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WebWord Weblog Posting

Posting Date: March 19, 2003
 

US Department of Laughs -- "The US government has a new website, http://www.ready.gov/. It's another attempt at scare mongering in the style of the old 'duck and cover' advice after WWII. The fun thing is that these pictures are so ambiguous they could mean anything!" (MadMan comments: Hey, a war-related piece that's actually linked to designing infographics. See, we knew we'd find a usability connection. The US government really needs to hire better designers, eh? Thanks Morgan)

 

  

Reader Comments...
 

I remember getting duck and cover drills in school, albeit not as rigorous as what my sisters had to go through. I think that preparedness is a good thing; it helps to avoid panic. However, when creating a site on preparedness for terrorism, it helps to keep in mind an already hysterical public. "Soothe and inform" should be the motto.

Posted by: Lydia on March 19, 2003 05:04 PM


 

What's the alternative? What would you have done?

Posted by: JF on March 19, 2003 06:53 PM


 

Place a floating rubber ducky in the upper right-hand corner of every page. How can you be scared with a cute rubber ducky looking at you?

Posted by: Ernie on March 20, 2003 06:42 PM


 

Now that I look at it, I think my use of "however" might be out of place (if you are directing your question at me, JF). I was thinking out loud (in print?) that when creating a site on terrorism preparedness it is helpful to design for an audience that is probably already tense (which is why they are looking up info). I wonder who the designers had in mind?

Posted by: Lydia on March 20, 2003 09:34 PM


 

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