Load Time - Nominated web sites will be timed for total page load time from 14,400, 
28,800, and 56K modem access. Understanding that load times can be influenced by
many factors such as ISP access congestion these timings will be conducted over 5 to
7 days including weekends and at different times of the day and night. The results will be
reviewed and graded on a point scale.
 

Design Layout - Sites will be reviewed for excessive use of text only, picture or icon image 
displacement or excessive use, excessive banner display, aesthetic value, custom layout 
structure, unified design flow and HTML, consistency, and the use and the application of 
custom forms and image maps or other custom features.
 

Color - Grading will consider lack of color or poor color coordination, gray scale backgrounds
with difficult text contrast, flat palette and dimension loss, unique color options, unique
background color, unique button color, custom logo applications of color, professional 
matching of color, depth, artistic value, and resolution as will be reviewed under 256K and
24M color settings.
 

Navigation - Focus will be on nonfunctional, difficult, or confusing areas and keys of site
navigation. Aspects such as poor button design or location, text only navigation, coordinated
sidebar text, overhead bars, custom buttons or bars, site search fields, highlighted buttons
or bars, reflection of previous use, custom image maps, and placement and access of
navigational tools.
 

Quality - Site review of stale or outdated content, poor quality icons, dead links, lack of 
email or other facilities, piecing together, page structure, form and borders, banner display
form, online services or custom services, timing of material updates, degree of useful 
content, line or data wraps,and all sites will be reviewed in both Microsoft Internet Explorer
and Netscape.
 

Completion - Review for missing icons or pictures, dead links, excessive errors, construction
signs, lack of "alt" messages on images, and any form of apparent or implied lack of finality
in the best possible current format.
 

Content - Site grading for excessive banner use, loops, pop-ups, poor ad placement or 
display, dead links, excessive sales pitch only, excessive use of warn messages, updated 
archives, overall use with access to search engines, software, news, or other user friendly 
applications from the site, chat access, forums, and other useful information, web design
tools access, art, multimedia, custom applications and software, and consistency of content.
 

Originality - Judging on the lack of original content or cookie cutter use of generic design
features, personal touch and application, custom logos and backgrounds, custom design
features, unique design features, unique feature presentation or combination, custom online 
services, artistic expression, use and application of art, design, or multimedia.
 

Innovation - Review of individuality, unique application of original design or features, the 
unique application of art or multimedia, personality aspects, language barrier applications,
use of image maps or java style resources,and specific interactive features unique to the 
individual web site.
 

Hit Draw - Popularity is certainly a keen concern of most webmasters. However, in fairness
of accurate review the draw of public hits to the site must be tempered. A sliding scale of
hit count will be applied where small personal sites that exhibit a high degree of expertise
or site review grading in the above specific areas will not be severely penalized for a low hit
count. A lower maximum has been applied to this scale based on average site count so
that all reviewed sites can and will grade. Sites with high hit count will score on the upper
end of this scale, but are still subject to the criteria of the above areas. Scaled as follows:
Hits/Per Day 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000 and above