Website Evaluation Essay Example for Free

Website Evaluation Essay The creator of the website http://www. nationalmssociety. org/index. aspx is the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). NMSS was started in order to provide research and resources to those living with multiple sclerosis. Their philosophy is to create a movement inclusive of people with multiple sclerosis in an effort to move toward a world free of multiple sclerosis (NMSS, 2008). NMSS is a credible organization that has been in existence for many years. Since its creation, NMSS has been diligently working towards developing new research to find a cure for multiple sclerosis as well as enabling people with this disease to find quality of life. Proof of NMSS credibility is shown in the constant updating of the website. News releases are posted regularly to update visitors about new progress being made. Additionally, the website includes up to date information about where those living with multiple sclerosis can find services to help them. Finally, NMSS can be considered credible because they include the sources of their information in their news releases. In their multimedia library section of the website they offer additional resources and information about these is provided (NMSS, 2008). The main stated goal of NMSS is to enable those with multiple sclerosis to find quality of life and to continue to work towards a cure. In order to accomplish these two goals, NMSS is committed to excellent service, leadership and teamwork. These noble goals are listed on the website under the core values section and provide visitors with important information about their mission. Unstated goals include details about the importance of research as it is assumed that most people would agree this is important. There doesn’t appear to be any biases or hidden agendas since NMSS isn’t in existence to make money. Instead, they are dedicated to finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and helping people live with the disease. The information presented on the website is useful to students living with multiple sclerosis. The resources provided can give students important tools to enable them to be successful in school despite the presence of a debilitating disease. The content of the website is current as news related to multiple sclerosis is updated often. This information is based on scholarly research so it can be considered accurate. In addition, the resources presented to viewers are based on studies done by experts in the field so it can also be considered accurate. Additionally, the resources available to viewers are appropriate as it includes people of all ages, races, genders and ethnicities. Multiple sclerosis doesn’t discriminate and neither does this website. These resources are presented in an easy to understand way. There is a link on the website to the multimedia library where viewers can research books, journal articles and pod casts. There is also a link to news where viewers can read the latest news about multiple sclerosis as well as search previous news stories. These important issues are presented through additional resources and news stories in a realistic manner that allows all types of viewers easy access to help materials (NMSS, 2008). The website is presented in English but can be translated into Spanish as well. While this doesn’t enable other languages to read the website it does include a large number of additional Spanish speaking viewers access to important information about how to live with multiple sclerosis. To this end, the readability of the website is appropriate for all viewers regardless of language. The links are easy to find and the website is easy to navigate in order to find what one is looking for. The content included is organized among these links in order to make it simple to find necessary information. If a viewer is looking for the latest news they can visit the news link or if they are interested in finding local services they can visit the find a chapter link (NMSS, 2008). The home page is welcoming because it is organized and a viewer can quickly find necessary links. It includes a slideshow of the latest news with encouraging pictures of people living with multiple sclerosis. These scrolling news stories are meant to motivate viewers to find out more about NMSS, either for themselves or for others. It also includes easy to find links for joining the NMSS movement as well as resources for those newly diagnosed, those currently living with the disease as well as information for friends and family of those living with multiple sclerosis. These links motivate all people touched by multiple sclerosis to learn more about finding a cure and creating high quality of life for those living with this disease. To this end, the links are well organized and easy to find and navigate. There are enough links that desired information is easy to find. Finally, NMSS includes a search link to increase the ability of viewers to find what they are looking for (NMSS, 2008). The graphics on the home page are included with the latest news stories so they can be considered accurate. The website doesn’t rely on many graphic but the ones they include are relevant to the different topics being discussed on the different pages. There are many links designed to motivate people to get involved and learn more about NMSS, including stories of those suffering from the disease, â€Å"Walk for MS,† â€Å"Bike for MS† and an MS fact of the day. These activities are designed to provide additional information that can contribute to quality of life as well as educate people about finding a cure (NMSS, 2008). This website is easy to use for anyone, including disabled people. NMSS doesn’t pity those suffering from multiple sclerosis. The entire mission of NMSS is to help people with the disease live a normal life. It is sensitive to the different needs of people with multiple sclerosis but it certainly doesn’t portray any type of pity. In fact, it works to promote independence and dignity for those living with the disease. It offers a wide variety of resources designed to show those with multiple sclerosis how to live normal lives. Different experiences from different people living with the disease are included in the Online Community. This is a place to post and read individual and personal stories of other people living with multiple sclerosis. These real life examples show others how similar these people really are. Individuals with multiple sclerosis can live relatively normal lives for many years before the disease progresses to the point of disabling a person. If a person with multiple sclerosis didn’t tell others that he or she had the disease it would remain a secret, often for a very long time. In this way, people with multiple sclerosis are very similar to everyone else. The education sections of the website provide further information to show students how similar people with multiple sclerosis are but also to educate them about the differences and what they mean (NMSS, 2008). One suggestion for the website would be to increase the personal stories included. There are only a few posted currently and offering more real life experiences would further the motivation of people living with multiple sclerosis. Additional learning activities geared specifically towards students would go a long way towards helping people understand multiple sclerosis and how it affects friends and family members. The current layout is very easy to navigate so change wouldn’t be necessary. In fact, adding more links would contribute to more confusion while navigating the site. There is so much information currently available on the website and it is condensed into a few links so that viewers don’t have to spend so much time trying to find what they are looking for. Additional links are included in each major link to further narrow the focus of a search. This type of layout makes information easily accessible. A final suggestion would be to include translation into more languages as NMSS promotes diversity and providing important information to more people would only further their mission towards finding a cure. NMSS. (2008). National Multiple Sclerosis Society. † Retrieved on December 13, 2008 from http://www. nationalmssociety. org/index. aspx.