As well as building websites we also build Contacts databases and we participate in many different types of project. We are also building a projects database that we hope will be useful to any RFO. We are currently writing up case studies of the usage of these products and a lot of our other projects and will happily supply studies closest to your activity type on request.
Websites
We are putting the finishing touches to two not for profit web sites this springtime. Both websites are content managed and both should go live at the end of the Summer. Learning for the Fourth Age was initially a static site but has now been upgraded to have a client area and the ability to create and add new sections and pages. The new Soft Touch site will have our new 'Artist' version of our content management system instead of its old framed site.
We call our new CMS the 'artist' version because it has two methods of page creation.
The standard login gives you a very familiar interface that anyone who has used Microsoft Word or any other similar programme will feel immediately at home with. In 'Artist mode' the interface is a little different in that you have to think in layers, similar to Photoshop. Images can be brought in as backgrounds and text boxes floated on top of them. These elements can be nudged pixel by pixel to create amazing pages - all without learning code or Dreamweaver. Even Flash can be placed on the page so your imagination can really bring a content managed site to life.
You can even mix and match the logins so only your creative staff can access the Art version and other staff use the standard login.
All pages can be reviewed before going live by the site administrator - who doesn't need to learn either interface, just proof read and tick yes/no in the publish box. To keep the whole site branded there are uneditable areas that are the same throughout the site but these are themed at the design stage so it will be your decision as to what is fixed.
We are creating a 'Lynda.com' style video walkthrough of our CMS Art version and we'll place links to it here and on the home page as soon as it's ready. Use our contact form to register an interest - just give us your name and e-mail or phone number and then enter 'art cms' in the text box and we'll let you know when the video is available.
Projects
Our company structure was chosen so that we could actively initiate projects as well as participate in projects set up by other organisations. 2009 should see the first ZCT projects emerge and hopefully the first one will continue some of the Youth Web work. The Youth Web website is seven years old now but many of the issues it addresses are little changed. We've learned a lot in seven years and it would be great to share that with new participants.
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