iomer internet solutions, a Custom Development Solution Finalist in Microsoft Partner
Program IMPACT Awards
Annual Microsoft Awards recognize Canadian technology partners’ and their commitment
and leadership in the channel community
Edmonton, Alberta – iomer internet solutions inc. announced that it has been
selected as a finalist in the Custom Development Solutions category for the 2007 Microsoft Partner
Program IMPACT Awards. The fifth annual IMPACT Awards recognize excellence within the Microsoft
technology partner community in Canada as well as the innovative solutions and value they deliver
to customers.
“Microsoft technology partners are the key drivers in delivering ground-breaking solutions
that help meet today’s complex customer demands,” said Lora Gernon, Director, Partner Group,
Microsoft Canada Co. “iomer has demonstrated commitment and leadership in the industry and the
Microsoft Partner Program IMPACT Awards celebrate the company’s achievements and invaluable
solutions they have developed to help drive real business growth and customer satisfaction.”
Working with North American Construction Group (NACG) and FleetScout Technologies
Incorporated, iomer developed a web-based Mobile Asset Tracking System designed for customers
requiring diversified fleet management capabilities. The system combines the use of Global
Positioning Satellite (GPS) devices with cellular and satellite digital communication technologies
to provide accurate real time location and vehicle status information. The system is device
agnostic and currently integrates with multiple asset interfaces allowing customers to leverage
existing investments in GPS and cellular infrastructure.
NACG’s release of FleetScout provides Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) services for both
light and heavy equipment, allowing users to view current asset location and performance including
fuel usage, mileage travelled, speed and heading, and other critical asset performance indicators
along with extensive historical reporting.
The FleetScout solution makes extensive use of a variety of Microsoft technologies,
including the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 with ASP.NET AJAX 1.0 extensions, Microsoft Virtual
Earth, Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007.
iomer internet solutions inc., along with other technology partner winners and finalists
in each of the award categories, will be honored at a gala event in Toronto on November 1, 2007.
About the Microsoft Partner Program IMPACT Awards
In 2003, Microsoft Canada replaced all of its previous technology partner awards with a unified
program that also recognizes customer service, marketing, and contribution to the community.
Microsoft Canada has outlined 30 categories to highlight the Partner Program competencies to
honour the achievements of top technology partners.
The Microsoft Partner Program IMPACT Awards were open to Systems Integrators, Large
Account Resellers, Direct Market Resellers, Value Added Resellers, Distributors, Systems Builders,
Authorized Education Resellers, Certified Partners for Learning Solutions, Microsoft Certified
Partners, Independent Software Vendors, Channel Suppliers, Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS)
Partners and Original Equipment Manufacturers.
For a list of all 2007 finalists, and more information on the Microsoft Partner Program
IMPACT Awards, please visit http://www.microsoft.ca/awards.
About iomer internet solutions inc.
iomer enables organizations to improve business operations with emerging technology. We solve
traditional business challenges through our three key practice areas: Strategic Advisory, Solution
Development, and User Experience and Design.
For more information, press only:
Sam Jenkins
Director, Marketing and Business Development
(780) 424-3122
sam.jenkins@iomer.com
For more information on Microsoft Partner Program IMPACT Awards only, please contact:
Donna Araujo
High Road Communications
(416) 644-2283
daraujo@highroad.com
Something to Write Home About
A Guide to Writing for the Web
Sam Jenkins, iomer internet solutions inc.
The difference between paper and the Web
For many writers, the transition from paper-based writing to writing for an
online audience can be a difficult shift. In print, a document tends to be
part of a larger entity, where the user is not necessarily focused on the entire
set – for example, a textbook or a curriculum guide. On the web, however, each
document is independent, and linked to other independent documents
via hyperlinks. With a printed resource, a writer can assume that the reader
will follow a linear path to find his or her information, whereas with a web
resource, that same reader can follow any number of paths to find their outcome
A user on the web can enter a site through any page on the site, either through
the traditional navigation, through a link passed from a colleague or through
a search engine query. This increases the important for an independent, rather
than holistic, view of a website. Assume that your reader knows little about
what has been explained or documented in previous pages.
While this does not necessarily mean provide every ounce of information about
the topic on every page, but it does mean that it is vital to provide links
to other pages of interest within the content, to provide a contextual view
of the information presented.
How readers act on the Web
As important as viewing each page as an independent entity is the understanding
of the nature of readers on the web. On the web, users tend to be impatient. “They
have not chosen your site because you are great, but because they have something
they need to do.”
Readers don’t read on the web – they
scan the webpage, picking out individual words and phrases. Studies show that
79% of readers on the web scan content on the web, while only 16% read word
for word.
Today’s web pages have to employ scannable text in order to
be useful for the audience:
- Highlight keywords within the content to draw attention
to important elements within your content. While a hypertext link acts as
one form of highlighting, successful highlighting techniques include the
use of bold and italic typefaces.
- Use meaningful sub-headings for your H1, H2 and H3 tags.
Most users scan content to find the sub-headings which match the content
for which they are looking for. By properly using these elements, you can
help your users find the information that they are so desperately seeking.
- Use bulleted and numbered lists to display related content,
or order to draw attention to the groupings. You can include a greater number
of lists on a web page than on a printed paper page, but ensure that these
lists are limited to no more than two levels.
- Discuss one topic per paragraph – users will skip
over any additional ideas that are not described in the first few words of
a paragraph.
- Adapt an inverted pyramid style of writing by placing
your concluding thoughts at the beginning of the document. This enables your
reader to judge the value of the content right away.
- Use half the word count of conventional writing.
Credibility and the Web
Years ago, users tended to (incorrectly) assume that content that they discovered
on the web was completely valid. Unlike print resources, publishing to the
web is fast and cheap. Today, however, it is found that credibility is very
important for web users, since most users are aware that it is unclear
who is behind information on the Web and whether a page can be trusted.
It is important to communicate the trustworthiness of the resources being
presented on the web, through a variety of methods:
- Design quality: In the context of a professional look-and-feel,
a web user can find comfort in the context of the information being presented.
- Comprehensive, correct and current information means that
users can enjoy the currency of information, with faith in the source.
- Connected to the rest of the Web: By providing hyperlinks
to other (trusted) sources, the author can generate a sense of confidence
by the reader. An isolated site “feel[s] like they have something to
hide” .
Writing Style
The Web is an informal and immediate medium, compared to print, so users appreciate
a somewhat information writing style – with a limited amount of humour.
Avoid the user of clever or cute headings, since users rely heavily
on scanning of headings to pick up the meaning of the text. Limit
the user of metaphors, particularly in headers: users may take the meaning
seriously. Use simple sentence structures: convoluting writing
and complex words are even harder to understand online – reading via
computer screen is 25% slower than from a paper equivalent.
In order to promote the credibility of the information, avoid the use of “marketese” and
industry specific buzzwords and acronyms. Instead, use objective language paired
with a scannable layout. By avoiding promotional language, the reader can spend
less resources filtering hyperbole to get at the facts, and to avoid distraction.
Linking to other information
It is a good rule of thumb to avoid a hyperlink to another resource of that
information can be succinctly presented on the current page, however, if a
link is required, use a description of the information to be found
in the link, or the link address, rather than “click here”.
By placing a link ‘in context’ of the information being provided,
it provides a more comfortable user experience for the reader.
Writing for Search Engines
More and more, users are relying on search engines, both internally and externally,
to find information about their desired topic. Even today, more than half of
web users use a search engine to navigate a website.
When users link to a page from a search engine, they should know immediately
how the page relates to their query – highlighting the value of placing
your conclusion at the top of the page.
Optimizing your content for search engines should be a regular process for
all new content posted to the web. On every page, ensure that you include all
possible query terms in context of your information. By using
standard terms, as well as synonyms, a search engine will be able to correctly
classify your information and produce the correct results for a reader.
As well, be sure to include keywords and a description as a part of the page’s
metadata, providing a parameter from which a search engine can begin its classification
of the information. This, coupled with a title that would make sense when viewed
completely out of context of the page, users will not be disappointed
when clicking on your page when browsing via search engine.
Writing for Lower Literacy Users
Lower literacy users exhibit very different reading behaviours than higher-literacy
users: they plow text rather than scan it, and they miss page elements due
to a narrower field of view. Lower
literacy is different than illiteracy: people with lower literacy can read,
but have difficulty doing so. This can include children, teenagers
or adults with English as a second language.
Unlike a higher literacy users, a lower literacy user cannot scan text. As
a result, a user with a lower understand of English will not quickly glance
at text; however, they will completely skip over large amounts
of text when things become too complicated.
In order to provide an optimal experience for this specialized segment, it
is important to follow a few key rules of thumb:
- Prioritize information, and place the main point (and
conclusion) at the top of the page. By placing essential information above
the page fold (so the user does not have to scroll to find more), there is
a reduced risk in breaking the user’s concentration.
- Avoid text that moves or changes, such as animations or
flyouts. A piece of static text is much easier to grasp. This rule of thumb
also helps users with motor skill impairments.
- Optimize search: ensure that the internal search engine,
as well as any meta keywords, is tolerant of misspellings and synonyms.
Sam Jenkins is a Solution Manager with iomer internet solutions
inc. He is an experienced interaction designer specializing in information
architecture, business analysis and technology advisory. Contact us for more information on how your business can use the web as
an effective marketing medium.