The possibilities Javascript gives you are absolutely endless! From creating fully responsive websites to complete animations, there’s not much Javascript doesn’t allow you to do. By easily implementing JS in your source code, websites can beautifully transform before your eyes. It gets even better, though; the programming community is ALL for sharing their resources and collaborating with others! This is a little something we call Open-Source Code.
Masonry is an open-source cascading grid layout library. It focuses on utilizing white space by “placing elements in optimal position.” This helps to create a fully responsive website, adapting to any screen size or resolution. This specific library has been used from the likes of Beyonce to the creators of Tumblr, all the way to the everyday programmers. This is one library my group could consider using for our website to allow for an easy way to ensure the website looks beautiful on every device. The possibilities are, as ever, endless.
Welcome to my first blog post in Interactive Web Communications!
Today I will be discussing website usability(ie. the learnability, efficiency, memorability, errors, and satisfaction combined) of a website with eCommerce features. Let’s take a look at the Thai Smile website. Thai Smile offers a variety of quality Asian cuisine to the Plymouth community and beyond; with dine-in and take-out options available and the choice to place your order completely online.
My first impression of the website is that it’s actually quite welcoming – the color palette features a black foreground and this purple/maroon patterned background which gives some sort of elegancy, in my opinion. I think this is suiting and maybe even intentional since Thai Smile is, in fact, higher quality (and more expensive) than their Asian cuisine competitors.
Thai Smile’s Landing Page.
My first and main complaint of the website is the hierarchy of information. The info they have displayed on their homepage could be organized differently, or at least with different emphases on the different elements. After listing hours and some testimonials, the Index page then goes on to give allergy tips, then there’s just hundreds of pixels worth of white space in the rest of the div (UNLESS- there’s images that aren’t loading for me). This stretches is unnecessary and makes the page look unprofessional.
Menu Category Navigation Bar
With that being said, the website IS easy to navigate, though. I found it was easy to find contact info, hours, and a fulfilling menu at the tip of my fingers. The menu features every dish, explained in plain text, BUT, is straight to the point. When adding dishes to the cart, the website makes it easy to modify those dishes (in this scenario, this includes quantity, and the ability to add/remove spicy mayo, brown rice, vegetables, hot sauce and at what intensity, types of protein, etc.) with no hassle. The menu also features a “Menu Category” navigation bar, making it as easy as ever to navigate to a different type of dish.
Thai Smile’s Menu Landing Page
In order to test how well this menu works, I spent some time clicking on as many items to add to the cart as possible; adding/removing items; modifying orders; refreshing the page; logging out of my eCommerce account and back in; and basically, trying to break the website. (In the process of typing this out, I actually found out that from the Menu, you can’t go DIRECTLY back to Thai Smile’s website without retyping it in on your own — this is NOT good for usability!)
Thai Smile “Cart”
To test a website’s usability, I would recommend getting a collective group of people who are willing to spend time doing these same tasks listed above, and gaining their feedback to then improve on. By getting real-world testimonies of how people navigate the website, I would be able to see what/where the everyday person navigates to. To enhance the website even more, though, I would hire a Quality Assurance agent to test the website and make changes. I don’t believe there’s a right or wrong way necessarily to test usability of a website, as long as you’re able to learn something about accessibility in the process.
Thai Smile’s website was fun and easy to navigate. Testing the website from the “everyday college student” perspective, I had no quarrels and was able to easily place an order, even with specific modifications (I didn’t actually place an order today — lol). Just like any other website, there are changes to be made, but overall, Thai Smile has a strong and usable website.
“Additionally, once I got closer I could see the distinctive shades of green and rust on the tufa rock pillars that seem to sit out in a field of tall grass.” — Article found on Reno Tahoe
Welcome to the Fly Ranch Geyser!
Tucked away on a patch of private land in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, the Fly Geyser is one of the state’s coolest, yet least known attractions. The Fly Geyser, which spews waters about five feet high, lies about a third of a mile from State Route 34; a roach in which functions as the only viewpoint since the geyser is not open to the public. In fact, not many Nevadian residents even know this geyser exists.
While the original Fly Geyser no longer hisses steaming water, another two additional geysers in the area have followed in its path. Though the attraction is located on private land and not open to tourists, visitors who make arrangements with the owners ahead of time are often able to get a closer look for a fee.
The Fly Geyser is a result of a 1964 drilling project that was never properly capped. The land was purchased by the Burning Man in 2016 with plans to open the geyser to the public, creating a permanent, year-round site for visitors. With that being said, please consider the following; do not trespass!!! The geyser is clearly visible and can be seen from miles away.
The colors you see are real, but don’t be fooled! They are from the result of algae rather than actual minerals. Scientists familiar with the geyser note that the green and reddish coloring on the outside of the mounds is the result of thermophilic algae, which flourishes in moist, hot environments.
Let me introduce you to the most unique mountains in China!
Tianzi Mountain provides stunning views of peaks, which rise one after another. At the top of the mountain, visitors can see the full extent of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area in Hunan Province, Tianzi. It covers about 16,550 acres of land and the highest peak is at a whopping 4,140 feet above sea level.
Visitors can take a cable car to see these charming peaks. With about 2,270 feet difference in elevation, the aerial tramway is about 2,279 yards in length. The minimum running time is six minutes and twenty-two seconds for a single trip during which visitors can keep the wonderful scenery of the Tianzi Mountain in view.
Some activities to do while visiting the Tianzi Mountains:
“We don’t stop hiking because we grow old — we grow old because we stop hiking.” – Finis Mitchel
Welcome to Europe’s highest sea cliff, Hornelen!
The mountain sits on the eastern end of the island, Bremangerlandet, in the Nordfjord region of Norway. At 2,820ft tall, it is the highest sea cliff in Europe. If you plan to take this hike, be sure to get some tips from the locals! Don’t be afraid of trying out everything they recommend, and the most important tip is to BRING ENOUGH WATER!
Starting from Hunskår, the hike would take only about 7-8 hours, but is more demanding. If you would rather start your trek from Berleneset, it will take about 8-10 hours but the terrain is far less steep, and the route is marked. Either way, the hike will give you a spectacular hiking experience! Not only will you feel accomplished, but the views make it worth it.
At the top of the mountain you can enjoy not only a breathtaking panoramic view, but a great overview of the scenic landscape in FjordKysten — majestic mountains, deep, narrow fjords, and small islands far out at sea. If daring enough, you can even lay down on the edge of the cliff and look straight down on the sea!
The trail is steep and challenging, but is worth the effort you put in. The view is spectatular!
Welcome to my blog! My name is Erica, I’m a college student in love with travelling. My blog will feature unique travel destinations I have either encountered on my own or have heard about elsewhere. Included will be at least one photo of the featured destination along with a description of what makes the spot so unique, even if it is a common destination. I can’t wait to see where this adventure takes us!
