Web Task Force (WTF)

March 1, 2004 Status Report

(Delivered by email to Web Task Force members.)

Subject: WTF - a quick update report
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2004 14:14:48 -0800
From: Cheryl Lambert
To: Shirley Peck, Lisa Waits, Tiffany Webb, Cheryl Lambert, Mark Lieu, Kevin Kirk, Bob Bradshaw, Pilar Lewis, Paula Cassano, Rob Smedfjeld, Mindy Hersh, Barbara Tull, deep3ii6
CC: April Wolford

Hello, all - In place of a WTF meeting today, I wanted to send this quick "virtual" update on a variety of website-related projects. Comments and questions are welcome…

1. Review sites for accessibility.

   We have been working on other tasks. Completion of this project has been delayed.

   I am in the process of running the web pages we manage through a batch HTML validator and correcting any problems found. (This is HTML validation, not accessibility.) Our style sheets have also been recently validated.

   The High Tech Center Training Unit has recently made available to California community colleges (at no cost) two Windows desktop programs and a server-based monitoring program. I have contacted the HTCTU and will be evaluating the desktop programs and possibly the server-based monitoring program (depending on its server requirements).

2. Replace incorrect curriculum guide information from websites with links to the official Curriculum Guides (CG) website.

   The CG website is still being reviewed by Kim Robbie and Mike Bowman. No changes to other websites will be made until the CG site is released.

3. Possible redesign of the website using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) instead of HTML tables for layout.

   May 2004 marks 2 years since release of the current design of the College website. Because of the prevalence of the old Netscape 4.x browser (which does not support CSS layouts) on campus computers, the design heavily relies on tables for layout instead of CSS. We are using CSS to control display of fonts, colors, and other visual elements.

   It may be time for the WTF to consider redesigning the College website to better take advantage of current web standards and technologies, including using CSS instead of tables for layout and incorporating alternate style sheets for printing and content display on alternative devices (PDAs, etc.).

   Across the Internet, Netscape 3.x and 4.x are the least used browsers. W3Schools lists browser trends statistics at: http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

   In the WTF's initial discussions about web technologies in early 2002, we discussed old vs. new browsers and modern web technologies: the content of web pages using current web technologies (such as CSS for layout) is viewable in old browsers - but it will be plainer than when viewed using a modern browser (compare Chabot College's website in Netscape 4.x and a modern browser - http://www.chabotcollege.edu - attached [below on this web page] are screenshots taken of the Chabot home page displayed using Firefox 0.8 (left; a new standards-compliance browser) and Netscape 4.7 (right; a non-standards-compliant brower)).

   Before a decision is made to redesign the website, the WTF should be aware that not all Ohlone College campus computers have been updated with a modern browser. In the past 2 years, many campus computers have been reconfigured/replaced with the Windows 2000 operating system and an updated web browser (as well as other updates). April Wolford indicates that computers in labs and in the library have been upgraded to Windows 2000 and have a modern web browser (Internet Explorer 6.0 in the library pods). However, computers used by many staff and faculty have not been upgraded and, therefore, still have the old Netscape 4.x browser. IS Department staff reductions and the increase in problematic computer viruses has delayed completion of additional computer upgrades. April plans to meet with the migration team in about 30 days or so to discuss a current plan for updating the remaining computers.

   It is a bit late in the semester to work toward a summer release (or probably even an early fall release), but I wanted to get the process of thinking about a redesign started. Maybe a new site could be released in late fall 2004 or early spring 2005. A timeline for design, review, and implementation will need to be discussed, as well as layout and navigation and features…

4. Online campus tour site.

   A draft online campus tour was reviewed during a WTF meeting in Fall 2003. Since then, the project was put on hold by Lisa Waits.

5. New campus maps site.

   A draft campus maps site was reviewed during a WTF meeting in Fall 2003. This project was put on hold until updated campus map images are completed. Simon Barros has hired a graphic designer to create updated/enhanced campus maps.

6. Cheryl's vacation

   I will be on vacation from March 24 through April 7. Paula has arranged her schedule to be here a few hours each weekday while I'm gone.

The next WTF meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 10, unless we'd like to meet earlier to discuss any of these issues. Let me know what you think - THANKS!

-Cheryl

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