CHAPTER
ONE
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Web Design is a
process of conceptualization, planning, modelling, and execution of electronic
media content delivery via internet in the form of technologies (such as mark
languages) suitable for interpretation and display by a web browser or other
web-based graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
The
intent of web design is to create a website (a collection of electronic files
residing on one or more web servers) that presents content (including interactive
features or interfaces) to the end user in the form of web pages once
requested. Such elements as text, forms, and bit-mapped images (GIFs, JPEGs,
and PNGs) can be placed on the page using HTML, XHTML, or XML tags. Displaying
more complex media (vector graphics, animations, videos, sounds) usually
requires plug-ins such as Flash, QuickTime, Java run-time environment, etc.
Plug-ins are also embedded into the web pages by using HTML or XHTML tags.
Improvements
in the various browsers compliance with W3C standards prompted a widespread
acceptance of XHTML and XML in conjunction with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to
position and manipulate web page elements. The latest standards and proposals
aim to leading to the various browsers’ ability to deliver a wide variety of
media and accessibility options to the client possibly without employing
plug-ins.
Typically
web pages are classified as Static
or dynamic.
·
Static pages don’t
change content and layout with every request unless a human (web master or
programmer) manually updates the page.
·
Dynamic pages adapt
their content and/or appearance depending on the end-users input or interaction
or changes in the computing environment (user, time database modifications,
etc.) content can be changed on the client side (end-users computer ) by using
client-side scripting languages (JavaScript, Jscript, Action script, media
players and PDF reader plug-ins, etc.) to alter DOM elements ( DHTML). Dynamic
content is often compiled on the server utilizing server-side scripting languages
(PHP, ASP, PERL, ColdFusion, JSP, Python, etc.). Both approaches are usually in
complex applications. With growing specialization within communication design
and information technology field, there is a strong tendency to draw a clear
line between web design specifically for web pages and web development for the
overall logistics.
1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, the father of peace
through non-violence concept, and Pr.Johan Galtung the principal founder of the
discipline of Peace and conflict studies, through his concept of conflict
transformation by peaceful means, Great
Lakes Peace Network Foundation is a non-profit network of a volunteer’s team
involved in peace building, sustainable development and any other field related
to the respect of human dignity.
GLPN was created in 1994 by Dr.Claude
Shema-Rutagengwa, under GLPI label-Great Lakes Peace
Initiative- but later changed status and name, then switched to the new status
and actual name which is:
“GLPN-The great Lakes Peace Network
Foundation", with a priceless joint work of Anke Weisheit (The creation of GLPN is mainly based on the
situation in the so called” The great Lakes region of Africa-GLRA” due to the intractability of the cruel
conflict in that area.
Therefore, the former Germany-Belgium
colony is regarded as a field of interest motivated political conflict between
powerful countries since decades ago. This context motivated GLPN to work
locally for peace and sustainable development in this region, but at the same
time to have remarkable direct transformative impacts on external actors who
are fueling the conflict in this region and vice-versa.
GLPN believes that the experience
gained from the great lakes region of Africa, as intractable conflict with
multiple actors from different backgrounds or cultures, and different nations,
can be a milestone towards remedying similar indocile conflict all over the
world, and contribute to peacebuilding and conflict transformation in any other
part of the world, through sharing experiences and using the effective methods
succeeded in this region.
Vision and Mission of GLPN: Great
Lakes Peace Network Foundation is an independent peace and development network,
non-profit organization aiming at peace by peaceful means. It inspires a
passion for peace and sustainable development and other related fields focusing
on a better and peaceful future for humankind.
GLPN Foundation is a
well-organized team of experts from different countries equipped
with a variety of skills and experienced in peace, human rights,
environment, gender and youth issues, etc... It promotes conflict-mitigation
and reconciliation in general and in specific conflict affected areas through
meticulous on-the-ground research, active listening, education and advocacy.
Major activities: Research, Training/Education,
Expertise,
Lobbying &
advocacy,
Active
facilitation.
Fields: Peace building, Mediation/Reconciliation,
Environment, Sustainable development, Gender & youth issues.
1.3
STATEMENTS OF THE PROBLEM
There
are millions of computer users browsing the internet every day and each one is
looking at a different size monitor suing a different resolution. How each
person sees the graphics on your website varies depending on their screen and
there are no uniform standards for making your site friendly to everyone.
Screen
resolution refers to how many pixels your computer monitor will display, both
vertically and horizontally. If you ever visited a website that did not fit
your screen, making you scroll to the right to see the rest of the page, it was
not entirely the designer’s fault. The website was just not created with your
screen resolution.
Not
too long ago, the most common computer monitor featured a resolution of 480 X
640. A number of people still surf the internet using this screen resolution,
while today’s popular monitor use a 1024 X 768 screen resolution and most
website are optimized to be viewed on these higher resolution screens. Those
still using lower resolution displays will see website quite differently than
those the site designed for.
Today’s
monitor offer computer users a choice of several screen resolutions, with the
lowest resolution being 400 X 600. With some any choices, it is often confusing
for users to decide on the best settings, especially if they are not aware of
the differences.
Visitors
to your site that are using monitors with low screen resolution will usually
not see your entire page on their screen. They will have to scroll horizontally
to see the right side of your page. Those using a higher screen resolution than
what your site is designed for may see a small, thin strip that can be rather
frustrating.
Also
among one of the problems encountered is the incapability of the browser window
and viewing systems.
For
example some viewing systems will have limited options of fonts. This means
that any special font will have to be placed inside an image so that they are
accessible to all users.
Another
important constraint is the type of browser users view the page through.
Different browsers interpret the display images and the HTML in a slightly
different manner, which can lead to the picture being displayed incorrectly.
The
main limitation is bandwidth, which mean how quickly information travels
between the computer where your web site is located (your Web server), and the
visitor’s computer. Even though 56.6kbps modems, and even 10Mbps cable modems
are becoming more common, many people on the internet are still using 28.8kbps
modems.
This
means that the larger your Web pages are, the longer they take to download, and
the less likely a visitor is to stick around to see them. One of the major
tasks of a web site designer is to provide maximum content at a minimum file
size. Graphics and animations are the big data-hogs. A screen sized photo in
full colour can easily consume 2 megabytes of space, which would take a
computer with a 28.8kbps modem about a half-hour to download.
1.4
PURPOSE OF STUDY
With
the revolution of World Wide Web (WWW), information could be accessed from one
part of the globe to another.
Organizations, schools, individuals, businesses are putting up their own
websites. Having highlighted efficiency of the World Wide Web above, the
researcher intends Putting Great Lakes Peace Network on the yellow pages i.e.
easily accessible all over the globe in just a few seconds.
1.5
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
In
this age of electronic commerce, career as a web designer can be a lucrative
one. Demand of websites designers are at a constant rise as most of the
businesses are attempting to initiate web presence. There are different website
design companies that recruit talented and best of the breed web designers to
facilitate their clients with appealing web portals with beautiful graphics and
animated features. On the other hand, finding a cheap web designer is not at
all a difficult task now, from the local community newspaper to yellow pages,
several web design companies offer alluring options.
A
good website designer needs to increase his skills and abilities to identify what
the visitors want at a rapid pace. There are several vocational training
programs for the web designers and these courses are generally tailored to
provide a clear insight on the latest tools and technologies that are used in
the market. There are innumerable web designing companies that offer cheap web
design and it is also necessary for the web designers nowadays to keep the
designing cost lower. So, it is really a tricky job to balance the quality and
hours of work to create the end product, i. e the website at a competitive
rate.
There
remains different web development companies that can really help
schools/institutions with effective solutions related to web presence.
Self-study to identify proper web Development Company is essential. We must remember that any wrong selection of
web Design Company can just be waste of money. Now more than a few web design
companies are offering free domain name and e-mail id’s. Having e-mail with
proper domain name is lucrative. We presence is now one of the most essential
things that determine future of any business. Popularity of electronic commerce
will be more and more with days and demand of website designers will be more.
1.6
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
Having
an organizational website enhances the following:
1.
Effective communication
for members, scholars, activists, and intending members.
2.
Easy access to the
administrative in case their office location is not present in a particular
country, area, or community.
3.
Provision of
educational resources in form of online/electronic articles where people can
access them and information passed to appropriate quarters.
4.
Effective dissemination
of news and upcoming events of the organization.
5.
Improved teaching and
learning style.
6.
To develop an
understanding of technological processes among new internet users intending to
understand it.