FREE ESSAY ON WWW.NATIONALBANK.CO.NZ - WEB SITE ANALYSIS

WWW.NATIONALBANK.CO.NZ - WEB SITE ANALYSIS

Terms of Reference
Date of Request
16 February 2001
Request
To produce a design methodology and technical report containing a factual based
assessment of a chosen Internet site, CD-ROM and my personal group project.
Requested By
Michael Vehaart
Deliverables
Report style format, paper based presentation enclosed in a folder.
Due Date
15 March 2001
Introduction
Below are the results of research taken out to access different multimedia designs and
their internal components that enable them to compete in an aggressive environment
Question One
Internet Site - The National Bank (www.nationalbank.co.nz)
Methodology
When creating a website for a large company the use of the waterfall methodology is
required.
The Steps involved in the waterfall development are:
? Planning (identify scope, plan development strategies and goals.)
? Requirements analysis (what the website should do)
? Design (How the website is going to work)
? Implementation & Testing (Using the website and seeing if it works)
? Support (correcting errors, improving and enhancing)
This methodology was used because in order to produce an effective computer based
application, particularly where the project is large and/or complex, schedules need to be
met, costs controlled, quality maintained and specifications adhered to design
methodologies will need to be followed. (Vehaart 2000)
This is evident because of the online banking that is provided by the National Bank and
there need for relevant up to date information at there website which is a large project
to control without the use of Planning, Analysis and Design.
Essential components
Essential components for a website (Ruth Kastenmayer Webmaster and style guide editor at
Judson College (http://home.judson.edu/styleguide/contents.html)) are:
? Web page independence (Who, What, When, Where)
? User-centered design (target audience)
? Ease of navigation (clear easy to follow navigation)
? Access speed (provide users with information they want in fewest steps)
? Simplicity and consistency (easy to understand, similar setup)
? Page context, and (where you are and where the next link is going to take you)
? Functionality (ensuring things 'e.g., links' always work)
On the above components I will access the National Bank website.
When you first enter the homepage for the National Bank you are greeted with a large
banner explaining what site you have entered, a list of click able links explaining what
is held within, down the bottom of the page it has when the website was created but no
sign of updates, all though you hope they do, and it has a tab header frame at the top of
every page to take you to there homepage or other pages within their site.
This site has its target audience in mind they are Mr and Mrs Joe Bloggs and students.
This is apparent through their use of image cycling on their homepage where it cycles
through images of couples, singles and students and the tailor made accounts that they
offer for them. The even better part is when you click on these images it takes you to
the information about that account.
Navigation of the site is well layed out and easy to use with the use of rollover change,
which highlights the link you have the mouse situated over and gives you subheadings of
the pages within that link. Also situated at the bottom of the page is underlined text
links which you can use to move amongst the headings of the site and they also change to
a different colour once clicked on to let the user know where they have been within the
site. Also there is a contents header at the top of every page listing the major headings
and the subheadings of the page you are in as well as the page you are currently on.
Interface studies have shown that users prefer menus that present a minimum of five to
seven links, and that users prefer a few very dense screens of choices over many layers
of simplified menus. 
(Web Style Guide http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual/interface/basic_interface2.html) 
With this statement in mind National Bank have done just that with they're maximum of
seven links within most pages contained in the site. Also the speed in which the site
loads up is relatively short because of the use of simple design, simple graphics, and
simple layout. This is shown with every page having the same background, colours and
layout so within a few clicks the user feels familiar with the site and can navigate it
without the need for help.
With page context the users of this site can easily find what their there for and where
they can find it. This is done through the use of graphical links that display the pages
within each link and if they do have trouble there is a site search option that they can
enter a word/s and it will find all information within there site related to their search
and if that fails there is always the site map provided.
With the functionality of the site all links that were entered were working and all
graphics were as well.
Design Motivations
Through the use of simple layout (e.g., minimal graphics and link options that show
subheadings when the mouse is rolled over it) the user is able to find out what
information they want where to go to get it (what link to take) and can easily learn or
be informed of all that the National Bank has to offer. Also if the user feels that they
have not been well informed they are able to email the National Bank and ask about the
options the are after and they National bank will reply to there query at there personal
email address.
The is also able to learn and understand the information because they are provided with
short and to the point paragraphs that are basic and in a good format that is easily
read.
Technical Considerations
With the simple graphics and text based pages the considerations made have been that any
person on any PC is able to access this site without the performance of it being hinded.
The only thing is that it is built for a 17" monitor but it scroll bars are provided for
smaller screens.
Also if the user did not have a graphics card the graphics would not work but this has
been accounted for with the use of underlined text links on every page.
Cross Platform Issues 
The issues within this site relating to the two main platforms Macintosh and Windows are
the colour settings and text size and the fonts that are supported by each.
The colors and graphics used on a Macintosh computer will appear much darker and have
more contrast when viewed on a Windows-based computer, while on a Macintosh computer the
graphics designed on a Windows computer will appear flat and washed out. The default
gamma settings for a Macintosh computer are 1.8-target gamma; the settings for a Windows
computer are 2.2-target gamma. (Judson Webcenter Style Guide
http://home.judson.edu/styleguide/pageplatform.html) This will only affect the background
colours and one graphic on the homepage.
The actual text size varies from platform to platform. What a Windows user sees as
14-point text appears as 12-point text on a Macintosh computer. Also all browsers do not
support the same set of fonts, so use of the default font setting would prevent this.
Edutainment - CD-ROM - The Computer Classroom 5
Methodology
The methodology used to create this CD-Rom is a combination of waterfall methodology and
prototyping. The waterfall methodology because each phase has to be completed before the
next is begun and prototyping because you have continual development and feed back.
(Verhaart, M. (2001) V/2-KnowledgeBase2000. Retrieved March 13, 2001 from EIT Intranet)
This is evident because of the high quality of sound and graphics and attention to detail
(e.g. the layout and movement of the owl's beck when it is talking) and also the
variations of what happens when you click on certain buttons (e.g. when you click on a
certain button once and object appears and when you do a second time a variation of the
object appears there)
Essential components
The essential components of CD-Rom development (http://geocities.com/itmweb.html) are:
? Define the user (who the CD-Rom is for)
? Interface Design (Graphics, text, sound, video, animation)
? Navigation (how easy)
? Information relevance
On the above components I will access the CD-Rom.
Straight away when you start the CD-Rom you are told that the CD-Rom is built for a
certain age group (i.e. 5-9).
The graphics of for the CD-Rom are suitable for the defined age group with its use of
strong bold colours so that the users are immediately drawn to the look of it. The text
of the CD-Rom is suitable for the define users because it is easy to read and clearly and
well layed out so that they can see what's happening.
The sound is of good quality sometimes but not so good other times (e.g. during the
spelling game some words are hard to hear). The use of animation in the CD-Rom is great
with the use of a talking owl the users are able to relate to a friendly forest animal.
Also all other animations are friendly characters that would not scare kids (e.g., the
cowboy bean).
The navigation of this CD-Rom is not to clearing parts with the user not knowing if they
have clicked on links but most have a clink noise associated with them when you click on
it. Also the use of the owl is clever with it telling you what to do when you enter a new
page or if you take to long.
The relevance of the information within this CD-Rom is good it clearly is aimed at the
age group defined at the beginning and this is shown with the simple lessons that are
used to teach the user.
Design Motivations
The way this CD-Rom is designed is to be interactive with when the user does something
whether it is right or wrong the user gets a response (e.g.. A big tick or a loud beep or
the owl tells you correct or oh-oh try again). This is a good motivation for the user to
learn because they are never actually told that No you are wrong and so they don't fear
taking part because of the chance they might be wrong.
Also the use of well described animation lessons in how to multiply, add, subtract and
divide gives the user chance to be explained what to do by cartoon characters that they
find funny and friendly.
Also how the user is in control of the lessons if they want to do it again they can if
they want to be told how to do something again they can. (Eg. the owl says click go to do
the exercise again)
Technical Considerations
A Macintosh with 13" colour monitor (640x480) resolution with 256 colours) or greater,
System 7.0 or greater, 8Mb of RAM or more, CD-ROM, 3 MB hard disk space.
For the CD-Rom to rum successfully the CD-Rom comes with an instruction manual on how to
play it whether it be Macintosh 7.0 or Windows 3.11(Nightingale, P. (1998)*The Computer
Classroom*.2N Education Pty Ltd WARNERS BAY AUSTRALIA)
Cross Platform Issues 
There are no cross platform issues pertaining to this CD-Rom because it was created for
both Macintosh and Windows platforms. (Nightingale, P. (1998)*The Computer Classroom*.2N
Education Pty Ltd WARNERS BAY AUSTRALIA)
Question Two
Group Project - CD ROM - Golfing Hawke's Bay
Methodology
The methodology used to create this CD-Rom will be prototyping and advanced programming.
This will be used so that the developers get an idea of what the user interface will look
like and what the client wants by taking user views of the intended interface to the
client and having them agreed upon and signed off so that the developers know what they
have to achieve and the client knows what will be delivered to them by seeing what it
looks like.
Prototyping will be used so that if the client does not like what they see it can be
thrown away or if they like certain aspects of it then it can be fine tuned through the
use of advanced programming.
Essential components
The essential components used within the design will be text, graphics, sound, video,
animation, navigation and transition effects.
The text will be short and to the point and clearly seen and easily read by all users,
with bold fonts and italics used to create a sense of importance and reference.
The graphics will be standard pictures that will be compatible with all pc's (e.g. jpeg
format).
The sound will be of top professional quality that is easy to hear and understand.
The animation contained within the CD-Rom will be short and not hinder the overall aspect
of what information the CD-Rom is trying to portray. (E.g. not within pages or will it
contain information that is trying to be expressed)
Video will be of avi or mpeg format depending on the desired result by the client and
navigation shall be simple, consistent and easily followed throughout the CD-Rom with a
tab header frame containing the headings a site map and internal back and forward
navigation as well as a link to the homepage with in each page.
Design Motivations
The layout of the information combined with the graphical pictures and video footage will
allow the user to learn more about the course they are looking at and be able to chose
which golf course to play at due to public availability days conveyed by the CD-Rom.
Also they through the use of a graphical road map are able to see what roads to take to
get to the golf club.
Technical Considerations
For the CD-Rom to run the users pc will require a sound card and a video player for there
to be optimal use of it.
But underlined text links will be provided for that pc that has not got compatible
software.
Cross Platform Issues 
The cross platform issues will relate to the graphics that we used with it looking with a
Macintosh pc the graphics will seem light and a bit washy.
Conclusions
I have found that there are various methods used to design and create a website and
CD-Rom for users (e.g. Waterfall, prototype, advanced programming) with many essential
components to take into consideration (e.g. file formats) and also that there are
technical considerations to consider as not everyone has the same hardware and software.
As well as cross platform issues with people using different platforms. (E.g. Macintosh
vs. Windows)
References
(http://geocities.com/itmweb.html
. (Verhaart, M. (2001) V/2-KnowledgeBase2000. Retrieved March 13, 2001 from EIT
Intranet)
. (Judson Webcenter Style Guide http://home.judson.edu/styleguide/pageplatform.html)
(Web Style Guide http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual/interface/basic_interface2.html)
(Ruth Kastenmayer Webmaster and styleguide editor at Judson College 
(http://home.judson.edu/styleguide/contents.html))
The National Bank (www.nationalbank.co.nz)
(Nightingale, P. (1998)*The Computer Classroom*.2N Education Pty Ltd WARNERS BAY
AUSTRALIA)
Glossary
CD-Rom - (Compact Disc, read-only-memory) is an adaptation of the CD that is designed to
store computer data in the form of text and graphics, as well as hi-fi stereo sound.
Email - (electronic mail) is the exchange of computer-stored messages by
telecommunication.
Frame - the use of multiple, independently controllable sections on a Web presentation.
Interface - consisting of the set of dials, knobs, operating system commands, graphical
display formats, and other devices provided by a computer or a program to allow the user
to communicate and use the computer or program.
Italics - Font style
Link - a link is a selectable connection from one word, picture, or information object to
another.
MB - Megabyte
RAM - Random Access Memory