Mockups

Based on the feedback I got from the class, I made some minor adjustments to the original logo/header. Subsequently, I reduced the verbiage in the subtitle and selected a different image of the newspaper. Belatedly, I came to the realization that the newspaper image I had originally selected was prior to my grandparent’s ownership of the Herald. Now that I descovered this problem, I made the necessary change to the logo/header.

The WordPress template made the application of these changes much easier for an individual with my skill set. While I don’t consider the process I had to endure to apply these design changes and edit the code particularly easy, the mere fact that I was able to accomplish it speaks directly to the value of a CMS for me. My confidence with WordPress is growing daily.

Learning Disabilities and Accessibility

My oldest daughter, Megan, is a senior in high school and she’s also learning disabled. Joe Clark uses the term “dyslexia” to describe the vast array of cognitive impediments that inhibit learning and prevent access to various websites. My daughter’s specific condition falls within this generic, and somewhat outdated, categorization. Reading and reading comprehension is the functional problem created by her unique set disabilities. Consequently, over the course of the last year, we’ve been surveying various colleges and trying to come to grips with the range of services each institution provides. Typically, we’d make contact with each college’s disabilities coordinator to gain an appreciation for what tools were available for a student like Megan. In so doing, I was, for the first time, exposed to adaptive technologies, such as screen readers. At Salisbury University (on the Eastern Shore of Maryland), where Meg will be going to school, they make all their GEN ED textbooks accessible through a screen reader type of program. And fortunately for us, this type of assistance accommodates the majority of the issues we faced. If Megan’s disabilities were any more severe than they are, then college would not likely be an option for her. Even with these vital accomodations and enhanced accessibility, college will remain a struggle for Megan. Nevertheless, without these types of tools, my kid could never go to college. Therefore, it’s impossible for me to overstate the importance I attach to this type of web design and software application. This stuff can really change people’s lives.

Design Failure

My presentation tonight will be a perfect example of what not to do.   With that in mind, here’s my explanation:   I picked wordpress in part because its various themes offered some design flexibility in choosing colors.  The particular theme I selected in wordpress has three or four color options.  I selected the ”Autumn” pallette because it gave my site an older look and it also matched some of the yellowish newspaper images I wanted to include as part of my logo.   Therefore, in designing my logo, I knew that I wanted to include an image of my grandparents’ newspaper, the Hays County Herald.  So, using photoshop, I matched the brown color that wordpress provided as part of the Autumn pallette and I dropped in an image of an old yellowing copy of the Herald.  The newspaper used an Old English font on its front page.  I simply tried to copy this font in my design.  With my daughter’s invaluable assistance,  we found an ”embossing” feature in photoshop that made the text look like it was raised.  I liked that look so we applied that feature the website’s title, “A Life Together.”  I also tried to apply the Old English font to the site description but that was too hard to read because the text was significantly smaller.  As a result, I just used Ariel for the site description.  What I found to be more difficult than picking colors and fonts for the logo/header was determining the proper size of the image.  After much trial and error, 681 pixils wide by 110 pixils tall appeared to be the best guess but I may not have it right yet…as you will see shortly.  Anyway, here is my finished logo/header.    Looks pretty cool, right?  Not! 

Now, if you are viewing this on anything less than a widescreen monitor, stand-by for real good laugh.  Here is the logo/header applied to my website.     

Obviously, the search box is kicking my butt.

Google’s Plan for Out-of-Print Books Is Challenged

For those who took Clio I last semester, you’ll remember this discussion. Here is the NY Times article

Errol Morris Part Three: Gettysburg Photo

This is the last segment of Morris’ most recent NY Times piece. His stuff is really good.