Module 1 web site analysis - A Significant Company
In part 1 you are required to find one web site for each module
that would be an additional suitable resource for future students. This
should not be a site that is already provided in the course material, but
rather one that you locate yourself. You should produce an analysis for
each of theses sites on separate pages. Each page should be no more than
500 words. The analysis will include:
The welcome page contains numerous links for easy navigation to the different
services that the company provides. There are links for home and business,
which opens more links to items such as tips, tricks and troubleshooting.
There is an online shopping link where you can learn about and buy the company
products.
There is a place where you can contact the company, enquire about virus
information and look up company information. The company information link
has an excellent time line starting from the 1930s, right up to March 2003.
It shows the history of the company with excellent black and white photographs
and write-ups. There is also a virtual museum showing the old IT equipments
and how quickly it has advanced.
Navigating around the site is easy and consistent. Hyperlinks and a search
engine are the main methods used with five buttons and the search engine
constantly in view at the top of the screen.
The style, writing and presentation are clear and colourful leaving the
reader undaunted and welcomed. Hyperlinks lead you through to related topics
urging you to read on.
The hp time line link, shown above is a relevant area for T171 students.
This excellent time line leads you through Hewlett Packard’s history and
the development of its first computer, the
HP 2116A
in 1966. I feel that this site is relevant because Module 1 is about
the development of the Personal Computer (PC) and why computers keep changing
and this site contains many details on the subject.
How the site relates to the course material
The site relates to the course material as it refers to the development
of the PC and shows how the IT industry operates today. It shows that Hewlett
Packard did play a part in the development of the PC through its history
pages, and it identifies Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard (shown below) as the
key personalities of the company who played their part in the development.
The sites information allows you to recognise familiar trends in new developments
and so enabling you to talk comfortably about the current issues in the PC
industry.
The quality of the site is very good, any questions you may have about
the PC can be answered here. The site is clear and easy to read, the pages
upload quickly and there is a handy 'printable version' button for printing
pages.
The site presented one perspective, from the view of Hewlett Packard.
There was nothing detrimental to the company, just the facts and advertising
of information and sales.
My overall opinion of the site is that it is crammed full of information
that is easy to find and read. Anything you couldn't find you could search
for and be presented with several options.
