Arnold public web site has new look, features

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  In May, the Air Force unveiled a new look for its official Web sites, and the Arnold public Web site migrated to that new look July 27. 

For frequent visitors to the Arnold site, the changes are obvious at a glance. 

The site features a larger layout, larger photos, new technology and less clutter. The design offers users new content types with the inclusion of slideshows, new video capability, blog-like commenting on content and improved search capability. 

"The new design packages a lot of features our users asked for. The site itself offers more room to display content. The design is streamlined - it has a neat, clean look and feel. Our main goal here was to make things easier to find and easier to navigate," said Larry Clavette, the director of the Air Force Public Affairs Agency and the Air Force Public Web Program. 

The public Web program is a service-wide effort to consolidate all public Web sites to improve security, reduce redundancy, increase performance and standardize site appearance across 315 sites. 

All Air Force Web sites will feature the new look before the end of 2009. May's redesign launch was the culmination of almost a year of work that include research, focus groups and system development, testing and deployment. 

The whole process began when the Air Force launched a Usability Study survey in 2007.  The research determined users liked the rich content of AF.mil, but commented on the poor navigation. 

According to Mike Carabajal, AF.mil webmaster, a main priority of the redesign was to reevaluate the information on the Web site and "trim the fat" to keep the design clear of clutter while offering more to users. 

The most visible changes of the redesign are white space and the fewer links and tabs. 

The new design features only three top navigation links versus the old sites' 13 links and displays half the number of sections to make information easier to find. The site also features new technology that allows embeded video capability; a redesigned, customizable photo and art gallery; and users to comment on content posted on the site. 

"Web technology and innovation is a never ending pursuit for improvement and capability," Mr. Clavette said. "The cycle begins anew now for us."