Mining - Catering for younger tastes

Bearing in mind that the younger generation are being targeted as a key market to encourage through the Bestwood website, games/interaction is imporant to get right.

The pieces will have to have an information/educational background to them and the mining theme fortunately offers a few ideas.

I located this website which was touted as being good for informational interactivity.

http://www.molecularium.com/kidsite.html

The site achieves a kid-friendly status by using bright colours, setting the content against a starry night sky adding a mystical quality, furthemore it presents it's information in the form of a TV. This sets it in on the right track to being of interest to youngsters.

The site is easily navigated through four large button found on the right hand side of the page. The sections are easy to understand too, notable entries being downloads and video.

The downloads section I think it a good example of what youngsters will expect online nowadays. The content is reasonably simplistic to implement too, wallpapers, audio samples being noticeable. These still have an educational imprint so it constantly serve the site's point.

The video section again uses the starry night sky to act as a perfect backdrop to house the video. It is easily legible, and maintains the space theme. However, it mentions at the start that the video is best viewed at the space-dome and this small size video serves as a teaser/advertisement that will encourage users to want to visit the site.

I think this site succeeds through being familiar in it's presentation - the TV is easily recognisable. The content is brief and not surplus to requirements, navigated through four main buttons. The content itself recognises modern day trends of downloading music, along with offering a teaser of a sample exhibition on display at the venue. This will definitely encourage users to want to visit and experience the real thing.

These are a few important things that should be beared in mind when developing our interactive pieces. Using this example, we can learn from experience.

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