The WayBackMachine
The WayBackMachine is an amazing tool which allows users to view snapshots of webpages in past formats. This is an incredible resource for any historian because it allows one to track the advances made in webpage design and structure; through its utilization people interested in web trends can track developments in web infrastructure.
Google.com - Nov 11, 1998
Google.com July 29, 2011
Since access to the internet has become widespread, webpage design has had the opportunity to develop through trial and error; as a result, conventions have developed such as the way we denote buttons and hyperlink organization. Flash and HTML formats have also changed the way we browse: from simple link clicking navigation to interactive three dimensional menus - websites have come a long way.
Online indexes in particular have moved forward. One of the most important developments in net usability is the simplification of webpage navigation. While many of the things we take for granted like organized panes of information (similar to newspapers) and 3-dimensional clickable buttons did not always exist and they took a lot of time to become convention.
For the purposes of this blog I've decided to look at American Memory - the american history index maintained at the Library of Congress' webpage. This website has developed much since its introduction.
July 20, 1999
Throughout its own history, this index of history has undergone some major changes. If you look at the first panel, from 1999, you see some counter-intuitive measures probably thought to be engaging. The tiles in the middle of the page run on Java and constantly change to reveal new pictures. It offers the ability to view the captions from the tiles; however, this comes at the expense of ease of use: the enter button at the top left is not noticeable. In viewing this page my first thought was "this website no more than a photo captioning index." This turned out not to be true, but I would imagine I am not the first person to be misled.
April 20, 2003
The second panel depicts the website in 2003, as you can see the design has improved and many of the features are much easier to locate. While the page has made advances it is still cluttered. The left side of the page (where my eyes are drawn first) contains only two links that I personally would click: "This Day in History" and "What's New," while the others (FAQ and How To View) are completely frivolous; I will not be clicking those. Fortunately, both the "Search" and the "Collection Finder" are grouped together and they are relatively easy to find. This page shows tons of potential and with a little reorganization could truly shine.
June 20, 2012
Finally, the third panel shows the fully developed webpage. The search bar in the top right simplifies my search, but the real benefit is the instantly visible index of collections which are sorted by topic. This is the purpose of the website and now its acquisition takes no effort. This website has truly benefited from its time on the internet. The highlights feature on the right side of the screen is very enticing and I think this website has been organized in the best possible manner.
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