National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Explorer
Content and Interactivity
Contributors to the site are provided a “Web Field Kit” which includes guidelines on effective writing and plain language. Daily mission logs and essays are augmented with photos, video clips, animations and maps to effectively communicate complex scientific topics. A contract editor edits daily logs and essays. The site also includes a downloadable lesson plans for grades 5-12, developed by professional educators. The site uses a listserv for promotion and also has utilized RSS feeds – including feeds from partners. The site received 4 million visitors in 2005 – up 94% from 2004.
Design, Usability and Accessibility
The site was redesigned in 2005 to meet the latest usability requirements, design best practices and browser compatibility. It features a consistent and intuitive interface. The design of the home page allows the promotion of multiple ongoing missions and special features while also enabling access to all sections of the Web site. The site uses the FirstGov search engine and includes a search box in the top navigation of all pages. Section 508 requirements are met through the use of alt tags, printed transcripts for video content, low-bandwidth versions of slideshows and alternate file formats for videos.
Evaluation and Metrics
On the bottom of every page of the site includes links to an error report form, contact us and a user survey. Errors are corrected immediately. Feedback from visitors and the user survey are evaluated on an ongoing basis and improvements to the site are made continuously. For example, rollovers were added to the top navigation bar due to user feedback. RSS feeds were also added to select missions based upon user interest. This process is documented in the site’s Operating Plan and guided by an annual business meeting. Web statistics are also analyzed and reported on a monthly basis.
Wildcard Category
Ocean Explorer published a video podcast for the Ring of Fire mission. The podcast was also included as a free download in Apple's iTunes music store, which means that the general public could download and view this short video on an iPod. This is a first for the site and for NOAA. The video podcast was also provided in Quicktime and Windows Media Format. Audio podcasts from other missions have also been used on the site and are in the NOAA iTunes store. The innovative use of new technology reaches out to new audiences and helps achieve our outreach objectives.
