| REVIEWS
Cruising
Cyberspace
Web
Site Pick Of The Month
By Pam Wegmann
We were cruising
the Web this month for a site about technology in New Orleans. We
expected to eventually choose a technology related site. Instead,
we chose a site that isn't so much a technology site as one that uses Internet
technology to bring to the electronic masses a product that has been around
forever: history. It's also a site that probably epitomizes one of the
unique contrasts of this city: centuries of steep history delivered via
today's newest technology. It's a site that marries yesterday with tomorrow
and tangible artifacts with virtual reality. It's the home of The Historic
New Orleans Collection at:
http://www.hnoc.org
This site is a treat
for the eyes as well as for the surfing mind. It's clean, logically
organized, simple to navigate and full of good basic information the viewer
needs to discover what this institution has to offer. There are some, but
not too many, relevant and beautiful photos and graphics that load quickly.
The text does its job without going overboard and contains embedded links
in the short narratives. There is even judicious use of wrought iron.
This is a site that actually gives you a flavor of the organization is
represents.
The links to the
internal pages are found in the upper left hand corner and take you to
a variety of neatly defined information niches:
The What's New link
showcases The Collection's creative use of technology to promote a period
of time when the very word "technology" didn't even exist. On this page
you can take a Quick Time VR 360 panorama of a historic French Quarter
courtyard. Download the software right on the spot, if you need to, and
then use your mouse to stand in the center of the courtyard and pan around
in a circle viewing this unique New Orleans garden as if you were actually
there. This page also provides profiles of the newest special exhibits
with an example of their paintings or photos.
At Exhibitions &
Events you can see an electronic sample of standing exhibits as well as
preview coming exhibits. It was on this page that we were reminded
that soon after the start of the millennium, this area will celebrate a
landmark event in its history: 2003 will be the bicentennial of the Louisiana
Purchase.
Clicking on the Galleries
button takes you to eight distinct galleries dedicated to specific chronological
periods of New Orleans history and the Research button leads to an overview
of the unique and elegant Williams Research Center where, having had the
pleasure of using this library, the word "research" takes on a special
meaning.
With the Publications
link, the surfer can see lists of journals and books based on The Historic
New Orleans Collection's information. You can order some online through
the Gift Shop.
The site closes with
a great list of links to other sources on the Web that are rich in Louisiana
and local history: colleges and universities, museums, and libraries.
As business people
we are constantly digesting information for our working lives. Here's a
site that let's you feed your soul and gives you time to smell the roses
- or in this case - the magnolias.
April, 1999
Knowledge is Power!
Happy cruising! :-)
Questions/Comments
can be sent to pam@info-matters.com
or faxed to 504.738.0016. You can also reach Ms. Wegmann at 504.738.0070.
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