
  • Is the content presented in a logical manner?
  • Is the content relevant?
  • Is it visually interesting?
  • Am I retaining users?
  • Is my team using it?
  • What did I learn about FIRST?
Your website is a resource for your team. Other teams will visit, but your focus is that this is a team resource. Don't forget that your "Team" includes the parents, your mentors and your sponsors. You are designing to make them ALL happy. You want the team parents using the site and you want your sponsors linking to your site. Your site is an easy way to show your appreciation to your sponsors.

It's important to add new content. Keep it up to date and you will keep users coming back to it. Web design is unique in that a site is never "done". If you don't present new content for you users, there is no reason for them to return.

One thing a lot of web designs forget to offer as a backup to your navigation is a site-map. It is an easy way to keep the search engines happy if you are using frames. It will allow that full content to be indexed.

Offer some way to search your site. Google offers a free script to do this. Look here for more info http://www.google.com/searchcode.html

hth
  #9   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 12:26
plutonium83
 
Posts: n/a
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

CSS frames are a good alternative to the old way to do frames. The best part of it is it contains content and navigation in one page, a common blight that makes the traditional way hard to read by search engines.

http://www.stunicholls.myby.co.uk/menu/framed.html
  #10   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 12:38
Arefin Bari's Avatar
Arefin Bari Arefin Bari is offline
Registered User
AKA: Ari
FRC #0108 (SigmaC@T)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Ft. lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,248
Arefin Bari has a reputation beyond reputeArefin Bari has a reputation beyond reputeArefin Bari has a reputation beyond reputeArefin Bari has a reputation beyond reputeArefin Bari has a reputation beyond reputeArefin Bari has a reputation beyond reputeArefin Bari has a reputation beyond reputeArefin Bari has a reputation beyond reputeArefin Bari has a reputation beyond reputeArefin Bari has a reputation beyond reputeArefin Bari has a reputation beyond repute
Send a message via ICQ to Arefin Bari Send a message via AIM to Arefin Bari Send a message via MSN to Arefin Bari Send a message via Yahoo to Arefin Bari
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

Take a look at the SigmaC@t's website, the site may give you few ideas

www.sigmacatrobotics.com
  #11   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 13:29
theory6's Avatar
theory6 theory6 is offline
Registered User
FRC #1241 (theory 6 - team hansen experience of robotic youth)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Mississauga, ON
Posts: 90
theory6 is just really nicetheory6 is just really nicetheory6 is just really nicetheory6 is just really nicetheory6 is just really nice
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

I'd say HTML with a few well integrated Flash bits (perhaps a navigation in Flash) would go a long way in the FIRST Web world. The web is evolving into a more multimedia rich environment so Flash is your friend. Don't try to get fancy with programming, leave that stuff for the robot Just make your pages in HTML using tables (no frames/i frames) with perhaps a exterior/embeded CSS page to work your links and text font, color, decoration. A little interactivity goes a long way. Use interactivity in your buttons, simple rollovers are fun to play with
Remember, although trying to win the web award should be a goal think more in the lines of "will this website be useful to anyone wanting to find more info about Team 45, FIRST and the rest of the community?" Think of ways to make your website different from all the rest out there. You'd want to stand out in aesthetics, functionality AND performance. Triple threat
__________________
Visit Our GTR Winning Website: theory6 - Team 1241
  #12   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 17:32
mechanicalbrain's Avatar
mechanicalbrain mechanicalbrain is offline
The red haired Dremel gnome!
FRC #0623 (Ohm robotics)
Team Role: Electrical
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,221
mechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond repute
Send a message via AIM to mechanicalbrain Send a message via Yahoo to mechanicalbrain
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

I think are team did a good job. www.ohsrobotics.org. we won regionals at VCU! i agree with some of the stuff posted do good flash animations but don't make them necessary. my suggestion is to do a flash version and HTML version so people who want it simple can keep it simple.
__________________
"Oh my God! There's an axe in my head."
623's 2006 home page
random mechanicalbrain slogans

  #13   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 29-07-2005, 21:45
Hutch Hutch is offline
NOTAG
FRC #0461 (Westside Boiler Invasion)
Team Role: Programmer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 69
Hutch will become famous soon enoughHutch will become famous soon enough
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

The general avoid flash/java/frames rules have been mentioned... Of course, don't do anything obnoxious (read: bright backgrounds, too much animation, etc.) For ease of maintenance, avoid tables as they are just a mess - CSS is definitely your friend for positioning as well as styling.

Good things to do: dynamic content (news, that sort of thing), lots of pictures, content such as animations from previous years. Just make the site generally helpful and informative, and don't worry so much about winning an award - the most important thing is that everyone will like your webiste, not just judges.
  #14   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 30-07-2005, 01:31
sanddrag sanddrag is offline
On to my 16th year in FRC
FRC #0696 (Circuit Breakers)
Team Role: Teacher
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Glendale, CA
Posts: 8,515
sanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

Whatever you do make sure the transmission prints stay. Those things are worth their number of megabytes in pounds of gold. I really should download them all to keep shouldn't I.
__________________
Teacher/Engineer/Machinist - Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2011 - Present
Mentor/Engineer/Machinist, Team 968 RAWC, 2007-2010
Technical Mentor, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2005-2007
Student Mechanical Leader and Driver, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2002-2004
  #15   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 30-07-2005, 01:38
mechanicalbrain's Avatar
mechanicalbrain mechanicalbrain is offline
The red haired Dremel gnome!
FRC #0623 (Ohm robotics)
Team Role: Electrical
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,221
mechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond reputemechanicalbrain has a reputation beyond repute
Send a message via AIM to mechanicalbrain Send a message via Yahoo to mechanicalbrain
Re: Need some help in creating a team website.

yeah definitely! if you have something unique or you put work into definitely put it on you page. our team one an award because of a scrapbook! other teams had movies they were showing but it was obvious that we put allot of work int the book and it impressed the judges allot.
__________________
"Oh my God! There's an axe in my head."
623's 2006 home page
random mechanicalbrain slogans

Closed Thread


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
[moderated]: Worst Call Ever and Congratulations from San Jose ducttapejason General Forum 45 12-05-2005 13:23
**FIRST EMAIL**/Welcome 2005 FRC Championship Teams! Andy Brockway FIRST E-Mail Blast Archive 1 04-04-2005 16:33
First Year Team Assistance - MOEmentum: FYI Mr MOE General Forum 0 07-01-2005 14:07
How Many FIRST shirts do you own? Joe Ross General Forum 81 31-08-2004 10:36
Looking for an easy website for your team? Jack Website Design/Showcase 2 30-12-2003 23:32


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:46.

The Chief Delphi Forums are sponsored by Innovation First International, Inc.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi