Instructions for this Report

This report is a series of reactions and descriptions of what I had to personally go through to complete a report for a course I am taking in Psychology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The course is taught by Dr. Leon James and its focus is Theistic Psychology.. The class is fascinating and completely different in its teaching approach. I am really enjoying the readings and the well defined concepts offered by Dr. James concerning his subject matter.

Dr. Leon James has assigned this report several times over the years to various classes he has taught here at UH. I spent a lot of time browsing these other sites trying to see what other students were able to do with this report from previous generations. If they could create such wonderful homepages, there was no reason why I couldn’t right?

The internet portion of the class was as foreign to me as you could possibly get. At the beginning of the semester I was not sure how and why this was all going to come together. I knew absolutely nothing about web architecture or even how to post anything on the web. All I have ever been able to do online is send e-mails and do searches! My initial reaction was to be completely overwhelmed and NOT wanting to do this. It sounded way too hard! But I spent many hours reading instructions, then re-reading them again and again until I got things right.

In this report, I also talk about the psychological aspects to web design: 3 ideas I've taken from Dr. James Social Psychology of Web ArchitectureI discuss briefly how these psychological concepts relate to a wonderful website loaded with tidbits of some good ‘ole honest advice.

The website that was most helpful in learning about the do’s and don’ts of web design that I was instructed to visit was that of Mr. Jeffrey Glover.I spend a section of this report discussing ten major principles from his website on how to improve your homepage.

And finally I will finish this report with sharing what it is like to have completed this task and reflect on the fact that I myself am now a REAL web designer! A beginner, sure, but I did do it! So after much hard work and deliberation, this is it, this is my report on the Social Psychology of Web Architecture. I hope you enjoy it.J

I took a look at two other students from prior generations who had completed this same report. I paid close attention to what approaches they used in completing this mighty task and how on earth they figured it all out. I looked first at May Rose Insec's site and her report on the Social Psychology of Web Architecture.

Then I went on and found Scott Chang who also did an excellent job in completing this report.

Both of them used different approaches, but their overall appearance in their web pages are very similar as far as color schemes and text coloring. Both students did an excellent job in explaining what they were talking about and their observations were easy to read and follow. As a viewer, reader, and newcomer to their sites I found them both very informative and easy to understand. Both May and Scott have helped me indirectly with getting started because they gave me a foundation to build upon, as well as a first step in the right direction.

The two students do differ in their level and depth of addressing a topic. Scott Chang has a more literal straightforward way of describing his web page and his experiences, while Mary Insec uses examples from her own life with a little humor to get her points across as to what she views as important within the world of web architecture.

These two students take the time to introduce their topics and themselves, then they give descriptions on the body of their report and what information the reader will need to know and they finish by talking about their own experiences and the trials and tribulations they experienced while putting together this report. Hmmm, sound familiar? A little déjà vu no?

May and Scott list the same principles that I myself also focused on from Mr. Jeffrey Glover’s site, and then each of us add some comments in our own words about the relevance of such principles.

Using personal experience when trying to convey key points is the fastest way to learn. An important feature of communication is when people feel they can connect with you through a story or shared experience. By doing so, you may have provided the chance for the reader to see the web page through the unique mind of its constructor (you). Taking the time to add in your own personal stories and reflections, gives the reader an opportunity to make a connection with you as the writer and to delightfully experience your web page.. It always helps to have someone try an explain something to you from different angles in order for you to grasp a more well rounded view of the topic. I felt that both May and Scott did this with their writing, as I too hope that I am doing so with you.

May and Scott equally are affected by the teaching principles of Dr. James and the direction he sets them off in in order to accomplish the task of web architecture. As well as being affected by Jeffrey Glover’s home page on web page construction-the do’s and don’ts. They both acknowledge Glover’s opinions and actions as well as his declarations in the world of web architecture, and then Scott Chang and May Insec then respond to this with their own opinions, actions and declarations.

"From SUCKY to SAVVY...The Top Ten Ways to Improve your Homepage."

This site is designed to explain and guide a newcomer to web design. From the get go it is clear and concise and it tells you right from the first page- who, what, where, when, why and how….the key elements to any reader. Jeffrey Glover gets right to it. Most of the time when you visit a web site you spend the first 5 or so minutes trying to figure out where everything is and what it has to offer you and if it has what you’re looking for. This one answers all your questions right away…thank god-finally! The links are easy to follow and well put together. Mr. Glover covers a variety of topics that would normally intimidate the heck out of anyone and puts them into simple terms and carefully guides you through each and every one of them.

Under the section were Jeffrey Glover talks about the Top 10 Ways to Tell If You Have a Sucky Home Page, he puts down 10 things that makes a home page a horrible experience to visit. Are you ready? Here goes….

How many times have you stared at your computer screen drumming your fingers waiting for a picture to download, your computer is totally frozen and committed and you’re left staring into space? Then it finally comes through and the picture is horrible and definitely not worth it??! Well that is exactly what Mr. Glover tries to explain in this section.

If you’re not visible and if it’s not a flattering picture of yourself, why bother?

I absolutely love my dogs and they’re like my own kids to me, of course I want to show them off, but really, one picture can do that, keep it to a minimum people!

I’m sure we’ve all had an experience or two in the office, or in the library, or surfing the net late at night at home, and you’re just peacefully browsing through websites minding your own business when out of nowhere BADAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!! Music comes blaring out of that computer scaring the pants off of you followed by instant embarrassment for the much unwanted attention you just earned yourself.

Well, come on, this one is easy! You can’t tell me that the person that uploaded these scans didn’t notice that they sucked? I mean if it’s blurry or too small to read, or just plain awful, isn’t there a natural inclination in every human being to know so?

Web pages are continuously changing! You don’t need to remind me! Not to mention the construction signs always leave me with the impression that something fell apart that needs to be fixed.

Not always the case, some are just people’s outlet for expression. But yes, I will admit that the over achievers are out there and it’s sooooo obvious what you’re hoping to get by displaying your many, many, talents J

If it’s blinking at me, I want it to stop…please…no really, make it STOP!

You know who you are, now get off it.

Home Pages are loved

Have you ever invited someone over to your home for dinner and given them a tour of your place? You show them all the important things that hold value to you: the family pictures, the decorating ideas you came up with, your incredible, efficient use of space, and best of all, it’s yours! All yours…my grandmother always said, “be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.” This is exactly the same view you should have towards your own home page. You built it, you labored over getting it right, you spent hours trying to anticipate how others would receive it, what they would ultimately think of you. This is the same approach you would have with your very own house. You live in your house, you see the insides and what it means to live there, the special moments of creating something new in your own space. But a visitor, they don’t see things the way you do, they’re coming in from the outside, with an external view. They don’t have all those special connections, and what may be so valuable and important to you, holds no meaning for them. The comparison between home pages and actual homes is quite similar.

Birth of Cyberspace

In case you missed it along the way the internet was first launched and used in the 1970s and 1980s between groups of scientists, government agencies and a few academic research institutions. They figured out how to connect to one another using long distance phone lines and satellites and for the first time in the history of the world, information could be passed across thousands of miles from one person to the next without having to worry about the problem that distance always posed. This was all technical, technical, technical. The word “home” was foreign in this new cyber world. It wasn’t until the 1990s that Netscape and a few of the other bigwigs made it possible for the middle man to have this kind of technology in his very own home. But once the internet and the world of cyberspace was brought into the home, people now had a chance to visit one another, much in the same way as one would visit you in your actual home.

Psychological Characteristics of Hypertext Links

Ever wonder what links really mean? What are the psychological motives and implications of how we communicate information and why we choose certain concepts, thoughts, subjects to include and link to our main site? Well there are several key features or characteristics, three to be exact: Affective, Cognitive and Sensorimotor. We study these concepts thoroughly in Theistic Psychology and they are quite fascinating when you really get into the details of each. But for out purposes here and how they relate to Hypertext links they are as follows:

The affective feature of links is a description of their motivation. It answers “why” such a link was made, the person’s thought behind it and their purpose for having it there.

The cognitive feature of links is for backing up their argument or explaining the implications of the content.. It answers “what” new information or particular knowledge is formed through the creation of this link and how it may serve you better in understanding the material. What is the new concept or idea that is being portrayed through this link?

The sensorimotor feature of links refers simply to their place and look, what appeals to the senses. It answers “how“ this link was created and gives you its physical appearance.

Studying links and their properties is the same as studying communication characteristics of people in cyberspace. It gives you a natural history of a people’s culture, language and behavior, all essential parts to communication.

All of these features can be seen both by these concepts listed above as well as the principles that Jeffrey Glover touches on. Simply put, your homepage is in itself a multitude of communicating elements. You have to understand natural human communication when constructing the overall appearance of color themes and texts, of movement of language and sounds, etc. The list goes on forever. If you can keep in mind that your homepage is a platform for you to communicate and express yourself to an endless virtual community, you will see it differently than simply text and pictures on a screen. Think of how you get dressed in the morning and how you present yourself to the world, how you speak to others. How you express yourself is a statement of who you are and how you want to be seen. These same concepts can be applied to your homepage.

When I began this report I honestly knew very little about computers. I can burn CD’s and check e-mail, heck, I can even run fabulous searches! But really, I think most 6 year olds can do that now! So, when I read the instructions for this report I wanted to cry…how on earth would I ever, ever, ever, ever get this done? Well, you sit down, and you read the instructions and you try to understand as much as possible. This took many hours at the computer. The writing part was the easiest. I love to write and it comes easily for me because I write the same way I talk. But, trying to figure out what file to upload where and under what name and seeing it come up on the screen all funky, kinda wore me out. Not to mention I had a heck of a time with trying to get pictures to upload to the web! But hey, that’s life, you start something new and you try, and you make mistakes and you learn. That’s the best part! YOU LEARN. And what you learn can never be taken away from you, it’s yours in your own unique way and you had your own unique experience doing it. Not to mention the wonderful aspects of accomplishing a task. When you succeed, after all your wrong turns, when you finally arrive at your destination….it feels pretty damn good and you smile and fell oh-so-great! Yes, I ACTUALLY did it!!!!

So now I’m feeling a lot more comfortable with being on the internet and using various programs. I have a whole new appreciation for websites when I see that elaborate amount of work that went into them and the amazing technology that is out there! I’m also interested in learning ho to put up my own homepage, completely not school related but all mine to post things about my life and pictures of family and friends so that anyone can visit me and see how I’m doing regardless of where I’m living. It’s sad that so few of us have time to talk on the phone, send e-mails or even write an old fashioned letter! But so many of us DO aimlessly explore the net everyday and look up all kinds of stuff. I would like my family and friends to be able to visit me that way too. J

As for the future generations that attempt this report. PLEASE give yourself enough time to work on this. You really do need a week for each step and enough time to make mistakes and go back and start again. Take the time to search and look at other students, use them as guides, that helped me a lot. I guess the best advice I can give is do this one as REPORT 2, not REPORT1 like me. You’ll be much too green and it will feel tremendously hard since you’re brand new. After you get your first report out of the way, then try this one as number 2.

To Dr. James, I would only request that in the future, the past generation websites have live links. A lot of the areas I tried to review and go to were dead links and it made things extremely difficult for me. I would also suggest that in the instructions for this report you include all the nifty tricks for making little images dance across the screen and how to create links to subsections and the like. Other than that I hope I did this as close to your requirements as possible. And thank you for teaching me a valuable tool in our new technological age!

Flow In Web Design

This article gives a detailed account of homepage’s having necessities such as speed, feedback, clear navigation, matching challenges to skill, simplicity, importance, design for fun and utility, etc. And how to go about doing such tasks.

Integrated Web Design: The Meaning of Semantics:

Here’s a site that does an excellent job at explaining semantics and the importance of content, not just appearance. As the article states: “In English, the word semantic means "of or relating to meaning." In the science of linguistics, semantics is more explicit: It's the study of meaning based on the historical and psychological significance of words and terms.” This is a key element in the design of your homepage.

The Psychology of Design:

This website illustrates the importance of anticipating how people will react to your site and the importance of understanding human behavior when designing your website. The author explains that being able to anticipate how people will receive your design is just as important as the software and hardware you’re using to create that very space. I’ve included the following statement to give you an idea of what she talks about:

“It's essential that we try to understand how people are likely to react to problems, why they sometimes fear the screen, and how they learn new things. Without understanding some of these areas, predicting the active process of navigation becomes little more than guesswork. Without understanding some of these areas, we'll never get past our reputation as an unfriendly and butt-ugly medium.”