Generations of Web Pages

Unlike people, a web page's generation is no indicator of its age. Rather, generations describe the attributes and general design of the site -- its purpose, intentions, and values as indicated by its overall composition. Below, I display examples of varying generations of websites and my brief thoughts on their design as it relates to their classification.

First Generation:

I categorized this website as a first-generation website because of its reliance on basic headlines and edge-to-edge text. The page utilizes few images and linked icons. The text on this page was moderately long by web standards. Basically, this site is text-heavy with little use of graphics, videos, and other types of multimedia. The page simply relies on basic web page coding.

Second Generation:

I consider this page a second-generation site because it closely resembles Siegal’s description. The page is in many ways similar to the first page, but it does integrate more images, some of which are internal links, and the button-function of certain graphics is displayed. This page also attempts to use lists and bullets to organize its points as well as navigation menus.

Third Generation:

TCU 360 is a third-generation website because its objective as a source of news to its audience is clear in its design. Emphasis on the site’s design to promote usability and understandability is clear. The design is appealing so as to draw in the viewer, and the “who,” “what,” and “why” of the site is also evident. The navigation of the site, an important component of usability, and its structure are also simply and elegantly designed.

Fourth Generation:

This site immediately came to mind for a fourth-generation web page, particularly its inclusion of “all the bells and whistles.” The icons on the screen move around and music plays in the background. This site offers its visitors the opportunity to shop for products, schedule appointments, and find particular locations. The purpose of the site, like the third-generation site, is evident, as the company’s purpose is very much evident in the site’s design.