Date: 06/11/2013

Discuss how the design, function and content of web pages influence the meaning and value of information.

Word Count: 1800
Web sites are swiftly becoming, and in some cases are already, the preferred media choice for information search, company presentation, shopping, education, gaming, socialising, and much more. In this day and age, where visual symbols play an increasingly important role in our day to day lives, the design, content, and function of web pages, play a pivotal part in influencing the meaning and value of information. The meaning and value of information can be worked out by a few simple questions; who is the author of this information? Who is the
I put my links at the top of the page in a clear and concise way so that users will be able to navigate easily without any stress. These challenges reflect how the design, content and function influence the meaning and value of information. If a website is not accessible for everyone, then some people will obviously be unable to assess the meaning of your information. Just as if users cannot actually use the website they will not value the information. This quote from ‘usability first’ highlights this perfectly, “When users feel stupid, their blood pressure goes up, their heart rate increases, and they get a little hot under the collar. This visceral negative reaction begins to harm trust and brand perception almost immediately.”
Establishing quality of information on web pages is paramount to getting users to value your information. Design, function and content of web pages can all help to establish the quality of information. Information that is presented to you in a disorganised way that is even hard to understand will be of less use to you. This is why design is so important in influencing the quality of information. Getting the design of your web page right can make information so much easier to understand and therefore, perceived as better quality by users. One such way I tried to make my information easier to understand was through separation of my subjects into clear