Point of Comparison: University of Southern California
- Date Accessed: August 22, 2003
- URL: http://www.usc.edu/
- Content: Content is available on the homepage.
Web Standards
- HTML 4 or XHTML validation: DOCTYPE! was included for XHTML 1 transitional, with 17 errors
- Text-Browsing: Links, titles, and text available
- Proprietary Code: none found
- Editor Used: n/a
- Number of lines of code:532
The USC website makes use of graphics, CSS, and Javascript to make a highly presentable, and very usable website, which serves as a model for other educational institutions.
Usability Concerns
The USC website solves the problems intoduced by many sites examined here, in Virginia. The most ingenious element is their menu system at the top of the page. Seen below, the menu system is compact, uses reasonably-sized text, and does not obscure other areas of the site with drop-down menus. The use of small arrows next to the main hierarchy tells us they are links, and implies that more choices are offered beneath.
While an aesthetic choice, the decision to include professors on the front page is a nice touch: it is personal. People visiting the web respond to personal, people-centered experiences.
Another
hallmark of the site is the inclusion of real content on the front page. News,
Events, and a "Visit USC" area takes focus on the front page.
This page, accessed from the USC homepage (TommyCam link), shows off the other great attribute of the menu system. While TommyCam was an in-text link taking me to a specific page (a deep linking link), the menubar system not only helps me navigate the site, but shows me (even when not used) where I am within the site. I can see that the TommyCam is at the Visit USC area of the site.
The title above the "In This Section" header further confirms the menu system's information with a title; further diving into this section is offered with the menu system on the left. The large search function at the top of the menu system is also a nice addition.
Accessibility Concerns
Color and graphics are used in the menu system. Using color to distinguish location might be augmented with a larger arrow, or another graphical symbol. While difficult, a fully-CSS enabled menu system might be developed so that other means can be used to show location, and mouse rollovers (size, lists, boldface). I was surprised, nonetheless, to see a full complement of links available in text view.
Return to Operation Deconstruction and examine other sites.
Copyright © 2003 by John G. Hendron. All Rights Reserved.