Archive for the ‘Web Design’ Category
Apr
28
The development of the Web today includes powerful applications that mimic desktop software. Google Docs has tried to provide the functionality of Microsoft Office. Picnik is attempting to target Photoshop users. And even our own Content Management System, WebGen, uses some of the basics that made Dreamweaver so popular a few years ago. Perhaps the majority of us may soon only need an Internet connection rather than a computer when Web sites mature into full online applications.
In the meantime, we will experience the migration of software evolving into websites, and Twelve Horses is expanding its boundaries with these new technologies. Recently, we created a new event planner that integrates the functionality of software but utilizes the power of the Web.
Dynamic Meeting Planner
Our client, Dynamic Competence, needed a way to transform a paper-based meeting system into a dynamic communication tool that facilitates conversations for meeting topics. To be successful, the client needed to manage and monitor meeting plan revisions, improve group communication, and use a medium that would help save time and effort for meeting planners.
In this project we developed features that we have not yet seen: the website works more like a software application than a traditional HTML site. Below I’ve highlighted some of the functionality we developed.
Features for Success
1. Drag-And-Drop Interface
 A planner has the ability to categorize their contacts into different groups before sending out the meeting invite. To help increase speed and usability, the interface allows the planner to drag-and-drop their contacts into the available groups before sending. This saves the planner time and effort when creating the invitee list to be a part of the meeting process. |
2. Double-Click Editing
 Instead of making edits via a regular textbox and hitting save, a meeting planner simply goes to the topic they need to edit, double-clicks on it, and this opens up the section to be edited. This dynamic interface also allows editors to add and disable topics with one-click, saving time and effort. |
3. User Feedback System
 The success of the system relies on the interaction of the client’s users. If, for any reason, a user has an issue with a website or wants to comment, a Feedback button is provided on every page. To provide more insight into the feedback, the user’s comments, current page, and date submitted are all tracked by the System Admin Inbox (see below). This valuable feedback data also provides insight on how to improve the application for future use. |
4. System Admin Inbox
 The system administrators wanted to be sure all the feedback was being read and responded to appropriately. With multiple feedback messages, this could be a daunting task to make sure everyone is receiving a response. To complicate matters, there could be multiple System Admins in the system. To resolve this, the feedback items are displayed in an email inbox format (read or unread), and the message tracks which System Admin first read the response. |
5. Versioning
 Each iteration of the meeting process is saved as a separate webpage to the website. With this, a meeting planner can see how the meeting agenda transformed from the first draft to the final version of the agenda. This tracks all comments and changes, keeping the meeting processes organized and easily retrieved for historical purposes. |
Using web-based applications provides many advantages: updates and new features are rolled out across to users in real time; data is stored on the server and is accessible from anywhere that has Internet access; and custom solutions are tailored to a client’s needs, which isn’t as easily done with software.
Soon we may solely rely on the Web for our daily workflow. Until that happens, we will continue to push the boundaries of Web technology to help meet clients’ needs and increase the usability of applications.
Posted in Atlanta, Blog, Company News, Current Affairs, Finance & Banking, Las Vegas, Marketing, Marketing Tools, Member Orgs, SEO, Salt Lake City, Service Industry, Social, Travel & Tourism, Utah, Video, Web & SEO, Web Design
Dec
11
That’s right folks! Last week the Twelve Horses crew received this following internal email from IT:
Automatic will be releasing WordPress 2.7 in the next few days. This will be a very significant upgrade for quite a few reasons. One of which makes me very very excited. Automatic Upgrades! Not only is it an important security upgrade, but it also has the potential of making future upgrades painless and far less time consuming for both Twelve Horses and our clients. The first thing everyone will notice is that the Administration area has received a major overhaul. The navigation menu appears to have taken on a more classic CMS design, and is now on the left side with collapsible menus. The Dashboard is now customizable with drag and drop widgets including a simple WYSIWYG quick post widget. Plugins now have a “Search and Install” feature built in, so you don’t need SFTP access to install your FlickrRSS and wptwitter plugins. Like I said, there is also the new Automatic Upgrade tool. A feature I cannot wait to test and use in the future!
One personal reason why I posted most of the email verbatim is because I find it quite amusing. IT get excited about something?!? Ha! Shows you how much we all love Wordpress.
Props to the Wordpress crew for this excellent video detailing its launch. It is soooo Matt Mullenweg with the jazz theme.
Posted in Blog, Social, Technology, Web & SEO, Web Design
Oct
22
When people discuss the benefits of technology they often cite how extensible and scalable it is. But another equally positive attribute of technology is its inherent flexibility, especially when it comes to open source development.
When Mockstar Baby approached us with a business strategy similar to that of Steep & Cheap, but instead of outdoor gear you would find great deals on name brand baby gear, we immediately looked towards our Ticketing system as the appropriate solution. While it is typically used for venues, events, and transportation, there was no reason why it couldn’t be used to process last minute deals on baby gear.
Not only does the Twelve Horses Ticketing system give Mockstar a secure payment processing solution, but it also provides an easy to use content management system that allows them to add new products, set pricing, update web pages, and host of other functions including:
- Front-end customer login that allows review of orders
- What orders have been placed.
- Status of orders.
- When it was shipped.
Beyond the back end, the front end of the website itself offers some other very cool online marketing tools.
- There is a Desktop Widget built on Adobe Air that updates customers with the latest steal.
- Email Subscription and forward-to-a-friend functionality for the latest products.
- A Share to Facebook feature that allows Mockstar the ability to cross-promote products on individual Facebook pages.
- A Blog that serves for extended conversation, search engine optimization, and an archival area for products that customers might have missed.
- And of course, Really Simple Syndication for inclusion into your favorite RSS aggregator.
These communication options are all designed to satisfy the varied customers preferences for receiving information. As Mockstar evolves, mobile marketing would be a natural addition, for any one with kids knows that time is of the essence.
Posted in Client Announcements, Service Industry, Social, Web & SEO, Web Design
Aug
13
Twelve Horses recently launched a new website for Hogle Zoo, which is a great place to visit if you are ever in Salt Lake City. While you are at it, come visit us as well! We are always up for coffee or a business meeting on the slopes. Until then, I’d like to mention a few things about the website that you might not immediately notice.
First off, you will see that the homepage has been architected in a manner that organizes the primary content more efficiently. When you visited the old site there were too many conflicting entry points and messages that made it hard to decide what action to take first. Now the information is more honed down so that the visitor can quickly find what they are looking for at the zoo. The homepage is clean, centered with plenty of open space, and easy to navigate.
On the backend, Hogle Zoo makes use of the Twelve Horses eComerce solution to automate payment processing for:
- Tickets
- Donations
- Memberships
- Education Classes
- And Products Like Art Posters
The Twelve Horses Content Management System not only enables them to change templates and update the content on individual pages, it also provides them with a few other applications.
- The Payment Form is customizable to allow for new fields and order changes. In addition, the confirmation email can be customized and individual alerts can be specified.
- The Animal Finder Database allows non-technical staff to add new animals, as well as specify sections and regions. They can also remove and take live certain pages whenever they choose with a simple click of a button.
- The Media Gallery offers complete control over the podcast and video pages. They can upload photos, podcasts and video and push those out through an RSS feed.
- The Event Calendar can easily be updated, and it automatically pushes the most recent information to the feed on the homepage.
- The Contact Us form also has administrative control for things like routing to specific individuals within the Hogle Zoo organization.
As you can see, even zoos require business automation and web technology to interact with their customers and manage their assets. Of course, we will be monitoring the web analytics and looking at usability to ensure visitors are enjoying their experience, and we will keep you posted on any new exciting developments for the Hogle Zoo.
Posted in Client Announcements, Salt Lake City, Service Industry, Travel & Tourism, Web & SEO, Web Design
