Homework 1 - Evaluating Multimedia Projects
Due: No later than 1:00 PM on the day marked on the Schedule. For this assignment you will be evaluating one multimedia appllication on the web, selected from the following:

1. Investigating Bellini's Feast of the Gods
2. Random Walk through the twentieth century
3. J.K. Rowling

What to submit:

You should create and upload in your puma directory a 400 - 500 word long HTML document of your review, and name it hw1.html You may be asked to critique the application you reviewed during the next class. You are strongly encouraged to work in groups - it will be more fun and you get to see more projects.

While you are reviewing, think about their artistic design and functionality characteristics. Thinking "loudly" while the other reviewers are around is recommended. Below are some particular questions to help you evaluate the applications. Make sure you comment on every question below. Include 3-4 snapshots to support your points.

Enhance your document with snapshots of the application you are evaluating, which help you explain your points. Put all your files inside a folder called hw1. Upload your folder in your puma directory, inside a subdirectory called CS215. Finally, hand in class a printout of your document. Include the number of words that your document contains.

Criteria for Evaluating Multimedia ProjectsTitle, Author, Producer and Year:Objective:

• In a paragraph describe what was the application about.
• What do you believe was the objective of this Project?

Functionality:

• Was it easy to find your way around? How intuitive was the interface? How easy was it to find something you were searching for?
• What audience do you think this was meant for?

Design:

• Did the screen design attract your attention? Do you think it was well designed? Did you like looking at the screen? Did the visuals add to the quality of the presentation? Did the visuals aid in the functionality?
• Did the visuals compete with other material or with reading the info?

General:

• Would you have preferred some other medium for this application (a catalog, a book, a website, a CD-ROM)? How would you have approached the design of this information differently if you were creating a book vs. a CD-ROM or website? Evaluate the overall experience of using this application (i.e. enjoyable, frustrating, etc.). What did you like/dislike? How would you change it to improve it?
• (If relevant:) Was it easy to install?

Specific to your multimedia application:

Here you have to address the specific questions related to the application you are reviewing. For example, if you were reviewing an application for an Art Museums, you may ask the following questions:

• Do you think this is a good use of multimedia for this topic (the museum collections)? Do you think that applications of this sort will be helpful to the museum-going audience? or scholars? or artists?
• Do you think that it will reach an audience that ordinarily is not exposed to this art?

Overall:

• Do you believe that this Project met its objectives?