EXAMPLES
THE NAOMI LINDSTROM COLLECTION (DATABASE)
Fields that were green needed data to be entered. When filled out, they turned white. Other fields were calculated automatically.
Click the image above to see a screenshot of the first entry in the database.
Here's a preview of the TV show about Ms. Lindstrom and her collection.
YouTube sometimes has sound problems, especially on mobile devices. If you hear no sound:
- While the video is playing, click the lower part it to see its lower panel. This may take a few tries if you're on a mobile device. Then, check that sound is turned on and turned up. If it's off, click the volume button to turn it on.
- If you don't see the sound control, click on where it says "YouTube" to watch it on their site. It will open in a new window.
- Make sure that the sound is turned on and turned up for your browser, earphones, and/or speakers. Also check your phone, tablet, or computer.
- Restart your browser.
- Restart your phone, tablet, or computer.
The video here is a preview. You can watch the entire episode on YouTube ("Bead-Collecting Flight Attendant Leaves Dazzling Inheritance").
Credits: Text and photos by Jamey Allen (appraiser). Organization of the items by Lise Mousel (Ms. Lindstrom's niece) and Jamey Allen. Database by me, Larry Faulks.
MY TWIN ME: STEP IN AND MAKE YOUR TWIN! (WEBSITE)
Click the image above to open this site. It will open in a new window.
Credits: Content by the scanner manufacturer and the owner of the business. All animations, video editing, and other content are by Burton WebWorks. Unfortunately, the business closed in 2018 (phone numbers and email addresses have been removed from this version of the site). The site is now private.
STOMPERS ARCHIVE: COVERING 1978-2011 (WEBSITE)
Click the image above to open this site. It will open in a new window.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, this area was known as "South of the Slot"—it was south of the iron slot in Market street's pavement. This slot between the rails provided space for the cables that pulled the cable cars that ran up and down the street. The URL for the site (southoftheslotsf.com) refers to that. The "South of the Slot" area was also the subject of a 1909 Jack London short story with the same name. This site includes a brief history of the neighborhood, showing what's changed and what hasn't changed in the area.
The site also features text, photos, videos, recollections, store ads, and commentary from the late owner. An active part of the local gay community, the store regularly sponsored and participated in benefits and events. As a "thank you" to its customers, it hosted huge backyard barbecues twice each year. A section of the site is devoted to documenting them.
The store's former location and the Stompers Archive website are now parts of San Francisco's efforts to preserve the history and culture of the neighborhood. The store's former location has been designated officially as South of Market Historic Site #27—part of the city's Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District. The site includes an image of the plaque to be permanently mounted on the building.
Behind the scenes of this site is a Content Management System, created by Burton WebWorks just for this site. This software technology allowed the owner of Stompers to independently add, change, or delete text and photos without using "web surgery" as he put it. He didn't have to know any code and he didn't have to contact the webmaster. All he had to do was fill out a hidden, password-protected form online, upload any new photos, and then click Save. As soon as he did that, the photos and text were instantly updated and were immediately incorporated into the website online. This software allowed him to change or update the site from any online computer or even from a smartphone.
Credits: Photos, text, ads, and other content by the owner of the business, Mike McNamee. Additional historic photos and information from various other resources. Web design, neighborhood research, and the Content Management System by Burton WebWorks. The site is online and is public.
NOTE: Although the site contains no pornography, some of the content is frankly bawdy and is NSFW (not safe for work).
UNDERSEA SUCCULENT GARDEN (WEBSITE)
Click the image above to open this site. It will open in a new window.
Credits: Photos from various sources. Research, plant selection and identification, content, and web design by Burton WebWorks. The site is now private.
DREAMVANS (WEBSITE)
Click the image above to open this site. It will open in a new window.
This is a concept site. Much of the RV industry sells models that haven't changed much in many, many years. Meanwhile, there are a few small companies that use innovative technology to create new state-of-the-art camper vans and equipment. Here are three proposed models that combine this new technology.
Credits: Written content, research, and design by Burton WebWorks. Private site in progress.
OTHER WORK (SOFTWARE MANUALS)
THE MSN TV 2 SETUP GUIDE
The Wall Street Journal said, "The MSN TV 2 setup guide is one of the most understandable and well organized manuals that we've ever seen."
—October 20, 2004; Page D5. I was the sole writer.
Microsoft and RCA developed MSN TV 2 for consumers. It connected to the Internet and used a TV as a monitor, providing low-cost portable access. In the years when laptops were too expensive for most people, MSN TV 2 allowed those who weren't tech-savvy to get online. The manual had to fully explain the setup and connections to these non-technical users.
CLARISWORKS FOR KIDS
The Society for Technical Communication gave the documentation a Merit Award.
—(1998). I was part of the writing team.
Claris was the consumer software division of Apple. ClarisWorks for Kids was an integrated application that provided word processing in addition to database, graphics, and spreadsheet features. It was unique in that it could combine several of these formats into one single document, with each part remaining editable from within the document. The audience included K-12 students, teachers, and parents. The documentation had to appeal to all of these groups simultaneously. It had to be friendly and clear without being intimidating or condescending to anyone.
The Quick Reference Card was especially challenging for me to design. Very young children wouldn't be able to read the manual yet, but we knew that they'd be eager to get started on their own. Older children and adults could read and understand the main part of documentation. After a lot of thought, I designed it much like an airline seat pocket safety card—a combination of comic book and hieroglyphic styles. It used diagrams, screenshots, and only a few words to explain how to launch and use the application.
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