Assignment 1 - Web Pages
Choose two different websites that you visit regularly. How does each of these websites establish
itself as a place (a "site") to visit? Compare and contrast the ways each site uses the conventions
of the web, the computer, and the material world to create its space. Which approaches are more or
less successful? Why or why not?
Two websites that I frequently visit are http://www.google.com (Google) and http://www.thefacebook.com
(Facebook). Google boasts at being the largest search engine on the internet. Not having to advertise, their
successful reputation for being fast and easy to use
keeps their name alive. Facebook is widely known throughout the college community as a place to share
pictures and messages, exchange personal information, and meet new people. Both Google and Facebook
use word of mouth to get their name out. Google relies on the users' computer to input what
information to search for, while Facebook relies on the users' computer to input the information that
it uses. Google and Facebook both use the material world to run. If there were not any webpages, then
neither would exist. In my opinion, Google is more successful. In terms of growth, Google grows
whenever anything new is available online. Facebook only grows when a new user joins the private
online community. In terms of accessibility, Google is available to everyone on the internet,
while Facebook is only available to people with a valid college e-mail account. Also, Google is
a more popular site, being known globally rather than just in college communities. In terms of
available resources, Google offers things like e-mail, image search, froogle, news, stock quotes,
toolbars, and many other very useful things. On the other hand, Facebook offers a smaller amount
of things, which include messaging, viewing friends, networking, and sharing personal information
of other members. Google also has the functionality that let's you customize the website according
to your interests. On the other hand, the Facebook layout is set by the creators, and there is not
any room for personalizing your space. Although Google and Facebook are used in different ways, I
believe Google is more successful in creating it's space online.