I decided to research and analyse wikipedia's web page on 'Personal computer game'. The topic I have chosen relates to our course as we are using a computer game engine to model our designs.
I had originally typed in wikipedia's search engine toolbar "computer game", but it then automatically redirected me to 'personal computer game.'
I searched again in simplier words; 'computer' and 'gaming' and found that computer games are categorised in various forms. That being, video games - games using a console; arcade games and in our case personal computer game - games using a personal computer.
Through quick category links highlighted in blue and wikipedia's search criteria webpage. Wikipedia illustrated how it wanted users to easily specify what exactly they wanted to search.
I quickly decided to analyse "personal computer game" as we are using PC's instead of consoles in this course.
My first impression of the webpage was the simple layout onto which the information was setup.
There is a permanent column of links, search toolbar and language menus on the left hand side of the page that continues to reside, wherever you navigate through the wikipedia website. Enabling a user to easily direct themselves throughout the website.
The design of the page is very simple, using a white background with black text to detail the written information. No other advertisements and colours are used except in pictures, so to keep the website less confusing and straightforward.
Above the heading 'Personal computer game', there are tabs that users can click that direct them to other features of this webpage.
I had originally typed in wikipedia's search engine toolbar "computer game", but it then automatically redirected me to 'personal computer game.'
I searched again in simplier words; 'computer' and 'gaming' and found that computer games are categorised in various forms. That being, video games - games using a console; arcade games and in our case personal computer game - games using a personal computer.
Through quick category links highlighted in blue and wikipedia's search criteria webpage. Wikipedia illustrated how it wanted users to easily specify what exactly they wanted to search.
I quickly decided to analyse "personal computer game" as we are using PC's instead of consoles in this course.
My first impression of the webpage was the simple layout onto which the information was setup.
There is a permanent column of links, search toolbar and language menus on the left hand side of the page that continues to reside, wherever you navigate through the wikipedia website. Enabling a user to easily direct themselves throughout the website.
The design of the page is very simple, using a white background with black text to detail the written information. No other advertisements and colours are used except in pictures, so to keep the website less confusing and straightforward.
Above the heading 'Personal computer game', there are tabs that users can click that direct them to other features of this webpage.
Fig 1.) Webpage tab sections
- 'article' - the main content of information
- 'discussion board' - where people can add there thoughts on the topic in a forum like message board
- 'edit this page' - a sandbox where users can add and edit information to the main webpage
- 'history' - a statistical list of who edited what on this page and at what time they revised any information or comments
All of these options facilitate users to systematically add to the webpage. Allowing the constant collaborative process to function.
The first section of information below the heading is a quick definition and synopsis of the topic and below it, is table of contents. This table of contents catalogs all the information into a hierachy of data and also acts as a link to jump directly to that specified section of of the page.
Fig 2.) Wikipedia content box
The main body of text is broken up into chronological sections that are defined by easy to read content headings and subheadings. These are formatted with different font settings such as bold and various font sizes. Another example of how wikipedia has made it user friendly is the horizontal line that boxes certain information together and signifies a new section.
At each section of information, across from the heading, a link called '[edit]' directs you to the edit page where one can collaboratively insert there added information or if they wish to modify the existing information.
Fig 2.) Wikipedia edit link and text format
Throughout the whole webpage. Blue hyperlinks are used to direct readers to that specific words own webpage in wikipedia. A very handy tool to allow for that particular word to be researched and understood.
This webpage from Wikipedia successfully illustrates how a collaborative wiki works and how the simple design elements function. The consistency of the website allows for users to efficiently understand how every webpage works and how each reader can contribute to the use of the website.
References
Wikipedia 2009, Wikipedia Foundation Inc., U.S., accessed 20 April 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer_game#cite_note-34
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