The Web as a Forum

The infinite line is published in the forum of the world wide web. Now, the world wide web is an unusual forum in that it holds to different standards than paper published journals or magazines. The world wide web is a fluid, dynamic system of information that can be updated every second to the changes around the world. This immediate source of information changes how people interact and read the information published on the web.

Just four years ago, this network of computers called the world wide web, wasnŐt a viable market to the public. Yet now, this system commands the foundation of information and the reliance of the public to deliver it. As an author several questions arise as: how does someone access the web? how does someone publish information on the web? what can be published on the web? how does a person become a credible source? and how does an author attract attention?

The fundamental software to access the web is called a Web browser. There are two primary web browsers today, one by Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/ie). Though a web browser may sound like a dog sniffing for spiders, it translates the text language of the internet into a visible and readable display. The internet is primarily written in one language called HTML, or Hyper Text Markup Language. The HTML language gives the writer or designer the ability to combine written word, and graphics together to communicate their information. The HTML language itself is fairly simple, yet any person can make it difficult. But, the importance of this language isnŐt in its user friendliness to program, it exists in itŐs ability to allow the author to link one page to another and to other pages published elsewhere online. This is called a Hyperlink system. This hyperlink system allows information to be referenced by a picture, a word or phrase located within a web document to move from one web site to another. All of this comes from development of the HTML language and the web browser.

Some might be confused at the use of the phrase, "web site", above. A web site, sponsored by a single user or a corporation, is a collection of web pages holding information that writer wants others to read about. Now, a web site is generally made of several web pages. A web page is all the information that can be displayed by the web browser on one screen. For most web sites, the first page is often called a home page. A home page is generally the first web page viewed by a reader when entering a site, and generally holds a general description of the site, directions toward the information within the site and a greeting.

The most unusual characteristic of the world wide web is it can be all things to all people, or at least it tries. Anyone who has the knowledge can publish information on the web. It doesnŐt matter if the person can write or even spell correctly. Politics doesnŐt matter. Intelligence doesnŐt matter. Even what is said doesnŐt matter, everything is decided by the author. But, there is a flip side. If no one reads what is published, there is no advantage in publishing the information. Therefore, as within any forum and professional field, there are guidelines to follow in creating a professional web site.

Writing for a web page is different than writing a web page. Writing a web page deals in coding HTML and making the page work. Writing for a web page is arranging the page to get the point across to the audience. Trying to find a source on how to write for a web page may be discouraging, since there are none, there are no printed book sources for writing for the web. There are several hundred magazines suggesting that, as a company, everyone should make a web page, everyone must take advantage that the internet has to offer. But, these magazines donŐt make any suggestion as to how to write your page.

Online sources for web writing are nearly as scarce. However, there are three sources that make an good impression. Sun Microsystems presents a site titled "Guide to Web Style". A former Sun Microsystems employee who wrote the SunŐs style web page, Jakob Nielsen, and who was named number 6 of the top 10 influential persons of the internet, keeps a running personal web site titled "useit.com". And lastly, Steve Gilliard published "The Web Writer" on the private domain server Geocities.

All of these authors note that the public reads a web page differently than that of a newspaper. Nielsen states that as a reader we scan a page, reading 25% slower than if reading a book. So, to gain the readers attention the author must present the purpose of the site clear and quickly using other techniques to attract the reader. Nielsen conducted several studies to find what people want on a web page, and how to obtain those wants. Neilsen found that most people w ant simple and easily understandable web pages. They want their information from credible sources. And they want it now.

"... Every website is read under the clock" (Gilliard). Both Neilsen and Gillard agree, that the goal of the web page has to be up-front and bold. This does not only relate to reading time of the article online, this includes load time of the page, response time for searches and links, and loading the graphics. "The idea that people will linger on your site without a reason is silly at best and delusional at worse" (Gilliard).

The problem then arises in keeping the audience interested. Nielsen points out that list and style enhancement, such as bold and italic words, draws the readers attention to focus on these words. So, through use of emphasis on keywords and linear styling throughout the page increases the readers attention. Gilliard points out that graphics are the backbone to the web page and can cause as much distraction as it can as a attention getter. The combination of words and pictures is one of GilliardŐs main points. "Text and graphics must be a marriage of the idea and the goal" (Gilliard). His top example of this combination was the Discovery Channel Web page (Discovery). This web page could only be accomplished by The Discovery Channel because of the extensive history The Discovery Channel has in research through photojournalism. Neilsen agrees with this point. "Words and pictures can be a powerful combination, but they must work together ..." (Neilsen).

The important point of these articles is credibility. People do not like to be lied to. One of the down falls of the web forum is there is no safety net from false information. People who read a web page do not know if the information presented on the web page is correct or not. The only way to find if the information is true is to either research the information or follow the authorŐs research, if it is provided. Neilsen suggests that more outgoing links to related pages increases the credibility of the site. Also, credibility may be established through the quality or the image of the site.

The authorŐs responsibility is for his audience when writing for any forum. Those who write for a web base forum must consider the attentiveness of the reader, and the appearance his contribution makes compared to other similar endeavors. The attention of his readers comes from either their intent on learning the information he possesses or on uses of other typographic and graphic styling. The web is a growing forum, and those who have successfully captured an audience are the ones we as authors need listen to.