November 2009
Some people call a website a ‘web page’. In some cases, that’s all a site should be – just one page. Here at icemedia we’ve created a number of websites jam-packed with information that are just a single page (or a single page with a few ‘mandatory’ pages sitting behind it).
A great example of this is the website we developed for the Queensland Premier’s Department. This site features information on the vast number of infrastructure projects across the state, all displayed in a single page. How? By using a Google Map interface.
There are many different ways to present a content-rich website. A single page site may offer you the opportunity to display all the information you need while creating a great user experience.
The Google Maps interface is a fantastic canvas for displaying lots of information on a single page. Take a look at the Premier’s Infrastructure site to see what we mean.
Features of the Premier’s Infrastructure site:
- Different icons represent different project types. Select project categories by clicking on check boxes, changing what you see on the page in an instant.
- Zoom and search functionality (type in a suburb/town name or postcode).
- Multiple views available – Map, Satellite, Terrain or Hybrid.
- Clickable speech bubble icons with multiple tabs, so you can include layers of information and/or images, graphics or even video.
- More detailed information, photos or videos included in the space around the map interface.
Google Maps displays are data-driven. Once the interface is designed, a data file can be uploaded and the map will display information based on a geographic location.
The display can change instantly by loading a new data file into the site’s administration system. Or an admin system can be set up to allow individual pieces of information to be changed or updated automatically.
Of course, there are other ways to approach this type of website. You might develop a more abstract map, if you want to show a space that is not necessarily to scale, and use Flash animation or Java scripting to display the information on the map in a more engaging format.
If you have a number of images or lots of information, you can develop a single page site that allows you to move the display area left and right, offer access to content by then scrolling up or down, and use a feature area that can either be layered on the page or displayed within it.
Or, you might prefer a series of tabs on your single page site. The variations are endless. And the result is a compact website that puts all the information at your fingertips.