By: Jeff Meade

A new look for the CCE Web site.

When non-geeks talk about the design of a Web site, they’re usually talking about how the site looks. In other words, is it pretty?

No doubt about it, the re-launched Comhaltas Web site—designed by the Philadelphia Web firm Happy Cog—is quite attractive. But the new Comhaltas site is much more than a pretty face.

Non-geeks might not quickly notice or even appreciate some of the technical refinements. That’s a good thing. If Web designers are doing their job right, you shouldn’t notice all the bells and whistles.

Here are the highlights:

• The site unobtrusively integrates Google maps into content areas like chapter locations and event listings. Take a look at this listing for the Scoil Éigse 2007. Why more sites don’t integrate maps and driving directions into their content is a mystery to me.
• Visitors also will take note of the seamless presentation of videos, as witness this excellent clip of Eoin Conway playing a selection of flute reels.
• One neat little feature is the site’s presentation of glossary terms. Hey, not everyone knows Irish. (Some of us have enough trouble with English.) On the new site, terms like “Foinn Mhalla Feadóg Mhór” (flute slow airs) and “ortaireacht” (lilting) are marked by underlines and a little open book icon. Click on the underlined word or the icon to go to the definition, the phonetic spelling and a sound file. You can hear how the word or term is supposed to be pronounced.
• Many of the site’s content areas allow readers to leave comments. A good site should not be a one-way conversation.
• The new comhaltas.com also offers a blog, allowing quick and timely updates to the site.
• Many of the features on the site, like music audios and sheet music, also are available via RSS (real simple syndication) feeds, which means that readers who subscribe to services like “My Yahoo” or “My AOL” can receive automatic updates any time new content is added to the Comhaltas site. You can also sign up for period e-mails. Register for the periodic e-mail and learn about RSS feeds on this page.

The redesign a vast improvement over the CCE site in its previous incarnation. With this redesign, and with more refinements to come, comhaltas.com is now a warm, welcoming—and much more useful—Web destination.

Links

Site Launch Party Story, Photos and Audio
CCE Web Site
Happy Cog