| Introduction
Scifi. com. is a web sit devoted to fans and avant watchers of science fiction. The site is exclusively dedicated to shows aired on the Sci Fi network and the SciFi monthly magazine subscrptions. I was disaappointed to discover that the site is not frequently updated and information on their programming is limited. The site is currently under redesign and many of its links are unavailable or not in use. In this example I took a picture of a link on a show called "Roswell" which currently airs on the network, to show access to particular segments of the show. This particular show airs Monday-Friday at 6pm for one hour. However, the show is over two years old, it originally aired on UPN 9 before being adopted by Scifi. |
| Purpose & Design
The site was created to build and sustain the science fiction community as well as introducing web portals that would further expand the SciFi community to other networks of simialar interest. The site allows for simple access to information about any show on this network with text that is simple to read and comprehend. The homepage is one whole page that fits perfectly on the screen with minimal use of the mouse. Almost all text is interactive and full of current as well as past history of any show on the network. The color graphics are dark and mysterious like the genre the network portrays and the active social space allows for navigators to communicate or comment on particular aspects of the networks shows. Below, the home page contains a moving window that flashes advertisements of its upcoming original shows, this feature enhances the quality of the site for a true science fiction experience. |
| The site divides the show into segments so the the audience can actively navigate to the links they desire. As shown above, BBoards for example, allows the navigator to chat with other fans of the show or link up with other SciFi viewers.
Audience The site is primarily viewed by an audience who's genre is science fiction. The web site is part of a larger network of television veiwers. This particular show "Roswell" caters to teenage audiences, therefore its links include posters and bio's of all the sexy young actors. The audience can also dowmload music from the show and interact with other viewers. The site is very interactive and simple to navigate through. The audience can easily read through each section on the home page or choose to go directly to their favorite show as shown below. |
The popular science fiction web site is an information highway for all the SciFi fanatics who have to know about their favorite shows and characters. However, the most popular medium used by the site is not the internet, but television. The network adopts acclaimed shows from other networks and runs marathons or sometimes daily episodes. In using the medium in this way avant watchers of Scifi may experience for the first time what others have already seen. Fans of the show may tune in to the network to worship their lost favorite show and may stay tuned for other simialar events. In this way the site brings people with simialar interest together and doubles its viewership.The network also provides its viewers with the ultimate SciFi experiences in print, a monthly magazine. As seen below, the sites mediums offer exclusive ways to become a member of a community of simialar interest.
