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Our on-line portfolio consists of 5 sites which encompass a great deal of tools, custom graphics, databases, scripts, audio/video, flash and much more. These five sites will cover a lot of ground very fast, which of course saves you a lot of time. If you wish to see more examples, simply ask. We would be honored to show them to you. Click on the images for a more encompassing view. |
Site 1 SITE 1: Lamb Baptist Church
Visit the site: Click here! (new window)  Click on the image for a better view.
Tools: Flash, Audio & Video, Custom Graphics, Databases, Custom Scripts, Photo Gallery, Community Calendar, Members On-Line E-Mail, User Admin. Hosted by:  Chattanooga Internet
Site 2 SITE 2: Wilkins Research Services
Visit the site: Click here! (Opens in a new window) Click on the image for a better view.
Tools: Video, Custom Graphics, Databases, Custom Scripts, Photo Gallery, Secured Client Area, User Admin. Hosted by: Chattanooga Internet
Site 3 SITE 3: Emperial Events
Visit the site: Click here! (Opens in a new window) Click on the image for a better view.
Tools: Customized graphics throughout, flash, audio, custom scripts and various logos. Hosted by: Chattanooga Internet
Site 4 SITE 4: Services Select
Visit the site: Click here! (Opens in a new window) Click on the image for a better view.
Tools: Flash, Audio & Video, Custom Graphics, Databases, Custom Scripts, Photo Gallery, Community Calendar, Members On-Line E-Mail, User Admin. Hosted by: Chattanooga Internet
Case Study
Initial notes: 1. Identify the needs: Domain Name and Web Site. Domain name: No pre-existing name. Search begins. Web site: Email: Local and On-Line email accounts. Online accounts that can be checked from anywhere in the world. Calendar of Events: A church Calendar that can be accessed by the general public to what is on the months agenda. They would like the ability to hide certain items that only members can see. Message forums: They would like a place where members and the public can leave messages to one another. Our Enquiries: We ask questions to determine what type of content would be needed for the pages themselves (Outside of the Calendar and forum). Perhaps a "Pastor" page, deacons, Sunday Services, Wednesday Services, Child Care, etc. 2. Explain our offerings: After receiving the list of items they needed and would like to include, we began the process of searching our database for various tools that could be of use. Obviously there would be a certain amount of custom scripting and as usual, there are several paths to take. The church did not have a pre-existing site, so this actually made things easier from a "building the site" standpoint. The down side of course is we will have to begin with no pre-existing content with which to supply the site. This is no problem as we have the tools needed to supply such content if needed. Quote phase: Referring to our notes, we compile several plans that will fill the needs of the church, the cost of each and any pros and cons associated with them. After presenting the quote with varying options, a package is chosen and we are given the ok to begin designing the site. 3. Design and Delivery: Since everything revolves around the domain name, from the site itself to email accounts, this will be priority number one. Then, the email accounts will be built to establish a link to the outside world. A request for what domain name(s) they would like was made. While awaiting this list, we began a search of possible domains that were available. We found FirstCumberland.com and presented this name. They liked it, so we purchased it for them. Upon acquiring the domain, we asked what email addresses they would need. Upon receiving this list, we set up the email accounts. Within an hour, they had working email accounts on the church computers. Design Enquiries: We begin every site design with a question: What do you like? This of course leads to what colors are preferred, themes, images needed (in this case, the church itself, pastor, deacons, the church grounds; i.e. pool, tennis courts, day care, playground, etc.)? We ask about any design ideas which may have been thought of already and any other church related sites they like. This helps us to establish the sense of style which the site will have to emulate to meet the standards of the site owner.
Intro Page: Flash intro upon entering the site. Turn on your speakers when visiting the site to experience the full effect. Music is featured in various places throughout the site as it is an important part of the church itself.  We chose a black background to symbolize the darkness one feels when they are "lost". The bright light that ensues with the words: "He is Risen", is the message and light of the world (Jesus) showing the way. This is proceeded by the letters FCP (First Cumberland Presbyterian) being the church one can find Jesus.
You may skip the flash intro entirely by clicking on "Skip Intro" (below the flash) and be taken to the home page. If you watch the flash, you may click on "Please Enter Here" at the end of the flash, or wait a couple seconds and be transported to the Home Page automatically. Home Page: The menu, remains a constant throughout the site. The 'Rotating News Alerts' and link to the site Calendar is neatly fitted into a "FCP News" area which spans the vertical length of the page and also remains a constant throughout the site as well.  It was expressed that earth tone colors would be appropriate as they are calm and unassuming. We chose light tans, cool browns and a touch of various gold and yellows. Images in the top border were chosen to reflect the main points of interest to the church. They Being: The church, Jesus, Bible, everyone and every race is welcome.
There was concern within the church that the text might be too small for some of their older members to read. However, they liked the "look" of the current text size as it fit nicely on the page. We came up with a solution to this problem: we chose the footer of every page to include a "Text Enlarger" tool. By clicking on the larger "A" letters image, the text on the page would get larger. Likewise, the smaller A letters would decrease the size. Calendar of Events: This church has a LOT of different events, programs, community service programs, etc. Along with all of these services come the inevitable meetings and the committees associated with them. To keep the membership informed, a calendar was certainly needed. It had to be robust enough to handle the size and many different categories, yet easy enough to use that it did not take all day to enter in the information. We provided such a calendar and the link was placed in the "News" section of the site for easy access.  Due to the sheer number of categories, groups, events, etc. that could be displayed at any given time, the calendar is equipped with several tools that help both user and administrator alike. First, the admin selects the date, then "category", gives an event definition, location, etc. that is needed. The only required selections are date and name of event. By selecting a "category", the user may select it from a drop down list which will only display that type of event on the calendar. Making an otherwise cluttered month free accept for the category they selected.
Examples: Photo 1 shows a cluttered calendar and Photo 2 shows the same month with only "The Sunshine Club" events displayed.  
Community: We are confident that this is one of the most advanced and feature rich communities on the Web today. Not that the customer needed or required such a community, but rather we always seem to find a way to give more than was asked for (Especially to churches, which David Rolen - The owner of Chattanooga Internet - has a soft spot for). The request was for a simple "forum"... We gave them that and much, much, more. The FCP Community (FCPC) literally has too much to mention and explain in any detail here. However, we will detail a few of the more popular items and give at least a brief description of some others.  First, it was important to the church that the community be a free one. Also, it needed to be open to the public, SPAM FREE, and allow the visitor to remain completely anonymous. So, the only tracking tools that are in place were placed there by Chattanooga Internet for security purposes. The site administrator does not have access to these advanced tools. They do have access to the visitor/member's IP. This is a minor security feature that is used by the administrator to ban unruly people who are there for nothing but trouble. Thankfully there has not been to date, a case where this has had to be used. It is there however, if and when it is needed.
The community is free so you may register if you like. Once you do, you will gain access to all of the tools and services. There is a limited amount of services and tools which are available to the un-registered visitor. Key features Implemented: Forum: This was the one item in the community that was also in the original request, so it is appropriately listed first in our list.  The opening page of the forum welcomes the user and makes them aware of any private messages they may have received while they were away. They are also presented with a listing of the main forum categories. They may also check their last post, last thread and check the most resent posts placed in the forum.
 Most people have a strong distaste for sifting through a plethora of previously read messages. It's an incredible waste of time! A solution to this problem is to provide a way to see the latest posts. This will work of course, and we implemented this feature as well. However, this forum goes a step farther: When you place your mouse over the main forum categories, you will be presented with the LAST message posted from within that category.
Other features: All forums can have more than one administrator. The forum administrators are NOT community administrators, though they certainly can be. Typically, the community administrator would assign someone to monitor a particular thread(s). The community administrator can also assign 1 forum admin to more than one thread or all threads if they wish. The combinations are endless. Chat Room: This is always a favorite tool which a lot of communities have. This one is special in a lot ways however. First is appearance. It has several different "looks" which the user can choose from. Another nice item is it has is a built in "MP3 Player". All rooms can be monitored by 1 or more administrators as assigned by the community administrator. The admin can also assign certain rooms as "locked" to only those possessing the password to enter. Examples: Photo 1 shows an overview of the chat room. Photo 2 shows the MP3 Player. Photo 3 shows the chat display area.   
Other features: Internet Radio, Polls and Complete Stock reports. 
Site News, Blogs, Complete weather reports, access to members mail, downloads, photo galleries, virus alerts and much, much more. Google Maps & Door to Door Driving Directions:   Google Maps are becoming more and more popular. We have been utilizing this technology the very day it became available to the general public (And a little before considering beta testing). As for the door-to-door diving directions: The address of the church is pre-filled in. The user simply enters their address and submits the information for complete door-to-door driving directions including a map.
Music: Music is a big part of this church, so it seemed natural to give them the ability to showcase some of it.  We provided the church with the ability to add music to their page by designing a custom MP3 player. The in-house group "New Hope" is featured in this example image.
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