IST 220: Group 2 IST 220: Group 2

Networking and Website Project for Networking and Website Project for State College Borough Water State College Borough Water

AuthorityAuthority

Outline Outline

IntroductionIntroduction Where we StartedWhere we Started 11stst Meeting with SCBWA Meeting with SCBWA Networking LayoutNetworking Layout Website Goals & DesignWebsite Goals & Design How we Accomplished ItHow we Accomplished It View our SCBWA websiteView our SCBWA website

Group Members & JobsGroup Members & Jobs

Jenn – Group LeaderJenn – Group Leader Mike Conners – HTML DesignMike Conners – HTML Design Mike Rubin – HTML DesignMike Rubin – HTML Design Huy – Assistant to M. RubinHuy – Assistant to M. Rubin Varun – Assistant to M. ConnersVarun – Assistant to M. Conners Jim – Collected Meeting Information Jim – Collected Meeting Information

Where we startedWhere we started

Jenn coordinated the group and found out Jenn coordinated the group and found out from her former project manager at RBA from her former project manager at RBA Professional Data Systems, Bob Hirsch, that Professional Data Systems, Bob Hirsch, that their customer, State College Borough their customer, State College Borough Water Authority, needed a WebsiteWater Authority, needed a Website

Jenn set up the meeting with the three Jenn set up the meeting with the three executives, Max, Dave, & Marsha to find executives, Max, Dave, & Marsha to find out exactly what they neededout exactly what they needed

State College Borough Water AuthorityState College Borough Water Authority

Step 1: 1Step 1: 1stst Meeting at SCBWA Meeting at SCBWA

- -Introduced group to Max, Dave, & Marsha who Introduced group to Max, Dave, & Marsha who

are executives at SCBWAare executives at SCBWA

- Collaborated ideas of a website with themCollaborated ideas of a website with them

- Toured SCWA building & networking roomToured SCWA building & networking room

Current Network LayoutCurrent Network Layout

- LAN (Local Area Network)- LAN (Local Area Network)- Servers: Novell & Unix – uses InformixServers: Novell & Unix – uses Informix- Shared File Servers, Printers, and Ethernet Shared File Servers, Printers, and Ethernet

LinesLines- One main Database for billing, customer One main Database for billing, customer

information, & meter reading infoinformation, & meter reading info- Network is maintained by RBA Network is maintained by RBA

Professional Data SystemsProfessional Data Systems

Network ServersNetwork Servers

Network ServersNetwork Servers

File Server: Novell – file & printer sharing File Server: Novell – file & printer sharing capabilitycapability

Database Server: Unix w/ InformixDatabase Server: Unix w/ Informix

Application Server: UnixApplication Server: Unix

Network Hardware & SoftwareNetwork Hardware & Software

LAN Workstation Software:LAN Workstation Software:

Windows-98Windows-98

Application Software – Utility billing on Unix Application Software – Utility billing on Unix MachineMachine

LAN System Software – NovellLAN System Software – Novell

Office SoftwareOffice Software

Unix Machine runs utility billing softwareUnix Machine runs utility billing software Individual Workstations use office software Individual Workstations use office software Executives use WordPerfect, Microsoft Executives use WordPerfect, Microsoft

Publisher, RealWorld Accounting & Publisher, RealWorld Accounting & Payroll programsPayroll programs

Meter Shop Workstations use special Meter Shop Workstations use special software for to support wireless meter software for to support wireless meter readers, which dumps information into readers, which dumps information into Unix (billing software program)Unix (billing software program)

Network TopologyNetwork Topology

Ethernet Topology Ethernet Topology 100 Base-T (100 Mbps baseband medium w/ twisted 100 Base-T (100 Mbps baseband medium w/ twisted

pair wires as medium) 2 switches Full Duplex: (24 pair wires as medium) 2 switches Full Duplex: (24 ports) – gives multiple access to multiple servers ports) – gives multiple access to multiple servers from workstationsfrom workstations

Collision access and detection, if two packets are Collision access and detection, if two packets are sent at the same time, collision is detected and sent at the same time, collision is detected and retransmitted retransmitted

TopologyTopology

Current Networking Typology is almost overkill Current Networking Typology is almost overkill for traffic over network because there are not for traffic over network because there are not many users (15 or less)many users (15 or less)

Benefits: Network is efficient and effective for Benefits: Network is efficient and effective for their day-to-day needstheir day-to-day needs

Security – use firewall which is built into the Security – use firewall which is built into the Internet modem (56k shared access) – low Internet modem (56k shared access) – low problems because dial-up & hang up is automaticproblems because dial-up & hang up is automatic

Intranet only between ExecutivesIntranet only between Executives

Why use LAN?Why use LAN?

LAN is used because no remote sites & no LAN is used because no remote sites & no data is being transferreddata is being transferred

Example: Remote well fields have staff that Example: Remote well fields have staff that maintain them, but don’t use PC’s on site, maintain them, but don’t use PC’s on site, therefore they do not use any electronic therefore they do not use any electronic form of data transferform of data transfer

Applications ImplementedApplications Implemented

Netscape Brower – Instant InternetNetscape Brower – Instant Internet

ExpressIt! Email only – Executives UseExpressIt! Email only – Executives Use

Front Office & Meter Office is not Front Office & Meter Office is not permitted to have email accesspermitted to have email access

Proposed Additions for Network Proposed Additions for Network from Paperfrom Paper

Add a Webserver to host new website. Hosting Add a Webserver to host new website. Hosting currently provided by RBA Professional Data currently provided by RBA Professional Data SystemsSystems

Change from dial-up to Wireless or DSL for faster Change from dial-up to Wireless or DSL for faster Internet speed & allow front office Internet access Internet speed & allow front office Internet access

Could connect all well fields back to central office – Could connect all well fields back to central office – must use wireless connection thoughmust use wireless connection though

Enhance their backup planning for remote site back Enhance their backup planning for remote site back up storageup storage

SCBWA WebsiteSCBWA Website

Goals for WebsiteGoals for Website

Inform and Announce to SCBWA customers Inform and Announce to SCBWA customers about the following information regarding their about the following information regarding their water service water service

Updates of current water conditions or problems Updates of current water conditions or problems in local areasin local areas

Target AudiencesTarget Audiences

Local Centre County Community, includes Local Centre County Community, includes communities & townships such as:communities & townships such as:

State College - BoroughState College - Borough Lemont - BennerLemont - Benner Pine Grove Mills - FergusonPine Grove Mills - Ferguson Boalsburg - HarrisBoalsburg - Harris Shingletown – HarrisShingletown – Harris College TownshipCollege Township

User ConsiderationsUser Considerations

Users will be interested in a very basic web Users will be interested in a very basic web design that is easy to:design that is easy to:

Download Download AccessAccess ReadRead NavigateNavigate

What the Site Provides to UsersWhat the Site Provides to Users

Users will be able to view any information Users will be able to view any information about the SCBWAabout the SCBWA

How to read their water billHow to read their water bill Rates Rates Annual Water Quality ReportAnnual Water Quality Report Posted Board MeetingsPosted Board Meetings Conservation TipsConservation Tips Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions

User ProfilesUser Profiles

80 – 90% of customers use Netscape 4.0 or higher 80 – 90% of customers use Netscape 4.0 or higher versionversion

No specific age group, age varies from 18 – 65+No specific age group, age varies from 18 – 65+

Most customers in this area have 56k modems and Most customers in this area have 56k modems and average technology skillsaverage technology skills

Reference: www.census.govReference: www.census.gov

User Pros & ConsUser Pros & Cons

Pros of Site:Pros of Site: Easy to read, simple layout, easy navigationEasy to read, simple layout, easy navigation

Cons of Site:Cons of Site: Water Quality Reports may take a while to Water Quality Reports may take a while to

load depending on their modem capabilitiesload depending on their modem capabilities Search options have not been providedSearch options have not been provided

Steps of projectSteps of project

Collected Data for WebsiteCollected Data for Website

Created two test WebsitesCreated two test Websites

Got final approval from SCBWAGot final approval from SCBWA

Revised & Finalizing SiteRevised & Finalizing Site

Website Design IdeasWebsite Design Ideas

Create an image map with various links to Create an image map with various links to informative pagesinformative pages

SCBWA graphics – building, water tanksSCBWA graphics – building, water tanks Advertising water servicesAdvertising water services Address and phone number of SCBWA building Address and phone number of SCBWA building Easy to read characters and fonts on all pagesEasy to read characters and fonts on all pages Links that are easily found to navigate through Links that are easily found to navigate through

pagespages Color Schemes – white background with blue Color Schemes – white background with blue

headers, nothing too flashy, per their requestheaders, nothing too flashy, per their request

Step 2: Collecting Data for WebsiteStep 2: Collecting Data for Website

We collected information that Dave and Marsha We collected information that Dave and Marsha had ready for us to scan: (Meeting 2)had ready for us to scan: (Meeting 2)

Water Quality ReportsWater Quality Reports Board Meeting UpdatesBoard Meeting Updates Pictures of their building, water tanks & well Pictures of their building, water tanks & well

houseshouses

Step 3: Beginning of the WebsiteStep 3: Beginning of the Website

After the SCBWA information was scanned After the SCBWA information was scanned and then emailed to group members, Mike and then emailed to group members, Mike Rubin and Mike Conners began to do web Rubin and Mike Conners began to do web layoutslayouts

Varun and Huy provided assistance to them Varun and Huy provided assistance to them when needed (graphics, related links)when needed (graphics, related links)

Step 4: Fulfilling Requests from SCBWAStep 4: Fulfilling Requests from SCBWA

Max, Dave, & Marsha requested that we create Max, Dave, & Marsha requested that we create two front pages so that they could have a variety two front pages so that they could have a variety of layouts to choose fromof layouts to choose from

On our 3On our 3rdrd meeting we showed them the sites and meeting we showed them the sites and they critiqued each front pagethey critiqued each front page

They liked the combination of Mike Conner’s They liked the combination of Mike Conner’s logo and links & Mike Rubin’s frames and logo and links & Mike Rubin’s frames and picturespictures

Choices Between Website Styles

Step 5: Putting the Two Sites TogetherStep 5: Putting the Two Sites Together

Both sites were pieced together and more information Both sites were pieced together and more information (provided by Dave & Max) was added to the site: (provided by Dave & Max) was added to the site:

History of SCBWAHistory of SCBWA Water BillWater Bill RatesRates FAQFAQ Related LinksRelated Links Water Conservation TipsWater Conservation Tips

Step 6: Final SCBWA MeetingStep 6: Final SCBWA Meeting

We presented our “in progress” Website to We presented our “in progress” Website to Max, Dave, & Marsha for their approvalMax, Dave, & Marsha for their approval

Executives were very happy with what they Executives were very happy with what they saw and had a few additional requests to saw and had a few additional requests to add a few more pages to the siteadd a few more pages to the site

Physical Design of SitePhysical Design of Site

HTML & JavaScriptHTML & JavaScript Macromedia Flash was initially used, but then taken Macromedia Flash was initially used, but then taken

out because of browser plug-in requirements out because of browser plug-in requirements Most customers would not have been able to access Most customers would not have been able to access

the image map logo with all of the available links to the image map logo with all of the available links to pages for two reasons:pages for two reasons:

1) user would not have wanted to deal with or know 1) user would not have wanted to deal with or know how to download plug-inhow to download plug-in

2) user may not go back to site if image map would 2) user may not go back to site if image map would not open because of plug-insnot open because of plug-ins

SCBWA dismissed idea of using FlashSCBWA dismissed idea of using Flash

Requests vs. DesiresRequests vs. Desires

The design of this website was requested to be The design of this website was requested to be very simple because it is a government page and very simple because it is a government page and needed to remain in a specific type of framework needed to remain in a specific type of framework

Based on this, our group did not use frames, Based on this, our group did not use frames, animated graphics, scrolling messages, rolling animated graphics, scrolling messages, rolling banners, etc.. banners, etc..

If we were not requested to do this, we would If we were not requested to do this, we would have added all of those extra interfaces in the have added all of those extra interfaces in the page, but we respected the decisions of the page, but we respected the decisions of the SCBWA – this is how the “real world” works!SCBWA – this is how the “real world” works!

Implementation & Testing of SiteImplementation & Testing of Site

Tested website using Tested website using www.personal.psu.eduwww.personal.psu.edu Web Web serverserver

Final site will be published on Final site will be published on www.scbwa.orgwww.scbwa.org Web server for “live” site to be readily accessible Web server for “live” site to be readily accessible for SCBWA usersfor SCBWA users

Additional changes (if needed) & maintenance Additional changes (if needed) & maintenance will be made to Website by the staff at SCBWA will be made to Website by the staff at SCBWA with assistance from RBA beginning with assistance from RBA beginning

in Mayin May

Step 7: Revise & Finalize SiteStep 7: Revise & Finalize Site

Currently, the group is adding the final Currently, the group is adding the final additions to the page & putting the finishing additions to the page & putting the finishing touches on the site for Friday’s deadlinetouches on the site for Friday’s deadline

What we have so far:What we have so far: http://www.scbwa.orghttp://www.scbwa.org

Networking or Website Networking or Website

Questions or Comments?????Questions or Comments?????