a comparison of “kids” sections in aquarium websites maddalena crudelilingua inglese c.p. a.a....
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A comparison of “kids” A comparison of “kids” sections in Aquarium sections in Aquarium
websiteswebsites
Maddalena Crudeli Lingua Inglese c.p. A.A. 2005/06
• The websites of these big aquariums enable a cyber-viewer to admire the enormous biodiversity of our oceans, and are an insight on mankind’s effort to save many endangered species that live in the sea world.
Different approaches towards a kid’s world
Indirect approach
Direct approach
Examples of indirect approaches
New York Aquarium http://www.nyaquarium.com/
Virginia Marine Science Museum
http://www.vmsm.com/index.shtml/
New York Aquarium
On the homepage the kid is a
spectator, with a teacher/parent
next to him.
In the kids section there
are many programs for guided tours
and activities.Verbal approach: teachers and
parents are the targets.
Dynamic picture. Realistic visual modality.
Virginia Marine Science Museum
Kids as spectators again on the homepage.
A whole section only for teachers.
Realistic visual modality.Use of the sound of the sea in the
background.
Dynamic picture and caption.
Examples of direct approaches
New England Aquarium in Boston
http://www.neaq.org/index.flash4.html
Monterey Bay Aquarium
http://www.mbayaq.org/default.asp
Three relevant parameters:
1. Pathway from the home page to the “kids” section
2. “Activities” sub-section
3. Interpersonal level (relationship with the viewer)
What is a hypertext pathway?
• A hypertext pathway collects different semiotic modalities and genres, activities and meanings along the meaning-making trajectory created when users of websites create links from one web page to another.
• The trajectory is the trace of the progressive integration over time of the meaning-making resources that the user encounters.
(Baldry,Thibault 2006)
1) PathwayNew England Aquarium
The word “learning” tells
the user to start his pathway
towards the kids section
here. Intertextual
previous knowledge.
Ocean blue background
Marine life icons
The site’s target is also a young
viewer.
1) PathwayNew England Aquarium
By rolling the mouse over the “for kids”
item, a thematic expansion appears.
1) PathwayNew England Aquarium
Abstract approach of verbal menu.
The text encourages kids to make questions.
Creative text font.
See-for-yourself approach of visual cartoon-like menu.
1) PathwayNew England Aquarium
Pathway to “teenagers”
sectionText and photos: realistic
approach
1) PathwayMonterey Bay Aquarium
By rolling the mouse over the“Teachers
and Kids” link a sub-text pops up which is
a thematic expansion.
Marine life and Ocean blue
background.
Concise organization of
information, using icons and verbal captions.
Terms concern education.
1) PathwayMonterey Bay Aquarium
A set of items made up of dynamic and cromatic visual elements and
corresponding verbal captions and links,
which invite the viewer to explore. Different
activities for teenagers.
Teacher’s and kid’s sections
are both visible on the
screen.
Cartoon-like icon attracts the younger
kid’s attention.
2) “Activities” sub-sectionNew England Aquarium
Visual metaphor menu instead of a
verbal one. Paradigmatyc reading path.
Cartoon-like. Tridimensionality.
Dynamic elements on mouse roll over.
Text is an explicit invitation to
explore.
2) “Activities” sub-sectionNew England Aquarium
This section encourages an active attitude.
Hands-on approach.
2) “Activities” sub-sectionMonterey Bay Aquarium
Paradigmatic reading path: the viewer has
the possibility to choose different
features from a set of items made up of visual and verbal
elements.
Cartoon-like icons contain
dynamic elements, which encourage web-
surfing.
2) “Activities” sub-sectionMonterey Bay Aquarium
Music activities include downloading.
All sections are divided in age
groups.
2) “Activities” sub-section Monterey Bay Aquarium
Text and cartoon-like
pictures encourage an
active attitude.
Child-like drawing.
2) “Activities” sub-section Monterey Bay Aquarium
Bright colours and the big crayon are visual metaphors
of the colouring-in activity.
3) Interpersonal appeal
Cartoon-like genreUse of cartoon-like genre appeals to the sense of fun and
enjoyment of the young viewer.
ColourUse of colours as a semiotic resource attracts the eye of
the viewer and contributes to create a playful environment.
Creative font and languageUse of creative font and direct language produces a friendly
and readable text.
3) Interpersonal appeal
Dynamic elementsThe autonomous visual changes in some elements
on the page and the modification by mouse rollover of other features both show the object’s interactive potential and engage the viewer’s attention towards specific thematic domains that can be activated by clicking on these objects.
Covariate ties (Lemke, 1985): trasformed images share some features in common with each other. Because of this similarity they are members of a more general class of clickable objects with interactive and thematic potential.
3) Interpersonal appeal
All of these features are made to create a positive interpersonal response from the viewer.
3) Interpersonal appealNew England Aquarium
Use of cartoon-like pictures and speech
bubbles represents an interpersonal
approach to a special audience: children.
This is an example of an interactive game, which
gives kids the possibility to move the penguin. The
movement is accompanied by the penguin sound and a
speech bubble.
3) Interpersonal appealMonterey Bay Aquarium
On mouse roll over the picture
on the book cover moves.
Cartoon-like icons.
Bright colours.
Summary TableIndirect or direct aproach
Pathway Activities Interpersonal level
New York Aquarium
Indirect Learning section.
Programs for tour and activities.
Realistic approach: dynamic photos.
Virginia Marine Science Museum
Indirect Learning section.
Programs for tour and activities.
Realistic approach: dynamic photos.
New England Aquarium
Direct Learning section.
Hands-on activities.
Cartoon-like pictures and animation.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Direct Learning section.
Hands-on activities.
Cartoon-like pictures and animation.
Contexts of application
• Promote the use of internet in primary schools.
• Introduce a kids section in other websites, like art and nature ones, to encourage young learners.