Web 2003, the annual conference for Penn State Web professionals, took place on June 18 and featured several members of the School of Information Sciences and Technology -- including the opening keynote speaker, James Thomas, dean of the school. A specialist in strategic management, organizational analysis, and information technology, Dean Thomas spoke to an audience of more 300 about the Alignment Approach to Web Planning that has been adopted by a number of top companies.
Dean Thomas discussed how Web technology does not exist in a vacuum within organization -- while its success depends on planning, implementation, and ongoing assessment within an overall strategic context, models for this type of assessment can be inconsistent and confusing. The alignment approach, which explores the functional linkages and strategic fit necessary to make Web technology-related investments viable, addresses these issues.
Dean Thomas also talked about the importance of a knowledge management focus, which is critical to any organization's alignment efforts as well as to the establishment and management of Web-based competencies.
Other presenters representing IST at Web 2003 include the following:
Russell Vaught, Associate Vice Provost, Computer and Information Systems (CIS), and Affiliate Professor of Information Sciences and Technology, presented Strategic Use of the Web, the report by the University's Web Task Force on Penn State's use of the Web. The report is the result of 44 individual discussions with all deans, vice presidents, and vice provosts, as well as other stakeholders in Penn State's Web presence.
Formulated on a close examination of Penn State's Web sites and input from all interviewees, the report concludes that a conceptual framework is needed for all Web activities as well as individually focused Web information, such as what is provided by the Penn State Portal. The report also discusses the need for navigational consistency across all Penn State Web sites, the importance of ADA compliance, development of more effective search features, and the need for additional training and resources for Penn State's community of Web developers.
Stanley Aungst, Assistant Professor of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State Mont Alto, and Karen Fleagle, a recent IST graduate from Penn State York discussed Mobile Databases for Health Informatics. Mobile databases make it possible to transmit data between a handheld device and any database in the world -- in this case, to and from any hospital database in the world.
Attendees learned how students in the Mobile Health Informatics sections of IST 228 learned the rudiments of secure mobile database design using IBM's DB2e, Mobile Application Builder (M.A.B.) CASE Tool and Udb2 Universal Database. Students built a secure Health Informatics Mobile database in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) requirements for Emergency Medical Service (EMS).
Also presenting at Web 2003 was Christopher Millet, Multimedia/Instructional Technology Specialist in The IST Solutions Institute. An accomplished designer and multimedia specialist, Millet led a 3-hour hands-on preconference seminar on Macromedia Flash MX on Tuesday, June 17.
Flash MX is a highly versatile tool used for creating products ranging from presentation visuals, to educational materials, to interactive Web content and applications. Millet demonstrated the capabilities of Flash as a graphics/animation and Web development tool and walk participants through using the many components in the Flash tool kit. On Wednesday, June 18, Millet will lead the session Macromedia Flash: Beyond the Basics.
Presenting on the conference panels Web Content Management Systems and Writing and Editing for the Web were Rose Pruyne, Webmaster and multimedia specialist in IST. Pruyne has been a member of the Web conference planning committee since 1999.
The Web Content Management Systems (CMS) panel addressed general principles and applications; choosing a CMS (purchasing or developing in-house); training content providers and IT professionals for new processes and responsibilities; and adjusting processes in response to feedback. An effective alternative to managing static Web pages, a CMS serves to eliminate "Webmaster Bottleneck" by empowering primary authors to independently create and edit Web content.
Writing and Editing for the Web addressed what researchers have found about how users read Web content, the pitfalls of placing content for another medium on the Web, and best practices for placing and long-term management of Web content.
The annual conference is sponsored by Information Technology Services (ITS). Now in its sixth year, the event offers Penn State Web professionals the opportunity to learn about current and emerging Web technologies and practices as well as how they are being implemented around the University. The event also provides a forum for networking with other Penn State IT professionals.
