Multimedia Portal Gets a New Face
By Danny Hart
I’m constantly amazed at the wide range of newly emerging technologies and techniques to deliver rich media. I’m equally a fan of usability so it’s interesting to me when I see really well done new media (or rich media or multimedia, whatever the term du jour is) that happens to be usable as well.
So, recently when I was challenged to find a better way to present our multimedia to the public I looked to how we currently delivered content in other areas of the site as the basis. I felt we could give folks great content without reinventing the wheel and still make it visually interesting.
Like other agencies, EPA has been shifting our rich and social media publishing to sites that specialize in usable interfaces and specialized infrastructure. We found we didn’t need to build whole new photo hosting sites or video platforms, they already existed and our users were already there. These sites had already worked out ways to deliver fast content that is easily searched and deliver it full screen with well-known interfaces. Leveraging our existing relationships with other sites seemed like a slam dunk. Take a look and let us know your thoughts.
About the Author: Danny Hart has been with EPA since 2006. He’s the Associate Director of Web Communications.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Feb 11, 2011 @ 12:32:23
Hi, I like also with the developing technology in the deliver rich media to the public, because it would be more practical to give, hopefully EPA program can provide the best in the delivery of media to the public
Feb 11, 2011 @ 16:24:21
Wow. As a university faculty member in environmental engineering, I find this fantastic.
Feb 13, 2011 @ 18:04:49
Using all communications media is a great idea. You really have to use several media to get as wide an audiance as possible because some people don’t have access to internet connections yet. While others use Facebook and similar sites as their primary communications vehicle even to the extent that they use Facebook instead of a telephone. And many more people rely on television for news and information now than subscribe to newspapers. Reaching out to thepublic, explaining what you do, and building public support has never been so important as it will be this year, Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.
Feb 14, 2011 @ 09:24:13
I like the new look, but I sincerely hope that the text-based items will remain and be kept current too; not everyone has access to (or can make use of) all the neat techno-toys that work with the cutting edge software. I’m almost always a fan of “choice”; I prefer a “this AND that” approach, rather than “this OR that”. For example, the photo gallery was quite nice, but unless a photo has a meaningful caption that describes the image, a text reader may scroll over it and simply announce “uncaptioned image” or worse yet, remain silent; a visually impaired user could be left with no clue what was on the page. A well-written text article might convey far more to that same user.
Feb 15, 2011 @ 11:11:56
Thanks all for your comments. I’m a big believer in consciously striving to ensure usable AND accessible content. Including captioning videos and photos.
Feb 20, 2011 @ 21:41:33
I like the improvments on the site.It only makes sense to build off of existing platforms but that doesn’t mean you can’t use variety and ingenuity. Good luck!
Feb 24, 2011 @ 16:38:59
Use of the various media is important to all. However, I’m wondering what the EPA does regarding the unauthorized use of the agency name and logo? I recently found a web site for a company in China which is an agent for a U.S. company. This web site uses the EPA logo and even touts that its certificate of accreditation is signed by the EPA. The certificate referenced is for accreditation from Canada. This seems unlawfully deceptive. How does EPA correct this?
Oct 28, 2011 @ 09:33:28
Great job – taken a look at your multimedia site.
Sarahl
Mar 27, 2013 @ 14:02:21
photos and video are just form of multimedia and people are motivating toward web 2.0 properties as well where social stuff comes into picture and plays a vital role.
Thanks,
Rebecca