Larry Magid's Essential Internet

Donya was the editorial manager, contributing writer, and resident content expert (as well as contributing HTML coder) for two CD-ROM titles developed by Paradesa Media, a local San Francisco multimedia developer, for Quarterdeck in the fall of 1995.

Both of these titles, Larry Magid's Essential Internet and Larry Magid's Net Profits, were authored in HTML and built to run in the Quarterdeck web browser, QMosaic. The first title, Larry Magid's Essential Internet, is a novice's multimedia guide to the Internet. Narrated by the well-known L.A. Times columnist Larry Magid, it features 48 different animations (done in Macromedia Director) covering subjects ranging from e-mail and how it works to an overview of encryption, HTML, how to search the Web, and newsgroups. These animations are supplemented by hypertext articles offering more detail and links to actual web sites relating to the subject matter covered.

This product, one of the first commercial hybrid CD-ROM/Web products, was developed and produced on a very ambitious 8-week schedule. As editorial manager I coordinated the development, fact-checking, and editing of 48 voice over scripts ranging in length from 10 to 30 seconds. To ensure accurate handling of the subject matter, I brought my expertise to bear and ultimately re-wrote half the scripts myself --all during the first two weeks of production!

During the remaining 6 weeks I researched and produced 25 text pages (i.e. linked HTML pages designed to provide additional information and links to web sites with even more information about the various topics covered); compiled an extensive glossary of 120 Internet/computer terms and extended definitions for 30 of those terms; and developed a detailed FAQ with 24 questions and answers regarding the technical aspects of using the product.

Quarterdeck was so pleased with the finished product they immediately signed on with Paradesa to do a follow up title --Net Profits. Paradesa was impressed with the way I had managed and developed the content for the first title and signed me on to manage the content and structure for the new title.

Also developed as a hybrid CD-ROM/Web product, this title was designed to provide an in-depth look at doing business on the Internet. It is geared towards small and medium-sized businesses that want to make effective use of this powerful medium. Net Profits is packed with advice and tips on what you need to know about doing business on the Internet, including how to create your own web site.

Net Profits profiles companies and organizations that are successfully using different features of the Internet to support their businesses, offering almost an hour's worth of video of interviews with the owners and key people involved in developing their sites. It also has animations and hypertext articles on related subjects like planning and designing a web site; where to go for help; identifying appropriate content; working with graphics; feedback and measurement systems; and web site maintenance. As with the first title, these articles are further augmented with links to a variety of related subject matter sites on the web.

Like the Essential Internet, this product was also produced and completed over an 8-week period. I hired a small group of contract writers to research and develop the hypertext articles; helped the executive producers identify successful businesses to interview and profile for the product; re-purposed some of the content and animations from the first title; and wrote voice-over scripts for animations covering new subjects specific to the title.