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Background
The main aim of the Welsh Language Board (WLB) is to make it easier for everyone in Wales to use Welsh in all walks of life, to increase people’s confidence in their ability to use the language, to encourage more people to speak, read or write it in new situations, and to pass on the language to their children.
Requirements
To deliver its services the Board has placed a massive emphasis on the use of web technology to increase productivity whilst remaining as efficient as possible.
Imaginet have helped the WLB achieve this objective for over six years, with the design and development of several web solutions.
Solution
The latest website, is the most technically innovative yet. With a variety of interactive features and simple navigation the site will appeal to audiences of all ages, which was one of the WLB's major objectives. Particular features include:
* An easy to use bi-lingual content management system that drives a number of databases such as news and publications, enabling the WLB to manage the whole site themselves
* A powerful search system enables visitors to access information quickly and simply
* All content is inter related, so users are always presented with the most relevant information at all points of the browsing of the site.
* Interactive vote, links to related content and web links enhances the site's stickiness
* Attractive layout with a strong focus on the recently launched new brand designed by stills for the board and the use of colour to differentiate the various sections
* An advice section encourages visitors to make contact and get involved
They also wanted to achieve the highest level of accessibility being a public sector organisation, so the the site is designed to comply with the W3C WAI guidelines to AA level and is in the process of being assessed for the RNIB's See It Right award. It uses the most cutting edge Cascading Style Sheet and XML web technologies to future proof the site structure, and it is wrapped up in a simple design which belies the level of technology used to drive the site
Results
The success of this site is difficult to measure in visible monetary terms as it is not an e-commerce site. However the success of the site is self evident within the Language Board:
* The site has become the primary means of dissemination of information to the public.
* The site is now the primary method of locating and obtaining grant application forms etc
* The site has on average around 6500 regular uses each month, generating around 500,000 hits (requests) each month
* The internal Intranet face of the site is making a significant impact on the efficiency of WLB staff, and bringing a sense of community to the "outworkers"
Paula Dauncey
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