May 12, 2004
A guide to services
found Google's guide to their services
Widgetopia reader Dunstan points out a page of Google's, highlighting their services. The page design itself is a odd choice-- it seems like a name/short description version would be easier to understand, faster to use and faster loading. But the icons are unquestionably charming, though of varying levels of effectiveness. A Linux penguin isn't exactly the logical choice for special searches, but the translate icon is the very model of eloquence.
January 19, 2004
site navigation/map
hyperbolic tree found on XRCE
As sites have grown larger and more complex, ways to navigate them is changing. The hyperbolic tree shows promise. This one is particularly easy to understand and navigate-- though one is reminded of the importance of intelligent page naming. I can see how a version of this with long meaningless names as is often seen in dynamic sites could be a nightmare.