Kick the tires and let me know what you think. A few of my own observations:
- Obviously they skipped the QA step. There are broken links, empty content areas, and other messes that weren't caught.
- The color resembles molten poop. Why that color choice?
- There's really nothing fundamentally different about it. New color, slightly different presentation, but still the same old same old.
- Someone's confused who's in charge: One Way and Another
- A lot of things that look like they should be links, aren't.
- I see only Richmond is important enough to have weather
- The pages go on for friggin ever
- Nothing terribly original
- I'm told it doesn't meet the PSGs or WAI compliance. Anyone care to verify?
22 comments:
On my laptop the color is flat out horrible!
they didnt qa it in different browsers, either.
No, it doesn't meet WAI level A. Which means it doesn't comply with VITA's Web Standard. Which begs the question, if a VITA site doesn't comply, why do any OTHER sites have to?
why did you link to a site without pictures of asian porn stars? The only reason anybody I know visits here is for the latest news about asian porn stars. you're supposed to be the expert on the topic, so get focused!
Now, now. Picking on a slow news day is no reason to get snitty. I post the gossip and innuendo people send me. If the only people you know prefer info about porn stars, maybe you need to get out more.
you think i need to get out more? hey, i'm an agoraphobic with social anxiety and attention deficit disorder. Maybe you have no idea what that feels like, "theshadow", but it's tough for people like me to "get out more". go pistons win the NBA title! van halen rules!
Ok, you've lost me.
I had to have it explained to me, but it seems someone who didn't like some of my comments decided that they were sure who I am, so they started posting unrelated comments that would - presumably - make sense if I was who they thought I was. But it appears their Intel is old.
To that person at Virginia.gov, if you'd like to debate or refute ANY of the comments here, feel free to do so. Random spam will not be tolerated. Unless I do it.
its not *horrible* or anything. it looks like its trying to imitate every other government site out there, but maybe thats part of the goal of having a "standard". the color seems a strange choice.
Regarding the comment of a lack of anything new, I noticed that in addition to that, they've actually REMOVED some of their more forward-thinking features (or else made them so hard to find as to be removed). I can't find the RSS links they used to have on each page. I can't find the personalized page that was such a big deal. I can't find the wireless site. I can't find the media pages.
Thank God, though, I can tell if it's raining in Richmond or not.
One plus to airing these comments, is that they're starting to fix the things they should have fixed before going live. :)
The link to the Best of the Web on the lower left side doesn't go to the correct Best of the Web site. Hard to do better than "5th" if you don't know who sponsors the contest.
not Lem, they must read this blog, 'cause they fixed it this afternoon. :)
Speaking of which, props to said readers. Hi Deanna! :P
Big Kahuna, we all know now that you were part of the portal. In fact, you were "Mr. Virginia.gov." So, why haven't we heard anything from you about this new design, either pro or con? I, for one, would like an expert opinion.
As a former employee of Virginia Interactive, Virginia.gov, and NIC Inc, it would be inappropriate for me to publicly comment on the redesign of Virginia.gov at this time.
Ask me in August. :)
On May 24, 2006, the new design of the Virginia.gov portal was launched.
The redesign effort was the result of months of research, analysis and content updates designed to meet the following goals for portal users:
• More intuitive organization of information – By definition, a web portal is a “website that provides a starting point, a gateway, or portal, to other sources on the Internet.” The Virginia.gov portal includes a wealth of information. This redesign uses easy to read classifications for various portal areas to give users a quick way to find information. Meaningful icons serve as visual cues about content and topics. The focus on improved content organization creates a citizen friendly gateway to Commonwealth information and services.
Reality Check: Intuitive to who? A group of Virginia.gov marketers? Meaningful icons? How is a cube with tentacles considered meaningful? The content organization ranges from unchanged to convoluted. I’d like to see the usability studies and data they used to come to these conclusions. They must have used a group of Down Syndrome Chimps.
• Virginia Initiatives – Virginia.gov is now more tightly integrated with Virginia’s current events and issues. The historical “look” coincides with Jamestown’s 400th anniversary. Important Commonwealth issues, such as economic development and transportation, are emphasized through the Business Portal (business.virginia.gov) and links to regional traffic information in our Communities Map Service. New and revamped portal services – New features, such as Richmond’s (Virginia’s capital) weather and the Commonwealth calendar on the homepage give users more immediate access to information. The Community Map Service enables website visitors to find information about counties and cities via both image and text based interfaces. Our “I Want To” feature enables users to enter keywords to find services and forms available throughout Virginia.
Reality Check: The historical ”look” (why is that in “parenthesis?”) just looks crappy. The Business Portal shares the same organizational problems as the site as a whole. The weather is an old feature, except now it’s forced onto the Richmond-centric view of Virginia government. But thanks for clearing up the ongoing mystery about where the capital is. I always thought it was Buies Creek, North Carolina. The “I Want To” doesn’t seem to want to do all that much. Disappointing.
• Expert content delivery – By creating partnerships with agencies, such as the Department of Business Assistance, The Virginia Department of Transportation and Virginia Tourism, subject matter experts have a greater impact on portal content delivery. Information and press release feeds exist in various sections of the portal to ensure the most up to date content for Commonwealth users.
Reality Check: Nothing new here. Thanks for the update.
• Encouraging repeat visitors – Another goal of the redesign was to promote portal usage for everyday activities. From a new “Fact of the Month” feature to display of citizen photography, we hope portal visitors will feel an increased sense of home - in addition to – purpose – when using the Virginia.gov website.
Reality Check: Repeat visitors? It’s the state web page! Why on earth would you think you need a special tactic to get repeat visitors? Is there a competing Virginia government portal you’re worrying about? How many people do you really think are going to open up a browser and think, “Gee, I wonder what the latest Virginia fact is? Golly, look at that! Another picture of a tree!” Visitors come to the state web page for state information. It isn’t Myspace. And, news flash, if the Fact of the Month doesn’t change every month, you should probably call it something else.
Reality Check, why don't you tell us what you *really* think? :)
It's amazing. You go to the "Emergency Notifications Page" (you'll have to scroll down on the home page to even see the link!) and can barely see the Homeland Security and Weather Alerts boxes without scrolling (at least on my PC). The Missing Children box is so far down no one will see it. But a link to their paid services is right up top. Let's you know their priorities: money over saving children. Sweet! Glad to see my tax dollars at work!
Virginia.gov claims to have placed in the Best of the Web contest since it started in 2000. In actuality, they didn't even place in 2000.
How can we trust these people?
So, other than that person who looked like they were bashing, any comments from VITA or Virginia.gov? Do the people we pay care what we think?
Numerous VITA, Virginia.gov, and NIC Inc representatives have been invited by myself and Big Kahuna to give a response, in any fashion they are comfortable. VITA and Virginia.gov have ignored the requests entirely. NIC Inc, politely passed.
So Anon 9:39, the answer to your question is No, they don't care. Remember that when you have some free time to write to the Governor and the GA. Your votes can at least influence them.
Post a Comment