Log Analysis

Wrap up last week


What do you want to know?
- What content is popular
- What links are active
- When content is accessed
- Details of user environment, habits
1st task of any media project: Know your audience


What can you know:
	- content
	- modem speed - inferred, special
	- browser type
	- operating system
	- color depth - only with JavaScript addition
	- screen resolution - only with JavaScript addition
	- plugins - only with JavaScript addition
	- popular areas of site
	- which links are clicked
Different for each site


Can do full usability testing, but should start with log analysis - free, complete
Look at actual log file, list components


Content
	run through hits/pages
	time of day, pages over time
	referrers


Speed:
	find average user speed
	assume page should load in 3 seconds at that connection
	modems measured in kilobits per second, files in kilobytes
	8 kilobits in a kilobyte
	56K modem means 7 bytes per second, or max of 21 bytes, html plus all graphics
		that is limiting, should pick a 'page weight' you are comfortable with
		it means using thumbnails and clicking to larger images
			using text instead of graphics where possible
			reusing images


Platform;
- Browser Type:
Mostly IE
A lot of formatting looks differently depending on the browser
In general, IE is more compliant with official spec


- Operating System
Mostly Windows
Resolution: 72ppi on Windows, 96 ppi on Macs
Text and graphics appear smaller on Macs


- Monitors:
	Gamma
	Screen Size
		544 x 372 (WebTV)
		640 x 480
		800 x 600
		1024 x 768
		1152 x 900
		1280 x 1024
		1600 x 1200
phosphors not same as inks, which are not same as real colors, green phosphor is especially weak
average depends on type of site, programmers more likely to have huge screen, seniors more likely to have 640 x 480
Web color (Web-safe, hexadecimal) 
different manufacturers use slightly different colors
bit, 2-bit, 3-bit, 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit(cmyk), 216(6^3) color cube


Conclusion, design for IE5 on Windows 98 with 800 x 600 monitor with 56K modem
What about Netscape, Mac, 640 x 480, WebTV, etc.
	Judgement call, sometimes just ignore, sometimes design for both, sometimes use detect script to send user to specific version
Can't have web look identical to print
	Don't want to anyway, since using a Web page is very different from using a magazine page
		toc on every page, ads on every page
		pages are self-contained - a user may visit via a search engine, read it, then hit the back button
		So page must contain all branding, title, author, etc.



Screen Resolution Issues
Critical info in 640 x 480 space
Avoid Horizontal Scroll Bar
Avoid ‘Best Used With


Using Meta Data
Helps search engine indexing, libraries
Types:
Title, Description, Keywords, Contact, Originator, Dates, Period, Medium, Access, Agency
Proprietary engines may use others
Most engines ignore meta tags now, frustrated by developers who overload them  - now use titles
Can see what people are searching for, but only see successful, not what you should be using
Look at overture
	Tools -> Term Suggestion Tool
	http://overture.com/d/USm/adcenter/tools/index.jhtml


Search Engine Compliance
Meta Tags:
keywords, description
img tag alt attributes
Titles
First 50 words of text
No frames
Free registration


Discuss last class: e-commerce?