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Q: What is necessary to begin producing a LINMO-compatible web site? A: The basic requirements for producing a LINMO-compatible web site are (1) a computer and the most elementary of computer skills, (2) an Internet connection, (3) space on some web server to host the site and (4) a person who is both qualified for the task and has sufficient motivation and time. The computer can be a relatively old and inexpensive one. And the Internet connection can be an inexpensive dial-up connection; no high-speed connection is needed. And the amount of server space for hosting the site is minimal because of the emphasis on minimizing page byte size. In other words, the costs are very low, comparable to those for authoring a hard copy (i.e., printed on paper) book. Moreover, as is the case with writing a hard copy book, such a site can be created from nearly anywhere. Q: What are the characteristics of a person that is well suited for producing a LINMO-compatible web site? A: They are similar to those required to produce a high quality hard copy book. They include excellent writing skill, an in-depth knowledge of the topic (or the willingness to learn more about it) and the ability to make a long-term commitment. Q: Is it possible for a single person to develop a LINMO-compatible web site? A: Yes, very much so. In fact, it is usually preferable that such sites be created by a single author, just as is the case with hard copy books. Most readers prefer a book written by a single author rather than having different authors write each chapter or part of a chapter. And most good authors prefer to write entire books rather than just parts of them. Q: How much computer expertise and software is required to create a LINMO-compatible web site? A: They are minimal (unless, of course, the topic is related to computers, in which case a great deal of expertise is required). Just as the LINMO guidelines are designed to make content useful for the largest possible audience, they are also designed to eliminate unnecessary complexity in development and thus make it as easy as possible for authors to create LINMO-compatible web sites. Many skilled writers have little knowledge of web programming techniques and have little interest in learning them, just as many skilled programmers are not outstanding writers. Moreover, many authors prefer to work independently (i.e., not be dependent on programmers) and to have complete mastery of their tools. To produce LINMO-compatible web sites, all the software expertise that is necessary is some familiarity with basic HTML (hypertext markup language) and a slight knowledge of CSS (cascading style sheets). Both of these are relatively easy to learn. LINMO is not about programming wizardry or clever new functions, but rather it is about developing quality content and maximizing its usability. Usability refers to the efficiency, comfort, safety and satisfaction with which a wide range of people and under a variety of conditions can perform their tasks with a product (i.e., a good or a service).. In the opinion of many web experts, educators and others, there is at least as much need for more high-quality content and greater usability on the web as there is for additional functions. Q: Because the best authors might not be interested in learning more than just the basics about computers, wouldn't it be preferable to use a content management system? A: Conventional content management systems (CMS) are programs that are designed to facilitate the addition and modification of content to web sites. They can be useful for sites that have complex layouts and multiple contributors. However, they also have disadvantages and are not useful or appropriate for LINMO-compatible web sites. This is because LINMO-compatible sites are primarily single-author sites and feature very simple layouts. Although on the surface they might seem very simple, conventional CMSs actually add an extra layer of complexity to the site development process in the form of an intervening layer of code that is only understandable by programmers, and not by authors. Moreover, the LINMO guidelines are, in fact, a type of content management system, and one which is much more suitable for developing a LINMO-compatible web site. The LINMO approach is extremely simple (some might even call it primitive), but it puts the author in full control by just learning some basic HTML and without requiring any intervening layer of complex code. Q: Is it correct to say that LINMO-compatible web sites should be produced by writers rather than web developers? A: Yes. Writing and web site development are basically two very different skill sets. It is commonly the case that people who are highly skilled writers are not proficient at web programming, and visa versa. This is only natural, as nobody can be an expert at everything. The LINMO guidelines are being developed so that skilled writers can present content in the most effective way without having to know more than basic HTML and a small amount of CSS while remaining in full control of the medium (i.e., their web site). Although the guidelines can also be helpful to people who specialize in web site development, the most crucial need is for people who are both excellent writers and an expert in some field. Q: How long would it take to develop a LINMO-compatible web site? A: It depends on the topic. It could easily take two or three years of full time work by a single individual to create a reasonably complete site for a large topic. The time might be similar to that required to create a hard copy book with comparable content. Q: What were the most difficult problems that were encountered in developing The Linux Information Project web site? A: The Linux Information Project (LINFO) is the first large-scale web site that is mostly LINMO-compatible. Certainly at the top of the list of difficult problems encountered has been the immense amount of time and concentration involved. Especially near the beginning, creating the vast number of original pages that would be required seemed almost insurmountable. Also, there was the problem that this project involved some uncharted territory; that is, it required considerable thought and experimentation to determine the best way to do a number of things. Although each of these may seem small in itself, they can become fairly large and complex when looked at in the aggregate. Q: Will subsequent projects be easier? A: Yes, they should be much easier. This is both because a specific example is now available and because a model has been established along with detailed but simple guidelines for implementing it. Q: Would a web site of this type be easier to produce than a book with the same degree of comprehensiveness? A: This is complicated, but the short answer is generally yes. One reason is that the dynamics of content development and presentation are very different. For example, a web site can start out small and be expanded one page at a time. This provides an opportunity to obtain feedback from readers and to determine the extent of reader interest in the topic and the way it is being presented. However, a printed book needs to be completed in its entirety before it can be published. Also, whereas the author of a hard copy book has to be concerned about creating a logical flow of content within each chapter as well as an ordering of the chapters, the developer of a LINMO-compatible web site does not because the concept of chapters is eliminated, as is the linear arrangement of information within and between chapters. Q: Would it be practical to develop a LINMO-compatible site that uses a wiki type approach in order to simplify content development? A: A wiki is a type of website that allows anyone, or some group of registered users, to add and edit content, such as that used by the Wikipedia1 (a free, online encyclopedia). Although it might be worth exploring the use of this or other user-generated content techniques, there are some potential problems. For example, there is the question of whether sufficient volunteers could be found who were motivated to write all of the individual pages that would be required in order to provide comprehensive coverage of a particular topic. Wikis generally work best for web sites in which every contributor can write about whatever they want rather than for sites that are intended to cover topics comprehensively. In addition, there would likely be problems of consistency of style, which is very important to the LINMO concept because of its key role in usability, just as it is to hard copy books. Although it is technically possible that the contents of a wiki could be edited to provide a high degree of consistency, many authors have found that it is generally easier to write articles from scratch than it is to try to edit articles written by others.
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Created May 8, 2006. |